The Beatitudes
Join Piero Falci on November 16 for a conversation on mindfulness during the holiday season.
One of the most important discourses of Jesus, and perhaps the one that best summarizes his teachings, is known as the Sermon on the Mount. My friend, Wally Dale, teaches a workshop on that lecture of Jesus, and he was the one who introduced me to The Sermon on the Mount: The Key to Success in Life, a book full of brilliant insights by Emmet Fox that was first published in the early 1930s. I consider this little book a treasure chest full of wisdom. It had an enormous positive influence in my life.
The Sermon on the Mount contains extremely valuable instructions for life. They are known as the Beatitudes. Unfortunately, those of us who have been exposed to those teachings simply get acquainted with them and quickly put them aside: we consider them to be stuff for saintly people, but unattainable aspirations for people like us, ordinary human beings living normal lives.
Well, I don’t subscribe to this view. I consider that the Beatitudes show a clear and viable path for a better life in a better world. I believe we need to pause, reflect, look deeply within ourselves, and understand what is being said. I've done that, and after reflecting I took the liberty to rewrite the Beatitudes as they resonated in me, keeping some of the old language but introducing a more contemporary one. I found that by doing so, they made more sense and became more meaningful to me. Perhaps you can do the same exercise, and rewrite them too. Anyway, here they are—the Beatitudes in my own words:
Blessed are those who are humble, unselfish, compassionate, and kind, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn for all the injustices and suffering in the world, for they shall be comforted.
Blessed are those who have experienced the epiphany of oneness, and who came to understand the sacredness and impermanence of all, for they shall inherit the Earth.
Blessed are those who hunger for the end of all oppression and exploitation, and thirst for justice, equality, and a dignified life for everybody, for they shall be filled.
Blessed are those who see the divine essence in every person; those who renounce their own comfort in order to help others; those who look into the eyes of the abandoned and marginalized and let them know that they are loved, for they will be immediately rewarded.
Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.
Blessed are those who cultivate a pure heart, for they shall see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, those who live in peace with others and do their best to promote friendship among mankind, for they shall be called the children of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted for speaking truth to power, and for doing what is just and morally right, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.
Blessed are those who see the beauty and abundance of our planet, envision the immense possibilities of a better life in a better world, and work in order to bring about Heaven on Earth, for they will be in Heaven.
Blessed are those who protect our common home—Planet Earth—and care for all sentient beings living on it, for they will be overjoyed.
I consider the work of the peacemakers essential to bring about a better world, especially in times of great polarization and conflict like the ones we are living as I write these words. In one of his sermons on the Beatitudes, John Wesley said the following about the peacemakers:
. . . we may easily learn, in how wide a sense the term peace-makers is to be understood. In its literal meaning it implies those lovers of God and man who utterly detest and abhor all strife and debate, all variance and contention; and accordingly labor with all their might, either to prevent this fire of hell from being kindled, or, when it is kindled, from breaking out, or, when it is broke out, from spreading any farther. They endeavor to calm the stormy spirits of men, to quiet their turbulent passions, to soften the minds of contending parties, and, if possible, reconcile them to each other. They use all innocent arts, and employ all their strength, all the talents which God has given them, as well to preserve peace where it is, as to restore it where it is not. It is the joy of their hearts to promote, to confirm, to increase mutual good-will among men.
I particularly admire the work of the nonviolent peacemakers, and I include myself in their midst. I feel that by teaching Mindfulness Meditation and Mindful Living I am trying, as John Wesley said, “to calm the stormy spirits of men, to quiet their turbulent passions, to soften the minds of contending parties, and, if possible, reconcile them to each other.” Unfortunately, we live in an era of great division. The Heralds of Hate, as I call them, use their pulpits, podiums, stages, and media outlets to, with their loud voices and belligerent tone, intentionally create dissent and discord, put people against each other, fuel the fires of fear, generate unnecessary conflict, and bring about unwarranted pain and suffering to our world. And they do all those things, day in and day out, shamelessly and unscrupulously, just seeking personal gain, and with complete disregard for the harm they create. Once I saw a sign about a news organization that read, “Fox News: Rich people paying rich people to tell middle class people to blame poor people.” It is heartbreaking to see people wasting their lives fomenting evil and division, when they could use their intelligence, talents, and skills to do good, unite people, and improve life on this planet. If you want a better world, follow Max Ehrmann’s advice in his “Desiderata,” and “Avoid loud and aggressive persons; they are vexatious to the spirit.” Don’t listen, don’t watch, and don’t give audience to the Heralds of Hate because, if you do so, great are the chances that you will be contaminated by their viruses through exposure. Pause and reflect on the possibility that you are just being used by those greedy individuals who advance when there is disagreement and conflict.
In the beginning of this millennium, Kurt Vonnegut Jr. wrote about the Beatitudes. He pointed to the fact that many of us think that we are being saintly when we defend religious dogma, but in fact we do not have compassionate hearts. He wrote:
How about Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, the Beatitudes? “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the Earth. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God. . . . And so on.” Not exactly planks in a Republican platform. . . . For some reason, the most vocal Christians among us never mention the Beatitudes. But, often with tears in their eyes, they demand that the Ten Commandments be posted in public buildings. And of course that’s Moses, not Jesus. I haven’t heard one of them demand that the Sermon on the Mount, the Beatitudes, be posted anywhere. “Blessed are the merciful” in a courtroom? “Blessed are the peacemakers” in the Pentagon? Give me a break!
Please, pause and ponder: Are you a conflict-maker or a peacemaker? How do you want to live your life? What do you want to bring to the world: conflict or peace? Remember: life is short, so choose wisely!
I encourage you to reflect upon what it takes to become a peacemaker, and to apply yourself to be one. The world desperately needs saner and calmer people. Be a bringer of peace and sanity. Be one of those individuals whose embodiment of compassion and serenity brings goodwill, harmony and reconciliation everywhere they go.
Piero Falci teaches Mindfulness Meditation and Mindful Living, leads Insight Meditation Silent Retreats, and organizes Silent Peace Walks. Piero is an educator who believes that the inner work that leads to personal awakening and transformation is indispensable to create a better world. He aspires to live a life that matters and hopes to inspire others to do the same. He is devoted to helping individuals have insights that may expand selflessness and compassion and lead to the growth of kindness and care for all sentient beings and the natural environment. He is a promoter of peace who believes in advancing the idea that Heaven is here if we want it to be. This essay is from his latest book A Better Life in a Better World: Can Mindfulness Save Us from Ourselves? For more information, visit www.PieroFalci.com