The Beatitudes and many other teachings of the Great Religions and Philosophies are opportunities for contemplation, not merely emulation. Contemplation requires patient, loving, practice. Contemplation is a form of mediation encouraged in Buddhism. When we contemplate, we allow our mind to dwell on an idea without a preset rational structure. The words become a mantra, and with meditation can evoke personally meaningful associations.
Particularly meaningful objects of contemplation are the Beatitudes of Christianity. When the Beatitudes are combined with the inward awareness inherent in Buddhist teaching, the combination reveals the Beatitudes as inner states of being, going beyond mere ethical teaching.
The Beatitudes describe the character of those who are Flourishing
Flourishing requires going beyond ethics. The teachings of Christianity are often viewed through the lens of ethical behavior; however, we can look at the Beatitudes as states of mind that have strong resonance with mental stances inherent in the teaching of the Buddha. When we embody the Buddhist eight-fold path or the Christian Beatitudes, we are manifesting our deeper character, Flourishing.
Experiencing doubt without distress is Flourishing
“Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
Poor in spirit is not poverty of material goods. It is a state of mind characterized by a lack of knowing, rigidity, or having the answer. This is a form of doubt, of longing, and curiosity. A spiritual not-knowing is openness, an openness that allows for a greater capacity for the emergence of our deeper wisdom. We get out of our need to know, allowing our programed knowing to melt away and the deeper solid understanding to emerge. Deeper understanding may come forward in non-verbal experiences of acceptance and compassion, feeling perhaps ecstatic or expansive. Suspension of knowing is a main goal of the Zen koan method of spiritual evolution.
Embracing the fact that all things must pass is Flourishing
“Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted.”
Mourn is to feel the loss of something. Mourn as used here was translated as sorrowful by Martin Luther in the sixteenth century. This sorrow is a sorrow that does not cause grief; this sorrow evokes comfort. Such a sorrow can be felt in the recognition of impermanence as taught in Buddhism. Seeing that all is transient, that all reality is Maya, illusion, allows us to be in the world but not attached to the things of the material world. The mourning that causes comfort is this recognition. It is a sorrowful awareness to know that all we see is impermanent; it is a comforting sorrow to understand that this is as it should be.
Adaptability is Flourishing
“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherent the earth.”
The meek do not hold to a firm boundary of mine and not-mine. The meek are not overly assertive. We have culturally come to associate negativity with the word meek, but the underlying concept is highly valuable because meek as used here is a manifestation of Buddhist non-attachment. The meek are not poor, they do not need deliverance in a future day of judgment, the meek hold their connection to things in this world very lightly. Through a mind state of non-attachment we become free from bondage to the material world of possessions and emotions. We can detach from the world of illusion, and experience the world of the enduring, Nirvana.
The absence of self-righteousness is a manifestation of Flourishing
“Blessed are those that hunger after righteousness, for they shall be filled.”
Righteousness places us above others, our righteousness over another’s un-righteousness. Those who do not place themselves above others can relate to others, offering assistance, support and succor without judgment or condescension. This is the path of the Bodhisattva, the Buddha who remains in this world to assist all sentient beings in attaining Nirvana. To help others without benefit to self or ego, is to give without being self-righteous.
Empathizing with others is a manifestation of our Flourishing
“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.”
Providing mercy requires an understanding of the other that is expressed through genuine empathy, not patronization, pity, or shame. Those who can afford others understanding will also feel understood. Empathy allows us to show compassion from a place of loving kindness, a fundamental manifestation of Buddha nature.
Being true to our purpose is an aspect of Flourishing
“Blessed are the pure of heart: for they shall see God.”
Pure of heart is a unitary truth that we hold deeply and that guides us. This is not a simplistic admonition to act morally, but a calling to hold dear a meaningful truth that is tied to our purpose in life. The unitary truth in Buddhism is the impermanence of the manifest world. This truth when embraced deeply and exclusively frees us to attain Nirvana. For the Christian, the truth is that loving-kindness is the source of all.
Being able to forgive is a manifestation of Flourishing
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be seen as the children of God.”
Creating peace requires forgiveness of the perceived source of discontentment. Peace is a deep sense of contentment and those of us who can help ourselves and others attain contentment are seen with gratitude. Discontent is estrangement, anger, and conflict. Forgiveness is the doorway to contentment.
Remaining authentic in the face of shame is Flourishing
“Blessed are they that have been persecuted for righteousness sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
Persecution is suffering imposed on a way of being, shaming. We are shamed not for doing wrong, but for our Being. When we feel shame we can lose our purpose. Acting in order to avoid shame can alienate us from our deeper Self.
“A wise teacher teaches through approach, not avoidance. This teacher does not emphasize what you must avoid to escape harm, but what you need to learn to have Joy.”
“The wise teach without telling, allow without commanding, have without possessing, care without claiming.”
Loa Tzu, Tao Te Ching