Fame or integrity: which is more important?
Money or happiness: which is more valuable?
Success or failure: which is more destructive?
If you look to others for fulfillment,
you will never be truly fulfilled.
If your happiness depends on money,
you will never be happy with yourself.
Be content with what you have;
rejoice in the way things are.
When you realize there is nothing lacking,
the whole world belongs to you.
-- Stephen Mitchell, Chapter 44, Tao Te Ching
We sat in Macy's Coffee House at a corner table.
The place was buzzing and packed with northern Arizona exotic life forms.
"Everyone is headed toward the Cosmic Bug Zapper," said Lao Tzu.
I looked at Jesus.
"Humor him," said Jesus.
"When you reach the Place of Zap, only your essence will go through," said Lao Tzu.
A holographic vision of the Place of Zap hung in the air between us.
On one side was a large assortment of Zapped bodies, back packs, autobiographies, self portraits of people kissing the backs of their own hands.
On the other side were light beings with varying expressions on their faces: relief, amazement, pleasure, amusement, and shock.
They continued journeying on their way.
"What's in the backpacks?" I asked.
"Those were the monkeys on their backs," said Lao Tzu.
"Attachments," said Jesus.
"They did not feel whole, so they looked to fill the hole," said Lao Tzu.
"With what?" I asked.
"With everything that won't fill it," said Jesus.
We watched as others approached the Cosmic Bug Zapper.
Some went through with almost no zap sound at all.
"Their attachments and treasures were already on the other side," said Jesus.
The Place of Zap disappeared and we looked around the coffee shop.
Many looked as if they were carrying some burden.
Others sat beaming.
Money or happiness: which is more valuable?
Success or failure: which is more destructive?
If you look to others for fulfillment,
you will never be truly fulfilled.
If your happiness depends on money,
you will never be happy with yourself.
Be content with what you have;
rejoice in the way things are.
When you realize there is nothing lacking,
the whole world belongs to you.
-- Stephen Mitchell, Chapter 44, Tao Te Ching
We sat in Macy's Coffee House at a corner table.
The place was buzzing and packed with northern Arizona exotic life forms.
"Everyone is headed toward the Cosmic Bug Zapper," said Lao Tzu.
I looked at Jesus.
"Humor him," said Jesus.
"When you reach the Place of Zap, only your essence will go through," said Lao Tzu.
A holographic vision of the Place of Zap hung in the air between us.
On one side was a large assortment of Zapped bodies, back packs, autobiographies, self portraits of people kissing the backs of their own hands.
On the other side were light beings with varying expressions on their faces: relief, amazement, pleasure, amusement, and shock.
They continued journeying on their way.
"What's in the backpacks?" I asked.
"Those were the monkeys on their backs," said Lao Tzu.
"Attachments," said Jesus.
"They did not feel whole, so they looked to fill the hole," said Lao Tzu.
"With what?" I asked.
"With everything that won't fill it," said Jesus.
We watched as others approached the Cosmic Bug Zapper.
Some went through with almost no zap sound at all.
"Their attachments and treasures were already on the other side," said Jesus.
The Place of Zap disappeared and we looked around the coffee shop.
Many looked as if they were carrying some burden.
Others sat beaming.
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