Our real treasure

I want to bring you another sample from Marcus Borg's book, Jesus and Buddha: The Parallel Sayings. This teaching has to do with our values and the recognition of that which cannot be taken away from us:

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal; but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal.

-- Jesus (Matthew 6.19-20)

Let the wise man do righteousness: A treasure that others can not share, which no thief can steal; a treasure which does not pass away.

-- The Buddha (Khuddakapatha 8.9)

I used that first quote in one of my handouts for the Foundations in Meditative Practice course. It's intended to encourage us in our practice so that we don't pour all our energy into material things that don't last all the while neglecting our spirit. Let us all value our true treasure!