fear

When a country is in harmony with the Tao,
the factories make trucks and tractors.
When a country goes counter to the Tao,
warheads are stockpiled outside the cities.

There is no greater illusion than fear,
no greater wrong than preparing to defend yourself,
no greater misfortune than having an enemy.

Whoever can see through all fear
will always be safe.
-- Stephen Mitchell, Chapter 46, Tao Te Ching


"Fear is a condom on the heart," said Lao Tzu.

"It thinks it is protection," I said.

"All it is doing is preventing new birth," said Jesus.

"When the heart wears a condom over its head, it cannot see well," said Lao Tzu.

"Then it wants to be armed with a weapon," said Jesus.

"Partially blind and armed, it will fire at will, at anyone's will but its own," I said.

"The heart without a condom of fear will not be angry," said Lao Tzu,

"The naked heart is both male and female and neither," said Jesus.

"All opposites collapse," I said.

Lao Tzu looked at me.

"Oh no!" he said. "That means we are each other."

"Jesus," I said. "He is messing with me again."

Jesus laughed.

With hearts distinctly different, our hearts became the same.