The Buddha. ~ Lao Tse. ~ Jesus of Nazareth. The originators of the three wisdom traditions discussed in this book did not set out to create religions. They meant to share what they had discovered about the workings of the world. They wanted to help their contemporaries open their eyes to alternative ways of living. But then, institutions formed around their words and concepts, which were soon overtaken by the goals and needs their followers. What we are most familiar with is this edited and redacted version of their original messages. However, we can see glimmers of their fundamental ideas in the original, primitive texts that remain. With some effort, we can unearth, know and savor the essence of their teachings. The three essays that make up this book are explorations of these original ideas. We will examine the work of the many scholars and academics who have peeled back these distortions. This will allow us to see the original texts with fresh eyes, and to discover what they have found: the unadulterated core teachings of three great, wise men.