In general Matthew 5-7 (The Sermon on the Mount) and the
principles of Dao De Jing promote living selfless lives of virtue. Below are specific
similarities.
1.
Humility--Both philosophies promote being humble and
avoiding self-glory. Jesus promises wealth and power if someone practices humility, and
the Tao selection threatens a fall from glory if someone practices extreme
arrogance.
- Matthew 5:5 (one of the Beatitudes)
states that if someone is meek (humbly patient) that he will inherit the
earth. - #9 Hubris from Dao De Jing: "Claim credit and
honour and you will soon fall."
2.
Avoid Materialism--Throughout both works, the authors
stress the futility of accumulating
possessions.
- Matthew 6:19-21--Jesus warns
against clinging to and hoarding earthly things which can be easily destroyed. Instead,
he advises his listeners to focus on intangible, eternal "treasure" that will
demonstrate the virtue of someone's soul. - Similarly,
Selection 19 "Simplicity" from Dao De Jing suggests that if humans could do away with
profit, then theft and corruption would
disappear.
3. Living in Peace
with Others
- Several portions of
Matthew 5-7 discuss forgiving one's enemy, turning the other cheek, loving one's
neighbor, and going the "extra mile" if someone asks you to go with him or
her. - Dao De Jing is slightly more assertive on how
important it is for humans to get along with one another. Its teachings argue that if
humans could rid themselves of their notions of "duty" and "justice," then they would
live peaceably together because no one would be thinking about how he had been treated
unfairly.
Of course, the philosophies of these
two religious/philosophical texts share many more commonalities because they both asks
adherents to think beyond themselves and the present.
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