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Don’t Worry About Tomorrow
Adapted from The Third Jesus, by Deepak Chopra (Harmony Books, 2008).
Jesus explicitly told his followers not to earn a living, save money, plan ahead, or worry about the future. The quoted phrase, “So do not worry about tomorrow,” is a fragment of that teaching, but the rest of the Sermon on the Mount reinforces that point again and again. If he was offering one of his most radical injunctions, it became the least followed. Like everyone else, Christians worry, plan, earn a living, and amass money and possessions.
The teaching isn’t viable in ordinary consciousness, yet if you apply it on the spiritual path, asking for change beyond the ordinary, something new begins to emerge. A random, mindless universe is transformed into a safe haven, a home for every person, filled with life’s necessities. Jesus called this safe haven Providence because its purpose is to provide. Learning to trust Providence is a process.
Exercise
Only the present is real. It contains the fullness of the world and fullness of spirit at the same time. But the present is elusive. We all lead our lives by remembering the past and anticipating the future. Therefore, the real and unreal are inexorably blended. They are so entangled, in fact, that the present must be retrieved piecemeal; you cannot leap into it all at once.
If you example the true present moment one quality at a time, it is composed of the following:
Alertness: Being awake.
Openness: Being free from expectations.
Freshness: Not being overshadowed by the past.
Innocence: Not judging from old experience.
Spontaneity: Allowing new impulses to come in without criticism or censorship.
Fearlessness: The absence of traumas from the past.
Replenishing: The capacity to renew oneself from within.
All these qualities are present inside you; young children display them all the time. So your aim isn’t to learn how to be spontaneous, innocent, fearless, and the rest, but to uncover them once more.
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14 comments
add your comment »Dr. Deepak,
Thank you so much for this article. Yes, Christians to worry, but it is not in line with the teachings of Christ. Christ teaches Faith, and Faith and Worry are two opposite forces. They do not mix, Christ is not divided. The truth of the matter is some has given Him a bad rap by perverting His true image. Thank you, sir.
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Renee, I believe I can help a little bit. The Scripture references warning aginst "storing up" actually points to the folly of mis-placed priorities and a failure to be temperate. This does not speak against saving, and having personal, nice things for oneself. Christ was rich and became poor so that His followers may be rich. This too, is not limited to material things. It takes searching the Scriptures to find this. I do not have space here to really break it down. It takes indepth reading of these passages and Scripture research in order to find this. When it comes to earning a living the Apostle Paul through leadership of the Holy Spirit instructed young Timothy in matters concerning the church and how believers should conduct themselves:"...but if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel." This is found in 1Timothy, chapter 4 verse 8. What I have quoted is in the King James Version.
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The present is a gift that we rarely say thank you for, it is often taken for granted or overlooked. Such conditioning we have received from our society and upbringing that we hurtle ahead into the future or become paralyzed by the past. Great reminder. I haven't read this book yet, will add it to my list. Thanks for this. www.GrassdancerEssences.com
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ENDLIGHTENING...
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I'm so aware of this. Just yesterday noticing my breathing and the stillness of the present moment. Also that most of my thoughts actually consisted of the past. I'm working on being in the present moment. And certainly appreciate this information.
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Wonderful experience in momentary,introspective and contemplative thinking.Truly,and sincerely I believein Providence and always positively.This moment I cherish and feel happy about and so will the moments that follow usher happiness. Very good thinking.
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Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not neither do they reap nor gather into barns: yet your heavenly Father feedeth them, if God feedeth the grass of the field, shell he not much more feed and clothe you, Mat. 6,
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yes dont worry about tomorrow live for the moment that is all we have be kind to your neighbor and love life ,life is short, put it all in gods hands he has took care of me since i have been born sureits not a eay road but then one wouldnt gain strength and patience , keep the faith dont let go,
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Thank you, Thank you!! I really need it.I love your books.
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what was written is inspiring. listen to what is being said here. and be realistic, of course we have to earn a living...we do not have to give ourselves up for it though.
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