Practice

 In the beautiful book, Living Budda, Living Christ, Thich Nhat Hanh writes, "The Buddha said that his body of teachings would remain with his students but that it was up to them to make it last. If we don't practice, there will be only books and tapes, but if we practice, the Dharma body will be a living Dharma (p. 123)." The same is true for Christianity.  If we do not practice loving one another as ourselves, then the teachings are reduced to just words in a book.  Love is needed to bring Christ into our lives and into our world.   

 I have been pondering  Chapter 54 of the Tao Te Ching, I again saw parallels in these teachings and the teachings of Jesus.  Where Tao (or the word it)  is mentioned we can readily substitute Christ.  Too often, Christians do not bring peace into the world.  To do this, we must practice.  Let us practice letting Christ live through us.   In this way, everyone, regardless of their faith, will be able to have a beautiful Christmas.   We owe the world this much.     

 

May you live a beautiful Christmas today, and always.   

  

Let the Tao be present in your life 

and you will become genuine.  

Let it be present in your family 

and your family will flourish. 

Let it be present in your country

and your country will be an example 

to all countries in the world.  

Let it be present in the universe 

and the universe will sing.   

 

Chapter 54, excerpt Tao Te Ching 

Stephen Mitchell   

   

photograph:  Asilomar Beach, September 2018