The Beatitudes
The Teaching
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Commentary
The Greek 'makarios', better rendered as 'deeply satisfied at the soul level' than merely 'blessed.' These are not commandments but observations about the nature of reality.
'Poor in spirit' points to kenosis, the emptying of the ego-self, which is the precondition in all mystical traditions. It is Sunyata in Buddhism, Fana in Sufism, the Taoist 'subtract daily.'
'The meek shall inherit the earth' is almost word-for-word the Taoist teaching: the soft and yielding overcomes the hard and strong (Tao Te Ching Ch. 78). The Zoroastrian concept of Asha, the person living in alignment with the cosmic order of truth, produces the same qualities.