The Three Poisons
Greed.
Anger.
Ignorance.
Three little words. Three heavy chains keeping us trapped in the cycle of birth and death.
For too long, I think I've dismissed them as 'elementary' topics. It's Buddhism 101 and I'm certainly more advanced than that. How ignorant.
At the end of the day, I often find myself reflecting on my many failings as a husband, a parent, a 'productive' member of society. The absolute loathing I feel for other drivers on my morning commute. The unnecessarily harsh word directed at my son over something petty. All proof that I need to revisit the basics regularly and often, for I've apparently mastered nothing.
Now, this isn't meant to be all woe is me, but rather, a little reminder that as long as we're human, we're students. If there is any wisdom that comes with age, it's simply an acknowledgment of our own foolishness. It's also a reminder of why the Pure Land path is right for me – I'm not escaping this place on my own.
Why do we so easily become angry? We do so because we do not understand, we are ignorant of reality. We are attached to self-importance, our view of who we are, to the concept of “I.” When my concept of “I” is threatened, “I” very often strikes out in anger.
How can we eliminate our three poisons?
Letting go and giving offset greed. Patience and loving-kindness counteract hatred. Wisdom, which already lies within our true nature, counter ignorance.