Christianity and Taoism: The Similarities

Yesterday’s (3/6/07) Catholic Gospel reading is just eight lines from Luke (9:28-36) where Jesus is talking to Moses and Elijah and a voice from a cloud says to the disciples, “This is my chosen Son; listen to him.” It seems like this is supposed to be a “passing of the baton” from the early prophets to Jesus. I think the voice from the cloud is an affirmation and reminder that we are suppose to listen too and follow our Divine self.

I found the passages immediately before and after the reading more interesting as they echo teachings of the Taoist monk Lao Tsu some 500 years before Jesus. They are those seemingly
paradoxical statements that usually confuse people rather that enlighten. From Luke 9:24 and from Luke 9:48 we get:

“For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.”

“For the one who is least among all of you is the one who is the greatest.”

From the Tao te Ching Chapters 22 and 7, respectively:

If you want to become full, let yourself be empty.
If you want to be reborn, let yourself die.
If you want to be given everything, give everything up.

The Master stays behind; that is why she is ahead.
She is detached from all things; that is why she is one with them.
Because she has let go of herself, she is perfectly fulfilled.

The parallel nature of these passages indicates that these are timeless spiritual truths that are not the exclusive domain of any specific religion. What does “whoever loses his life will save it” mean? It means that you have to let go of the dominance the lower self (i.e. the ego) and allow the Divine self within you to lead. The lower self is self-centered and attached to social status, appearances, power, prestige, emotions and money. The Divine self is other-centered and may have these things but is not attached to them.

Similarly the passage “the one who is least is the greatest” means that when you “let go” of the ego it seems like you’re lessening your influence (i.e. being least) however you are actually increasing it if you allow the Higher Self to control.

The following are the full passages from Luke Chapter 9:

18 Once when Jesus was praying in solitude, and the disciples were with him, he asked them, “Who do the crowds say that I am?”
19 They said in reply, “John the Baptist; others, Elijah; still others, ‘One of the ancient prophets has arisen.’”
20 Then he said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter said in reply, “The Messiah of God.”
21 He rebuked them and directed them not to tell this to anyone.
22 He said, “The Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed and on the third day be raised.”
23 Then he said to all, “If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.
24 For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.
25 What profit is there for one to gain the whole world yet lose or forfeit himself?
26 Whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.
27 Truly I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God.”

28 About eight days after he said this, he took Peter, John, and James and went up the mountain to pray.
29 While he was praying his face changed in appearance and his clothing became dazzling white.
30 And behold, two men were conversing with him, Moses and Elijah,
31 who appeared in glory and spoke of his exodus that he was going to accomplish in Jerusalem.
32 Peter and his companions had been overcome by sleep, but becoming fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him.
33 As they were about to part from him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good that we are here; let us make three tents, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” But he did not know what he was saying.
34 While he was still speaking, a cloud came and cast a shadow over them, and they became frightened when they entered the cloud.
35 Then from the cloud came a voice that said, “This is my chosen Son; listen to him.”
36 After the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. They fell silent and did not at that time tell anyone what they had seen.

37 On the next day, when they came down from the mountain, a large crowd met him.
38 There was a man in the crowd who cried out, “Teacher, I beg you, look at my son; he is my only child.
39 For a spirit seizes him and he suddenly screams and it convulses him until he foams at the mouth; it releases him only with difficulty, wearing him out.
40 I begged your disciples to cast it out but they could not.”
41 Jesus said in reply, “O faithless and perverse generation, how long will I be with you and endure you? Bring your son here.”
42 As he was coming forward, the demon threw him to the ground in a convulsion; but Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, healed the boy, and returned him to his father.
43 And all were astonished by the majesty of God. While they were all amazed at his every deed, he said to his disciples,
44 “Pay attention to what I am telling you. The Son of Man is to be handed over to men.”
45 But they did not understand this saying; its meaning was hidden from them so that they should not understand it, and they were afraid to ask him about this saying.

46 An argument arose among the disciples about which of them was the greatest.
47 Jesus realized the intention of their hearts and took a child and placed it by his side
48 and said to them, “Whoever receives this child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me. For the one who is least among all of you is the one who is the greatest.”
49 Then John said in reply, “Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your name and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow in our company.”
50 Jesus said to him, “Do not prevent him, for whoever is not against you is for you.”

Cheers,
Brendan

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