This week’s topic for reflection is greed, anger and ignorance. These are referred to as the three poisons and they are the source of suffering. How do you see each of these causing difficulty and conflict?
What turns a need into greed? In 1937 John D. Rockefeller had a net worth of 1.4 billion dollars making him the richest man in the world. When asked when he would feel he had enough he replied, “Just a little bit more.” In other words, there's never enough. Greed is incompatible with having the space to notice and appreciate what is right here already. What are we if not this moment? What could be more valuable than a Child’s laughter and curiosity or a spring day in the sun? As John Lennon sang, “Imagine all the people, sharing all the world.” How would the world be if there was no greed?
Anger has a close cousin, hatred. Both of these are focused, aggressive and usually harmful. Isn’t anger always directed at something external, even if the external is inside us? Is there a way to communicate no and be heard without resorting to anger? Why do we need to sometimes become angry in order to be honest? Is there something being protected? Maybe a shadow? When is letting out anger healthy or helpful? How much needless suffering is caused by hatred and anger?
Can greed or anger happen without ignorance? Ignorance is not seeing things the way they are or seeing things the way they are not. Ignorance is not “not knowing” which is wisdom or being open and curious. What follows being open curiosity is caring and compassion. What follows caring and compassion is the desire to be helpful which is the opposite of anger. The desire to be helpful is also the opposite of greed. How much suffering is caused by simple ignorance?
To be human is to have greed, anger and ignorance. Noticing when they arise in us is the first step in learning to not act them out in harmful ways. How do you transform these three poisons into helpful medicine?
Please join us on Zoom for morning zazen from 7:00 to 7:30 Tuesday and Thursday, in person Zen meditation in Eugene Saturday morning at the McNail-Riley house from 8:30 to 11:00 and Sunday morning Zoom zazen and discussion from 8:00 to 9:00 Pacific Time. Here’s the Zoom link:
Meeting ID: 811 6100 3357
Passcode: 278259
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