One day, while Jesus was walking downtown on his way to having lunch with some friends, he met one of his former students, a middle-aged businessman named Tom. Tom had taken some courses with Jesus after having followed the Buddha for a while and became Jesus’ friend as well as one of his most eager students.

Although Jesus was a bit rushed, having been delayed in a meeting at his office, he was happy to see Tom, so he greeted him warmly and began a conversation.

Tom was preoccupied, lost in thought really, so he was surprised when he saw Jesus, who asked him, “How are you doing, Tom? What’s troubling you? I can see the worry on your face. Are Marian and the kids alright?”

Tom was annoyed that his demeanor had betrayed his angst. “Jesus, they’re all fine,” he began.

Jesus picked it up there, “But?”

Tom smiled. Jesus knew him too well. “Jesus, you always taught us that to reach the Kingdom of God, not just in the future but right here and right now, we have to love God with all our being and love our neighbors as ourselves.”

Jesus nodded.

“But how can I love God? How can love my neighbor as myself? Jesus, I don’t even know how to love myself! How can I even learn that, much less go on to love everyone else?” Tom sighed deeply and his shoulders dropped.

Jesus smiled at him and said, “Practice mindfulness.”

Tom was stunned, “But Jesus,” he protested, “that’s what the Buddha taught us when I studied with him. Mindfulness, mindfulness, mindfulness–that’s all he ever talked about, it seemed. He constantly reminded us to be mindful and asked us if we were practicing mindfulness. I thought mindfulness was a Buddhist idea, and now you, Jesus, are asking me to practice mindfulness, too?”

Jesus smiled warmly and said, “Yes.” After looking at his watch, he excused himself. “Good seeing you, Tom. I’m late for lunch. Be well and keep practicing!”

Tom was even more frustrated as he said, “Goodbye, Jesus.” He continued on his way and after about ten steps, he stopped suddenly. Everything around him looked the same, but in an instant it had become clearer and brighter. He became calm as he noticed that all his anxiety, perfectionism, and sense of doing his spiritual practice “the wrong way” dropped from him like leaves falling from a tree on an autumn afternoon.

In that moment, he became enlightened. He smiled as he continued walking to his office, drinking up all the delicious content he was receiving through his senses.