"Resist not evil! This is one of Jesus' greatest Zen teachings, albeit an underappreciated one. It has seldom been understood or accepted by the general public because it runs against our common sense and our traditional notion of morality. The mind is a fighter. It asks, 'If it is evil, why not fight it?' Not long ago, I was in a Bible study session with a group of Christians. We were studying a verse from Ecclesiastes: 'Be not righteous overmuch, and do not make yourself overwise' (Eccles. 7:16). No one knew what it meant. Yet these are the great Zen sayings from the Bible.

" 'Resist not evil' is a profound teaching. On a psychological level, it means the genuine acceptance of all our negative emotions, no matter how vicious or poisonous they may look on the surface. It is extremely difficult to do, for it requires a high level of spiritual maturity. One does not develop a genuine acceptance of these poisons until one really understands the nature of the ego and will no longer be fooled by the games it plays."