True Teacher

And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.--Luke 9:62

Once you decide to seek the Truth of your own being, your own existence, your own reality--there is no turning back.

Before you begin, however, it is very important to find a true teacher who will lead you back to yourself. Without a true teacher, you will easily lose your way.

Thoreau, too, emphasizes the importance of finding a true teacher in Walden:

"I have read in a Hindoo book, that "there was a king's son, who, being expelled in infancy from his native city, was brought up by a forester, and, growing up to maturity in that state, imagined himself to belong to the barbarous race with which he lived. One of his father's ministers having discovered him, revealed to him what he was, and the misconception of his character was removed, and he knew himself to be a prince.

"So soul," continues the Hindoo philosopher, "from the circumstances in which it is placed, mistakes its own character, until the truth is revealed to it by some holy teacher, and then it knows itself to be Brahme."

All human beings are born under a delusion. This false self, or ego, covers up our true nature. When we discover or realize our true being, we regain an inheritance that was once lost.

We find ourselves in Nirvana and the Kingdom of Heaven is ours.

Yardstick

In American society, we often use fame as the yardstick for personal worth.

When the road to fame is blocked, the frustrated individual will often be tempted by infamy. He may then commit violent acts in a desperate attempt to garner media attention which he imagines will fulfill his need for social recognition.

By renouncing this false measure of personal worth, we begin to lay the foundation for a more sane and secure society.

Education

Anyone who believes that education alone will save humanity is ignorant. Without true spiritual faith, it is more likely to harden our hearts and make us indifferent to those not in our social circle.

Germany, one of the most educated societies on earth, descended into barbarism during the Second World War. The learned proved to be at least as cruel and ruthless as the uneducated.

Not For Sale

The Kingdom of Heaven is not for sale. The "pearl of great price" cannot be purchased with money.

Those who insist on charging an entry fee are false prophets.

Clarity

Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.--Matthew 19:14

With no ego, the human child looks at the world with the bright eyes of innocence.

To regain this clear vision is the purpose of Zen practice.

Savage Heart

The heart of a Prophet is savage for he cannot patiently endure an unjust social system.

When challenging those in power, Christ was neither meek nor fearful. He denounced the hypocritical Pharisees, attacked the money-changers, and threatened to destroy the temple. He had a tongue of fire.

It is interesting to note that after the Apostles were filled with the Holy Spirit they were portrayed as having tongues of fire burning brightly above their heads.

Zen Master

Practitioners of Zen study how to act without fear.

Christ, then, was a true Zen Master. He did not seek physical security and He did not fear death.

Unfortunately, much of what Christ taught has been lost to history. What we do know is that when He reprimands his disciples in the Gospels, He basically accuses them of cowardice.

From this observation, it is easy to deduce that what Christ essentially taught his followers was how to be fearless.

So pay no attention to the pious mumbo-jumbo of the preachers and ministers who claim to understand the central message of Christ. Study how to act without fear.