| The mystics tell us we already posses all the peace | | | | would explore their own ability to love others. The |
| and happiness of the Universe. Our spiritual work is | | | | practice of chung took many years. |
| simply to discover what is in the way of our seeing this | | | | When Confucius was satisfied that the disciple had |
| reality for ourselves. | | | | achieved humility and self-awareness through the |
| In India, about 500 years before the common era, | | | | discipline of chung, only then would he commission |
| Buddha began to teach a philosophy of life. Buddha | | | | them to go forth into the world and love others with |
| told his disciples, "the faults of others are easier to see | | | | empathy and compassion. An ancient art of healing |
| than one's own; the faults of others are easily seen, | | | | known as shu. |
| for they are sifted like chaff, but one's own faults are | | | | In 1945, twenty five hundred years later, two local |
| hard to see. Do not look at the faults of others, or | | | | peasants living in the Naj Hammadi region of Egypt |
| what others have done or not done; observe what | | | | discovered a collection of ancient manuscripts known |
| you yourself have done and have not done". | | | | as the Nag Hammadi Library. These Gnostic gospels, |
| About that same time, over a thousand miles to the | | | | written in the 2nd and 3rd century, contain thirteen |
| east of India, Confucius began to teach his Chinese | | | | codices, or books, comprised of fifty-two texts. One |
| disciples a similar philosophy of life. His disciples were | | | | of those texts is known as the Gospel of Thomas. |
| known as the People of the Ren (The People of | | | | In saying 24 of the Gospel of Thomas Jesus tells his |
| Love). Confucius instructed them in the attainment of | | | | disciples "there is light within an enlightened person, and |
| chung -shu. Chung was the practice of self-knowledge. | | | | it shines on the whole world. If the light does not shine, |
| If a Person of the Ren shot an arrow and it missed | | | | it is dark". |
| the mark, they would not blame the wind or the arrow, | | | | In sayings 26 and 27 Jesus continues, "If you do not |
| they would explore their own shooting. If others did not | | | | fast from the world, you will not find the kingdom. You |
| respect them, they would not judge, they would | | | | see the speck that is in your companion's eye, but you |
| carefully examine their own ability to respect others. If | | | | do not see the beam that is in your own eye. |
| they did not feel loved, they would not criticize, they | | | | |