Everything We Do Matters

匠VEⅢⅢINC WEDo M八ITERS V<NfRA6l<WullNc

匠VⅢγⅢINC

WEDoMATTERs ＼／EHER八RLE＼〉〈／ULINO

正V匠RγⅢINC

WEDoMATI匠Rs VENER八ⅢE＼〉〈／uLINO

八川IT八月H八pU0LIC八TI○NS CHIc八C○

VenerabIeWulingisanAmericanBuddI]istnunofthePureLand schooIofMahayanaBuddhism.Moreofherwritingcanbe『oundat wwwamitabha-pul)Iications.org.

AmitabhaPubIications,C}]icago,60532

•2007byAmitabhaPublications Somerightsreserved

ReprintingisaIIowed「ornon-profituse.Nopartoftbisbookmaybe aIteredwitboutpermission廿omthepubIisher.FortheIatestedition, contactwww.amitabha-publications.org

l5l4l3l245678

lSBN:978-l-59975-358-4

LibraryofCongressControINumber:20079075l9

TheCorporationRepubIicoIlwaDzanSociety 2F,No.333-l,Sec4.HsinYiRoad,Taipei,Taiwan Tel:（886）-2-2754﹣7l78Pax;（886）﹣2﹣275斗-7262 E-MaiI:bwadzan@hwadzan.tw

PormoreteacI]ingsandgiftsoftheDharma’pIeasevisit www.amitablTa-publications.org

ć&#x2026;¨ lNAPPREclATIoN

Tomymother) EvelvnBoIender. lcametovisitherfOrthreemonthsbuthad

thegoodfOrtunetobewithberfOrtbreeyears untilherpassing Muchofthisbookwaswritteninherhome.

SomeIifetimeswearetruIybIessed withIaughterasweIIas}ove

CoNTENTs

AcknowIedgmentvii

EverythingWedoMattersl MaintainingtheCaIm,C}earMindl4 Vengeance28

TbePoisonsofGreedâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Anger,andlgnorance43 GoodwiI,Compassion,andEquanimity54 Appreciation65 PourAssurances77

TransformingGreedandAnger88

CIimateChange:WithOurThoughtsWe CreatetheWorIdl33

EⅦRY「HINcWEDoM／﹨『TERs

一訾卡 EvERY『ⅢNGWEDoMATTERs

lna>andandtimeverydistantfromus,twomen encounteredoneanother.OnewasaBra}]min,a

Hindupriest.HereaIizedthatthemanhewas>ook-

ingatwasnoordinarybeingandsoheinquired:“Are youagod?}’<‘No,Brahmin”‘‘AreyouanangeI>”MNo’ Brahmin.’)“Areyouaspirit?”“No,Brahmin.”“What areyouthen>”MIamawake,l’repIiedtheBuddha.

Byhisownassertion,theBudd}Iawasnotagod HewasanordinarymanIivinginawor}denguIfedin greed,anger,ignorance,anddeIusion.

Twenty-fiveI]undredyearsago,wbentheBuddha wasteachingwhatbehadawokento’hisworIdwas

simiIarinmanywaystoourworIdtoday.Therewere greatcentersofcu}ture’andtherewerelandsof

stagnation.Therewererulerswithgreatpowerwbo

thirstedforevenmore’andtherewereoppressed peopIewhoonIywantedtoIiveinpeace.TI]erewere l

EVERYIHINGWEDOMAT丁ERS

menwhosaidthattheyaIoneheIdthekeytospiritualsecrets,andtherewerethosewhosearchedfor

differentanswers.Therewerepeop>ewI]ohadgreat weaItb,andtberewerethosewbobadnothing.

Tberewerepeoplewbosaidwemustcbange,and therewerethosewhodeniedtherewasanything wrongPerbapsthatdistantIandandtimeisnotthat distantafteraIlGreed’anger,ignorance,anddelusionaresti>Iverymuchwithus. lntbeworldtoday’webearsomuchaboutconfIict:EconomicconfIictbetweenthedeveIoped countriesandthird-worldcountries.CuIturaIconf>ict

betweentheEastandtheWest.Sectarianconflictin theMiddIeEast.Et}]nicconflictinAfrica.Somuc}I

prideandarrogance,somuchbatred,somucbpain.

WbenevengovernmentIeaderscannotpeacefUlly resoIvetheworId!sprobIems>whatarewesupposed todo?Howcanwe)individualswithoutpoweror

influence,hopetoaccompIishanythingpositivein tbefaceofsuchfuryandintoleranceP InourtechnoIogicalIy-advancedworld,istbere anythingwecan}earnfromthismanwborodeaway onenigbtleavingbehindalifeofsensoryinduIgence’

privilege,andpowertospendt}Ierestofhislife 2

EvERγTHINGWEDoMATrERs

walkingbarefootacrosslndiaandNepal,sleeping undertrees,andbeggingforhisfood?IstbereanythingwecanlearnfromtI]ismanwboawoketotbe truthtwenty-fivehundredyearsago?

IfweviewBudd}]ismmere}yasare>igionfiIed withrituaIsandgonofurther’no>wewiIlnotbenefit.ViewingBuddhismintI]isway>wemayputtoo muchenergyintocreatingtheperfectpracticespace.

Andwemayruntheriskofbecomingengrossedin tbeaccoutrementsofpractice:robesandmeditation cushions’incenseandmusicalinstruments.ApproacbingBuddhismint}]isway,ourtimewiIIbe spentcapturingtheappearanceofBuddhistpractice ratherthanappIyingtheteachings.

IfweviewBuddhismso}eIyasastudyofmorality, concentration’andwisdom,t}]enagain,no,wewill notbenefit.lfwemereIystudyBuddbism,wemay readmanybooksandgainknowIedge>butwewiIInot experience╴andwewiIInotsavoI╴thejoyofthe Dharma.TheDharmaistheuniversaItruththatthe

BuddhabimseIfexperiencedandthenreIatedtous.If weonIyreadaboutBuddhism’wewiI]avemisused

ourtimebyinte}lectua}izingtheteachingsinsteadof practicingthemJuststudyingBudd}]ism’oranyfaith 3

E\/ERYTHlNGWEDOMATIERS

traditionorethicaIteaching’wiIIdonothingtosolve ourprobIems.Weneedtoact.Buthow> lfweconcurrentlvviewBuddhismasateaching ofmoraIity)concentration,andwisdom,andwe practiceit,yes,then-andonIythen-canBuddhism truIyheIpus.On}ywl]enweexperiencewhattbe BuddhawastaIkingaboutwiIIwebegintobenefit ourseIvesandourwor}d

Wheredowestart?WecanstartwitI]twofunda-

mentaIpreceptsfromtheBuddha:todonoharmand topuri吋ourmindsHedidnotteⅡustoinstruct otherstocorrecttheirfaults.Hedidnotsaywe shouIdforceothersintothinkingaswedoorbeIitt>e otherstomakeourselveslooksuperiororwiser.He toIdusthatifwewishtoawaken,wewouIdneedto

stopbIamingothersforourprobIems,tostoparguing withothers,andtostop>udgingothers.

Instead,weneedtoIookatourse}ves,understand

oursituations,andassumefuIresponsibiIityfor

whathappenstous.WereapwhatwesowOurlives todayaretheresuItofwhatwethought,said,anddid inthepast.WI]atwethink,say,anddotodaywiI, Iikewise,shapeourfuture.Ifweharmothers,wewiII be}]armed.IfweIoveotbers)wewiIIbe}oved·lfwe 斗

E﹨∕ERY「HINcWEDoMAT兀Rs

havepeacefuItboughts)wewiI]avepeace.EverythingwiIIcomebacktousful}circIe.Tbus, everythingwedomatters.

TheBuddbatoldusnottoharmothers.Howdo

weaccomplishthis>MoraIity-dotootI]ersasyou wou>dhavethemdotoyou.TheBuddl]aexpressed thesameideawhenbesaid,“Donothurtotberswith

thatwbichhurtsyourseIf.”Mohammedsaid,“None

ofyouisabeIieveruntiIyouloveforyourneighbor whatyouIoveforyourseIf.”HiIIeIsaid,“Whatis hatefultoyou,donotdotoothers.”Confuciussaid, $WhatyoudonotwishforyourseIf,donotdoto others.>’lfyouwouIdnotwantsomeonetoIietoyou, donotlietoothers>fyouwouldbeunhappyif someonetooksomethingfromyou,tbendonottake

anythingwithouttheownerspermission.lfyou wouIdbeupsetifsomeonespokeharsbIytoyou’ thendonotspeakhars}]}ytoothers.

Therealityistbatthereislitt}ewecandoto

quicklyandeasilybringaboutchangeonagIobal scaIe.ButtbereisagreatdeaIthateachofuscan do-andmustdo-tochangeourseIves.TheonIy waytoacbieveworldpeaceistocreatepeacewithin eachofuslftherearefirestothenorth,south’east, 5

EVERYrHINGWEDOMATä¸ ERS

andwestofus,donotexpecttoavoidgetting

burnedApersonsurroundedbyfirewiIsuffer.Ifwe wantaharmonioussociety,wemustcreateharmony inourfamilyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;inourworkpIace,andinourcommunities.Insteadofbeingconsumedbythefireofour craVngandanger,weneedtocreatepeace.

W}]enwe}]earsuchwords,wearemoved,andwe

nodourheadsinagreement.Treatingothersaswe wanttobetreatedsoundswonderfulTbesetruthfuI

wordsfaIikeraindropsonheartsthataretbirsting forgentlenessandserenity.TheyIuswitbjoy.

Buttheminutewestopfocusingont}]ewords,we forget|Soquicklytheawarenessand>oyfadeaswe arepulIedbackintoeverydayconcerns.Perhapsthis wilIhappenevenaswedrivebometoday.Howeasy itwi>lbetosIipbackintoseIfisbnessandforgetto treattheotherpersonontheroadaswewisbtobe treated.Howreadi}ywewiImakeatboughtIess remarkaboutsomeoneandinadvertentlypolIuteour mindandthemindsofthosewithus.Forgettingthat

wedonotwantothersinjectingtheirharshwords

intoourpeacefu}thoughts,wewiIcarelessIyintrude ontbepeacefulthoughtsofotbers.

Topracticenotharmingothers,weneedconcen6

EvERY「HINGWEDoMAT丁ERs

tration-theabilitytofocusonourchosentask.To notharmothers,andthusnotbarmourseIves’we needtofocusonwhatwearethinkingandonwhat weareabouttodo.ButwerarelydoeithermindfulIy. Therearefartoomanydistractionsaroundus.

TbereissomuchwewanttoIearn,somanytoyswe wanttopossess,somanyexperienceswewantto

have-wewant,wewant)wewant.OurdesirespuIl usfirstinonedirectionandthenaImostimmediateIy inanother.Whatwewantedsourgent>y>astyear’we wanttorep>acethisyear.WearepuIedbyourcravings,soweremainprisonersofourownattachments andaversions-IittIewonderwecannotconcentrate| Butlearntoconcentratewemust.UnIesswelearnto

bemastersofourminds’wewillcontinuetobe slavestoouremotions.

Donotbarmany}ivingbeing.TheBuddha showedushow.Oncewebegintoreinourse>vesin byliVngmoralIy)wewiIlcommitfewerwrongdoings. lnthisway’wewil】be｝essplaguedbyguiIt.WewiⅡ react>essfromemotionsandmorefromreason.

Harmingotherslesswillresultinourworryingless.

Bynotwastingtimeworrying,ourmindswiIbe 7

EvERYrHlNGWEDOMATTERs

moreatease,andwewiIIbebetterabletofocuson

whatwewishto:perbapsonourspiritualpracticeor simplyonwhatwearedoing.

AsweprogressivelybecomecaImer,ourconcentrationwiIenabIeustotouc}Iourinnatewisdom.

TbisisthewisdomthattheBuddhaexperiencedand

thenspokeofltaIreadyliesdeepwithineachofus.

Butwehaveyettoenter,mucblessfunctionfrom’ tbisclear,intuitivewisdom.

Ascaringmembersofsociety,itisourresponsibiIitytopracticetheVrtuesofharmlessness’ compassion,andequanimity.Thesevirtuesliedeep withinus,withinourtruenature.Tbistruenatureis thesameastbatofaIBuddI]as.Thetruenatureof

Buddhas-theirveryessence-isIoving-kindness, altruism’andtranquility.Thesequalitieslieattbe coreoftbeirbeing,andours.

A}thoughsuchvirtuesarealreadywithineachone ofus’alItoooftentbeyIiedormant.Why?Because wearethoroughIyengr0ssedinfooIishattemptsto

satisfyourpersonaIdesiresWeareconVncedthat ourwayofdoingthingsiscorrectandthatourhappinessIiesinpossessionsandpower.Consequently, weareintentongettingotberstodothingsourway 8

Ev巴RγTHINcWEDoMA﹞丁ERs

andonaccumuIatingweaIthandinfIuence.A}tboug}] wehavethesametruenatureasaBuddha,wefaiIto

experiencethewondersoftbistruenatureWe consistentIyfaIbackintoourbadhabits.Thus,we endupactingfromourhumannature’aI}thewbiIe

buryingourtruenatureevendeeperwithinus.

TheBuddhaknewtheprobIemsof}]umanityfor hehadexperiencedtheInButheovercamethose probIems.Heawoket}]rougbthepracticeofmoraIity>concentration’andwisdom.Heexperiencedtbe truthofthecosmos.Hefoundthepathtoawakening andIeftcIearguideIinestoenableustofoIowafter }]im.ButtI]atwasaIIhecouIddo-Ieaveguidelines.

AscompassionateasBuddhasare,theyareunable togoagainsttbenaturaIIawsoftheuniverse.Tbey knowthetruthAndtI]eyknowthattl]enaturallaws wbichgoverntheuniversecannotbechanged,not evenbyaBuddha.So,asmucbastheywanttobelp us’BuddhascannotundowhatweI]avealreadyset lntomotion.

IcreatedmyIife.OnIylcanchangeit.YoucreatedyourownIife.Onlyyoucanchangeit.Others createdtbeirlives.OnIytbeycanchangetheirIives.

OurIivestodayarethedirectresultofwhatwe 9

EVERYTHlNGWEDOMATTERS

thought,whatwesaid,andwhatwedidinouryesterdays.Aswehavelearned,ourtodays’justlikeour yesterdays,are>ivedinthisseIfsameworId,awor}d enguIfedingreedandanger>aworIdenvelopedin ignoranceanddelusion.

Greedisourendlesscraving,andangeriswhat ariseswhenourgreedisunfuIfilledIgnoranceisour lackofunderstandingthetruthsthatunderliewhatis happeningtousandaroundus.DeIusionismistakingwrongideasforthetruthDuetoour ignoranceanddeIusion,webeIieveinideasthatare wrongandrejectthosethatarecorrectandbeneficialButwedosonotbecausewearebadpeopIe. Lazy?Yes.Easilydistracted?Yes.lmpatientand judgmental?Yes.Butbecausewearebadpeople?

No.

LackingtheabilitytocIear}ydiscernrigbtfrom wrong,weautomaticallyreactoutofourbadhabits and,consequently,weareimpatientandinconsiderate.Inmostinstances’ourintentionsarenottoharm

others.Wearejustsoeasilycaughtupinourdesires> wisbes,andexpectations.Whentheseareunfu}filled,inourimpatienceanddisappointment,wegive

intoanger’Whichrisesfromwithinus,uninVted >0

EvERYI﹃HINcWEDoMAT丁ERs

andunnoticedSoeasiIy’soautomaticaIly,wefeeI resentmentandirritation,ifnotoutrightrage. lntbegripofthesenegativefeelings’wereactto otherpeopIe’tooursituations,notoutoftbewishto heIpothersbutfromthecompeIIingurgetoprotect ourseIves.AngerariseswhenweareseIfisb,wbenwe areonIythinkingofwbatwewantbutfailedtoobtain.Theotherpersondoesnotgoalongwithour ideas-wedonotreceivetheiragreementandpraise forourc!everness.Theitemwewanteludesus-we

donotpossesstheobjectweareconVncedwouId

makeusbappy.Thepersonwedesirere>ectsus-we areaIoneandafraid

AIthesefearsIieatthecoreofouranger.We conVnceourselvesthattbeideas,thepossessions, thepersonwiIImakeus}]appy.Wewantittobappen-weexpectittohappenlButourexpectations faiItomateriaIize.HappinessonceagaineIudesus.

InsteadofIookingatourseIvestoseeifweperhaps werethecause,webIameotbersforarguingwithus, fornotgivinguswhatwedeservetobave’fornot lovingusaswehope.Andsoourfearofnotbeing admiredbyothers,ourfearofnothavingwhatothers have,ourfearofbeingloneIyandaIonearise.We ll

EVERYTH}NCWEDOMATTERS

strikebackdefensiveIyattbosearoundus.Westrike atthoseweperceiveashaVngrobbedusofwbatwe wanted,ofwhatwefeItwedeservedtoobtain,andof wI]atwebeIieveothersaIreadv}]ave.Weareafraid 割

Inourfear’wefeeIvulnerabIe.lnourinsecurity andanxiety’ourfeargivesbirthtoanger.Wemay hoIdourbitterness,resentment,orpaininside,orwe mayreactbystrikingoutattI]eotberperson.Either

way,wegiveintoanger0nceagainlnthesameway, ourfamiIymembersgiveintoanger.Friendsandcoworkersgiveintoanger.Thosewithpowerandthe meanstoinfIictgreatharmgiveintoanger.Andour worIdisengu>fedingreedanddisappointment,in ignoranceanddelusion,andinangerandretaliation.

Not>ustindividuaIsbutgroupsofpeopIe’bound togetherbyethnicity,reIigion,orbypoIitics,reactin thesameway:withgreed,fear,anger,reta}iation.

Whatistheanswer)Howdoweresolveconflictand

attainpeaceP

WishfuItbinkingwiIlnotendthe}IatredandintoleranceintheworId.MereIyreadingbookswiInot soIveourprobIems.Relyingonotherscertainlydoes notworkTheonIywaytocreatepeaceistbrougb hardworkanddedication,andbyunderstandinghow l2

E﹨／巴l｛Y「HINcWEDoM∕﹨T丁EI｛s

muchisatstakebere.We,eachoneofus,mustbe dedicatedWemustdothebardwork.

ButweneednotdiscoverbowtodotbeworkThe

BuddhashaveaIreadytaughtuseverytbingweneed toknowandshownusthepathweneedtofollow.

Wecantakecomfortintheknowledgethatalthough Buddhascannotgetusoutofthechaoswebavecreated,theywiI]eIpusas|ongasweneedtbemto.

Thistheydobycontinuingtoteachusandshowing ustheway.We>ustneedtoIistenandfoIowtbeir guidance.

Donotharmotl﹞ersPuri吋yourmindDotooth﹣ ersasyouwouIdhavethemdotoyou’Morality, concentration’andwisdom-t}]eseprovideaproven pathtofoIIow.TbeBuddhareachedtheendofit twenty-fivehundredyearsagoandawakenedWetoo canreachtheendofthepathandawaken.A}Iwe needtodoisstepontoitand)then,Ietnothingdeter usfromfindingthewaytounderstandingandpeace.

l3

EVERYTHlNGWEDOMATTERS

璧﹤ MAINTAlNlNGTHECALM,CLEARMlND

OnetimewhentheBuddhawasstayinginSravasti, anincidentcametohisattention.CIosetowherehe

wasvisitingresidedanumberofmonksandnuns.It happenedthatwbensomenunswerespokeniI}of, oneofthemonkswouldbecomeangry.Whent}]at monkwasspokeniIIof,thenunswouIdbecome angry.Afterconfirmingwiththemonkthatthiswas accurate,tbeBuddhaadvisedthemonkthathe

sbou>ddiscipIinehimselfandhoIdthethoughts:“My mindwiIInotcbange<beswayedlIwi}lnotutter evilwords,IwiIIabidewithcompassionandloVng

kindnesswithoutanangrythought.”l

ISisterUpaIavanna,trans}ator,KakacUpamaSur[a’MN2l’

（http:／∕www.saigon.com／～anson／ebud八nai】hima／02l﹣ kakacupama-sutta-el.htm) l4

MAlNTAlN<NGT}-{ECALM>CLEARM<ND

TbeBuddhathentoldthemonasticstoalways remembertbatevenordinariIycalmmindscanbe disturbedindifficulttimes.Sothemonasticsneeded

totraint}]emse}vestoremaincalm,regardIessoftbe situation.TheBuddharecountedhowtberewas

onceawomanwhoIivedint}]esamecityw}]ere}]e andtbemonasticscurrentlywere.Everyoneregarded thewomanasgentIeandquiet.S}]ebadaslave namedKa}iwhowascIeverandbardworking.Ka>i wonderedwhet}]erbermistresswasasmiId-

temperedassheseemedMig}]thermistressactuaIly behidingabadtemperPPerhapsKaliwassoefficienttbathermistresshadnothadcausetoreveal

hertruetemper| KaIidecidedtotesthermistressbygettingup laterthanusuaIonemorning.Whenthemistresssaw KaliandaskedherwhyshegotupIate,Kalirespondedthatshedidnothaveareason.Tbemistress becameangry.ThenextmorningKaIigotupeven later.Oncemore’hermistressquestionedher.And oncemore,KaIirepIiedthatsbedidnothaveareason.Whentbishappenedyetagainonthethird morning,theinfuriatedmistressstruckKaIi.Bleeding’KaliranoutofthehousecryIn只outtbather l5

E﹨／ERYTHINGWEDOMAT丁ERS

mistresshadhitberbecauseshe}]adgottenuplateI Wordofwhathadhappenedspreadandwithitthe reportthatthemistresswasactualIyvioIentandbadtempered TheBuddhapointedouttothemonasticsthatas IongastheydidnothearanythingdisagreeabIeor unpIeasant,mostofthemwerequietandweIIbehavedButwhentheyheardsomething objectionabIe’suchwordsbecameatestasto

whethertheyweretrulycaImandpoIite.TbeBuddhagaveanexample:Monksmaybegentleandkind becausetbeyhaveeverythingtheyneedButifthey becomeupsetwhentheirneedsgounfulfiIIed,tben theyarenottruIygentIe. TheBuddbaexpIainedtothemonksthattbereare fiveaspectsofspeechbywhichothersmayspeakto tbem:“timeIyoruntimely,trueorfa>se’affectionate orbarsh,beneficialorunbeneficial’withaInindof

good-wiIIorwitbinnerhate.’’2Inthesecircumstances,theyshouldtrainthemseIvesbythinking: “OurmindswiIIbeunaffectedandwewiIIsaynoeVl 』ThanissaroBhikkhu’Ka／a!刀aSurra,ANⅡl65（l994）

(http://accesstoinsight.org/canon/sutta/anguttara/an03065htmI) l6

M/\INTAlNINcTHECALM,CLE/\RMIND

words.WewiIIremainsympathetictothatpersons weIfare’withamindofgoodwiIandwithnoinner hate.WewiIkeeppervadinghimwithanawareness imbuedwithgoodwilland,beginningwitl]him,we wiIIkeeppervadingtbealI-encolnpassingworIdwith anawarenessimbuedwithgoodwiII-abundant’ expansive,immeasurabIe,freefromhostiIity>free fromiIlwiII.”3 TheBuddhacontinuedthatevenifrobberswere

tocarvethemonksupIiInbbylimb,withatwohandIedsaw,t}]emonkwI]obecameangryevenat thatwouIdnotbedoingtheBuddha’sbiddingHe instructedthemonasticsthatevenundersuchcir-

cumstances,theyneededtotrainthemselvesto maintainanunaffectedmindandtocontinuously pervadetheuniversewitbthougbtsofgoodwiII,by eIiminatinghatredandnotspeakingevilwords.

TbeBuddbaaskediftherewouIdbeanyspeech theycouIdnotendureweretheytofolIowthisguidance.Tbeyrespondedthattherewasnone.Hethen toIdtbemtbattheyshouldcaIItomindoftenthe SimiIeoftbeSaw,fordoingsowouIdbringthem lb d ●■﹣■且

]

•

l7

EVERYrHlNCwEDOMATTERS

happinessandgreatbenefit.

TbeBuddbawasteachingthemtodiscipline themseIvesandtotrainbyrememberingthesewords ofadvicewhenevertheyheardpeoplespeakingto themusingspeechthatwastimeIyoruntimely,true orfaIse,affectionateorharsh,beneficiaIorunbene-

ficiaI’withamindofgood-willorwithinnerhate.In otherwords,theyweretotrainthemseIvesbyrememberingthesewordsofadVceatalItimes.

Pirst’themonksweretotrainsothattheirminds

remainedunaffectedTomaintainacaIm,cIear,and

unperturbedmind,wesbouIdnotalIowtbatwhich wesee’hear,taste,touch’orthinktodisturband

thustaintourpuremind.WhateverbasbeenperceivedmustnotmovethemindbutbeaIIowedtofa>I

away,justasanimagemovinginfrontofamirroris refIectedbutisnolongerpresentafterpassingoutof sigbt.

AIso,themonksweretosaynoeVIwords.Like them,wecanendeavortoneveragainsaywordsthat arefalse,harsh,diVsive,orenticingThisguideline ofsayingonlywhatiscorrect>honest,andbeneficiaI enabIesustokeepourspeechproper.Sooftenwhen wearespeakingwithothers,wedonotsayanytbing l8

MA!NTA}NlNcTHECALM>CLEARMIND

be>pfulbutinsteadinduIgeinidlechatterorfrivoloustalk.lfthereisnothingcorrect,honest,and beneficialtosay’itwou>dbewisertoremainquiet.

Thiswaywewi>lnothavetoregretwbatwebave saidorwonderhowtoundotheharmwehavedone.

Wbenspeakingwitbothers’itisalsoimportantto findtherighttimetodiscusssensitivematters.Embarrassingor}]urtingsomeonebecausewecbosethe wrongtimetospeaktothemwiIIcauseadditional suffering.Purtbermore,itwiIdonothingtocorrect thesituation.Weneedtofindboththerigbtwords andtherigbttimetosaythosewords.

Next,themonksweretoremainsympatbeticto thatpersonsweIfare,witbamindofgoodwiIand withouthate.Weneedcompassionnotjustforthe abusedbutaIsofortheonewboistheabuser·One

wboburtsothersdoesnotunderstandcausality’does notunderstandthatbydoingtbisbeorshewill continuetobepuIIedbackagainandagainintothe cycleofinfIictingandreceivingpainPeopIewho burtothersdonotunderstandthatthepersonsthey arehurtingbadhurttheminthepast.Byretaliating now,tbeyarejustperpetuatingtbiscycIeofpain.

Weneedsympathyandcompassiontounderstand l9

EVERY「HlNCWEDOMATTERS

howbothtbevictimizerandtheVctimarecaughtin thiscvcIe.Unawareofthecauseandeffectthathas

broughttbemtothispoint;theyareunabletoact wiseIy.TbisiscertainlyunderstandabIe.Howmany ofushave}earnedaboutcausality)Weshou}dunderstandwhatisrealIyhappeningwhennegative thingsoccurinourIives·Butwhensuchthings happen,howoftenareweabletoremaincalmand reactwise}y? lfwearesympat}]etictoothers’we}farewhile maintaininggoodwi}I,commiseration,andIoVngkindnessforaIIpeopIe,thenwewiInot>udgeotbers.WewiIInotsaythatthispersonisrightandthat personiswrongbecausewewiIlcometounderstand thatwedonotknowwhatisreaIIyhappening,that wewiIike}ymistakefaIsityfortruthButifweare abletoregardbothfriendandfoewitbsympatIWand loVng-kindness’wewillthenbeabIetopracticethe noniudgmental’unconditionalgivingofIoveandthus wisbforaIlbeingstobebappy.

Next,themonkswereto}]aveamindwitboutha-

tred.NottalkingharshIytoothers,notbeing sarcastic>andnotIashingoutblind}yarewaysto

controIanger.Butweneedtogofurtber·ldeaIly,we 20

MAINTAININGTHECALM,CLE八I｛MIND

shouldnotevenho}dangerinourhearts.HoIdingon toourangerwilItainteverythingwedo:whenwe interactwithothersfromamindofbitternessand

frustration,wewiIIinfIictourangeronothers. lnconclusion’t}]eBuddhatoIdthemonksthat

tbeyweretokeeppermeatingthepersonwhospoke tothemoutofiIwiIIwithanawarenessimbuedwith

goodwiIlBeginningwiththatperson,theywereto keeppervadingtheaII-encompassingworldwithan awarenessimbuedwithgoodwiII-abundant)expansive,immeasurabIe,freefromhostiIity,andfreefrom iIIwiIllnitiaIy>wecanstartthistrainingwiththose w}]oarecIosetous:famiIyandfriendswhocarefor us.WestartherebecauseitiseasierforustoIove

thosewholoveusandwboarekindtous.ltismuch

moredifficulttoIovethosewhomwehavenegative feeIingsfor.

OnceweestabIishthismindofcompassionand goodwiIforfamiIyandfriends,wecanthenbeginto expandittoincIudepeopIewecasua>Iyencounter’ peopIewhomwehavenostrongpositiveornegative feelingsfor.AccompIishingthis’wecanbroadenthis mindofbenevoIencetoincludepeopIewedisIike, andeventualIyeventhosewehate.lfwecankeep 2l

EVERYTHlNGwEDOMATrERS

wideningtbismind,wewillgraduallybeab}eto accommodatemanyothersinanever-widening circle.Then,wecanopenupthiscaringmindto includeallbeingstbrougbouttheuniverse.Tbemore encompassingthiscaringmindis,thegreaterour respectfOrallbeingsandalltbingswillbe.Our regardforotherswiIIbringustranquilitybecausewe willnotfaIlbackintoanger,frustration,andresentn]ent.

TheBuddhaspokeoftbeSimi}eoftheSawto sbowusthatevenwhensomethinghorriblehappens, weshouIdnotfeeIaversiontowardtheonewbois

burtinganother.lfwereacttoanabusiveorviolent situationwithanimosity,thenwearemakingtbe situationworse.Wewillhaveallowedanother’sanger

todestroyourpeaceofmindandrobusofourmind ofcompassion. lfwefallintothehabitofproceedingfrombitter-

nessandanger’thenwewillbereactingoutofblind, destructiveemotion.Whenwedotbis,wearenot

belpinganyone-nottheotherperson,notourselves-becausewewil}becomeemotionally

ensnaredintheotherperson’ssituation.Ifwecan remaincalm,wewiIbaveamuchbettercbanceof 22

MAINT／﹨INlNGTH厄CALM,CLEARMIND

successfuIyutiIizingourinnatewisdomandthus knowingbowtobetruIyI]eIpful ReactingtovioIencewithviolenceonIyincreases theexisting}]ostiIity.ltmayappeartoso>vethe problematthatmomentbutweareactualIyplanting seedsformoreantagonismint}]efuture.lfonIywe hadbeenabIetoactwithwisdomint}]epast,then wewouIda>readyhavereso}vedthisenmity.But havingfaiIedtodosoonce)wehaveenableditto

grow.Andifwedonotreso>veitwithunderstanding today’thisangerandvioIencewilIincreaseandbe evenworsethenexttimeiterupts.AstbeBuddha said,hatredneverceasesbybatredbutbytheabsenceofhatred

OftenwhenlspeakoftbistopeopIe,theywould askaboutasituationwheretbeyseesomeonehurtinganotherpersonorevenattackingsomeonewe Iove.HowdoesonereactinsuchanemotionaIsituation>

TbisisexactIywhenweneedtobaveacalm mindlfwebecomeangry,tbenwewilIjustcharge bIindIyintot}]esituationandmightevenbeginto bebaveviolentIyourseIves.Wit}]acaImmind,we willhavethewisdomtoknowwI]attodoevenin

23

EvERYrHlNGwEDOMAT丁ERs

dangerouscircumstances.

ThesutrashaveaccountsinwhichtbeBuddba

encounteredangrypeopIeandviolentsituations.But heknewtherightwordstogetthroughtothepeople tobelpthemstopwhattheyweredoing.Wedonot knowtherightwordsbecauseourmindsarenot calmenoughOnlywhenourmindsaretranqui>and cIearwiIwebeabIetoaccessourinnate’nonjudgmentaIwisdomsotbatwewillknowtherightwords tospeakandtberigbtactionstotake. ldealIy’whenweseesomeonehurtinganotberor w}]ensomeoneistrylngtoharmus,weneedto understandtbatt}]isisakarmicconsequenceof somethingtbat}]appenedinthepast.Withthis understandingofcausaIityandwitbtheunderstand-

ingthatthisbodyisnotMl/’wewouIdnotfightback inemotionalIy-chargedmomentswhenattackedby another.IntheD/amoDdSunH,wereadofabodhi-

sattvawhowasviciouslyattackedandkilIedwhilehe wasmeditatingquietIyonamountainButduetohis Ievelofunderstandingandhiscalm,clearmind,be fe>tnoanger,nobatred lthinkitissafetosaythatwearenotyetattbat IevelUnabIetoreactasawakenedbeings’wecan 24

MAlNTA<NINGTHECALM,CLEARMlND

defendthepersonbeingattackedorourselvesor alternativelytrytoescapewithouthurtingtheone whoisbeingviolent.WeshouIdtrytodoeverything possib}enottoInaket}]esituationworseThemore wepracticemeditativeconcentrationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;theeasierit wouIdbetoreactfromourcaImmind.WewiIthen

knowhowtoreactwiseIyinaIlsituations.

Buttbesituationthatwearetalkingaboutisa}]y-

potheticaIonethatmostIikeIywouldneverbappen.

AmuchmoreprobabIesituationwouIdbeonewbere someonecutsusoffaswearedrivingdowntheroad

TbisbappensaIIt}]etime.lnsteadofactingoutof angerbybIowingthehornortryingtospeedupto cuttheotherpersonoff,howmightwereact?

RecentIy,ayoungwomantoIdmetbatsbepracticespatiencewhi!edriving.ShealIowsherse>fampIe timetoarriveatherdestination.Tbisenab}esherto

driveatamoderatespeed.lfsomeonecutsberoff, noprobIemINotinarush,sheisabletoremain unaffectedbythecareIessnessorrudenessofotbers.

Shemigbtarriveatherdestinationafewminutes laterthanifs}lebadbeenspeedingandweavingin andoutoftraffic,butitisworthitbecauseshe

arrivesinaca}m,bappymood 25

E﹨／ERYrHlNCwEDOMAT丁ERS

Thesearethesituationsweencounter-life)sdaily annoyancesandfrustrations.Whetheritbethe rudenessoftbeclerkinastore,thetelemarketerwe

cannotgetridof,orthepersonatworkwl]oaIways argueswitbus,thesearethereal-lifecircumstances thatweencountercountIesstimesduringtheday.

ThesearetheverytimeswhenweshouIdpractice whattheBuddhaspokeof. lfinsmaIIeverydaysituationswecanstartresponding廿omthemindthatisnotswayedby emotions-themindofsympathyandlovethatis freeofhatredandbitterness-wewiIbepIanting goodseeds.T}]esegoodseedswiI>matureintogood conditions.Withgoodconditions,wecancontinue topractice.OurpracticeofmoraIityandofrespectingandnotI]armingotberswiIIfurtherincreaseour goodconditions.Withsuchconditions’tbebad seedswilInothavetbeopportunitytomature,and wewiIlnotfindourseIvesinviolentsituations.

PoIIowingtheBuddha’sadVce,weshouIdstrive toneverloseourcalm,cIearmindandneverutter harshoreviIwordsbutinsteadtreatotherswitha

mindofsympathyandcompassion.Lettinggoofour anger,wewiIpermeatetheentireworIdwit}]an 26

MAINTAlNlNcTHECALM)CLEARMIND

awarenessimbuedwithconcern-unreserved,infi-

nite’andfree廿omhostiIityandiIIwiⅡ.

EncounteringsituationsthatarepotentiaIyupsettingandthatcouldmakeusangry,weshouldnot giveintoourdestructiveemotions.Ourhabitua>

recoursetothatangerhasresuItedintI]equarreIs, fights’andwarsthatareenguIfingourworIdtoday. lnsteadofmindIessIycuItivatinganger,recaIItbe SimiIeoftheSaw.

Ifwecankeeptrainingourmindstobeserene andtoempatbizewitbothers,wewiIgraduaIly uncoverourwisdomandknowhowtobeofhelpto

othersinanysituation.RemelnberthatuphoIdinga caIm,cIearmindisusuaIIyeasiertoaccompIisb whenwearenotemotionaIyinvoIvedandwbenwe donothaveanytbingatstake.AsweaccompIishtbis inminor’everydayevents,wewiIlseet}]atitworks.

ThiswiIgiveustheconfidencetoapplythissame teac}]inginmoretryingsituations.Aswitheverything worthwhi}e’thiswiIltaketimeandrequirea>otof patience.Butwithtin]e’wewiIgraduaIydevelop tI]ismindofserenity,commiseration,andcompasslon·

27

EVERYTHlNGWEDOMAT丁ERS

締 VENGEANcE

Wereadinthesutrashow)oneyear,aconHictarose betweentwomonks.ItwasareIativeIysmallevent

thattriggeredtheanimositybutitgradualIysplit tbemandtheirfeIowmonksintotwomaingroups.A

smaIertbirdgroupwatchedwhatwasbappeningbut didnottakesides.Membersofeachmaingroup

wereconvincedthattbeywererightandthattbe

otbergroupwaswrong.Asthesituationworsened, thetwogroupsevenbegantopracticeseparateIy. Growingincreasinglyconcernedwiththegroup conflict,someofthemonkswbodidnottakesides wenttotheBuddhaandtoIdhimwhatwashappen-

ing.Hespoketobothgroupsandencouragedtbem toresumepracticingbarmonious}y’tonotbeattachedtotheirownVewpoints,andtotryto understandthoseofothers.Butthesituationcontinuedtodeteriorate

28

VENG匠ANcE

TheBuddhawasagainaskedtopIeasetrytoreconciIethetwoopposinggroupsofmonks.Hewentto tI]emonasteryandforasecondtimespokeoftbe needforpeaceandunitywithintheBuddhistcommunity.Onemonkstoodupandrequestedthe BuddhatopIeasereturntoI]ismeditation’saylng thatt}]eywouldresoIvet}]esituationtbemseIves.

Oncemore,tbeBudd}]aaskedthemonkstostop fightingandtoreturntoharmony.Tbesamemonk repeatedwhathehadsaidand,insodoing,rejected theBuddha’sguidance TbeBudd}]atbentoldthemonksaboutaseriesof

eventsthattookpIaceIongago.KingBrahmadata ruIedaIargekingdomandcommandedastrong army.KingDigbiti,wI]oruIedasmaIIerIKingdom’ heardthatBrahmadatawasabouttoinvadehiskingdom.KnowinghecouIdneverdefeatBra}]madata>s armyandtbatmanyofhissoldierswouIdIosetheir IivesinafutiIebattIe,KingDighitifeltitwouldbe bestifheandhisqueenfledSotheywentinto bidinginanotI]ercity.AshorttimeIater,thequeen gavebirthtoPrinceDighavu.Whentheprincewas oIder,KingDighitibegantofearwhatwouIdhappen ifKingBral]madatafoundaIlthreeoftbem.Asa 29

EvERYrHlNGwEDOMAT丁ERs

result)arrangementsweremadefort}]eprincetolive eIsewhere.

Oneday,thekingandqueenwererecognized, captured’andtakentobeexecutedBycbance, PrinceDigI]avuwasonhiswaytoseehisparents, whomhe}]adnotseeninaIongtimeHewasabout torushtothemwhenbisfat}Iercriedout,“Don>t,my

dearDighavu,befar-sightedDon’tbenear-sigbted PorvengeanceisnotsettIedthroughvengeance.

Vengeanceissettledt}]roug}]non-vengeance.”4The Kingrepeatedbiswarningtwomoretimes,adding tbathewasnotderanged,andsaidthatthosewitb beartwouldunderstandwhatbemeant.

NoneoftheviIagersknewwhoDighavuwasor whatthekingwastalkingabout.Heedinghisfather’s

warning,DighavumanagedtorestrainhimseIf.He watchedhisparentsbeingexecutedanddismembered.Thatnightbebougbtwineandgaveittothe guards,whosoonbecamedrunk.Hethenmadea pyre,gatberedhisparentsremains,pIacedthemon tbepyre,andsetfiretoit.Afterpayingbisfina> respectstohisparents,hewentintotheforestto +lbid 30

VENGEANc叵

mourntheirdeath

Awbilelater’aftercomingoutofhiding’Dighavu managedtoobtainajobasanapprenticcatanelephantstabIenexttothepaIace.Oneday>whenKing Brahmadata}]eardDighavusingingandpIayingthe Iute,hewasmovedbythesoundandarrangedfor DighavutoworkinhispaIace.Servingthekingand aIwaysactingtopIeasel]im,Dig}]avugradualIywon theking}strust.

Oneday,w}]iIeKingBrabmadatawasouthunting, Dighavu,whowasdrivingt}]ekinglschariot’de}iberateIydrovethecbariotawayfromtI]erestofthe huntingparty.NotIongafter,thekingsaidhe wishedtotakeanapandsoonwenttosIeep,using Dighavu>slapforapiIIow.Dighavu’smomentof revengehadcome.HetooI(outhissword,butsud-

denlyhisfatber’swordscamebacktohimandheput theswordaway.Asecondtime,hedrewandthen sheathedhissword

AfterDighavudrewhisswordforthethirdtime,

bisfather’swords-simpIeandgentle-}]ithome.

TheytouchedDighavu’sheartthatwasfulIofhatred andconsumedbyadesireforvengeance.Hisheart knewthetruthofhisfatI]er>swordsandunderstood 3I

EVERYTHINGWEDOMATTERS

theirimport.Heeding}]isfatherIswords,Dighavu awakenedatlasttothecompassionandwisdom extantintbatselfsamebeart·Hewasabletoputnot

onlybissworddownbuthishatredandbisdesirefor vengeanceaswell

SuddenIy,thekingawokeingreata>arm.Heto>d DighavuthatI]edreamedthatPrinceDighavuwas abouttokiIbim!lnstinctiveIy,Digbavudrewhis swordyetagainandannouncedthathewasPrince

Digbavu.ThekingimmediateIybeggedDighavunot tokiIhim.Withhiscompassionandwisdomover-

cominghis}]atredanddesireforvengeance,Dig}]avu wasabletoputawayhissword.Tben,inturn,be beggedfortbekingisforgiveness.Thekingandtbe princesparedeachotber’slife’andeachvowednever toharmtheother.TbeythenreturnedtothecastIe. Backattbepalace,thekingaskedhisministers wbattbeywouIddoiftbeycouldfindPrince Dighavu.AfterhearingtheirbrutaIdescriptionsof whattheywoulddo,thekingtoldthemwbathad justtranspiredHethenturnedtoDighavuand askedthemeaningofhisfatber)sIastwords.

DigbavuexpIainedthatdonotbe危r-s杪ted meantoneshou>dnotholdontoawishforretalia32

VENcEANcE

tionDonotbeDear﹣s吵tedmeantoneshouIdnot readilybreakone)sfriendshipwithanother.AdditionaIIy’i／Engeanceisno〔se〔t／edt／﹞rol唱bvcngeance 【∕engeanceiSsert／edt／﹞ro【唱／﹞non﹣vengeanceenabIed DighavutoreaIizetbatif}]esoughtrevengefortI]e deathsofhisparentsbyldllingtbeking,theking’s supporterswouldretaIiatebykiIing}]iInTI]en Dighavu’ssupporterswouIdinturnIdlItheking’s supporters.Thisiswhyvengeanceneverends throughvengeance.lnsparingeachother>sIives, botbthekingandtheprinceendedvengeanceby }ettinggoofit.

Dighavu’sfather’swordstoDigbavutonotbefarsightedmeantnottoboIdontothewisI]forvengeance.IntbepreVoustaIk,weIearnedhowtbe BuddhahadtoIdthemonasticsonseveraIoccasions

thattheyshouIdaIwaystraintbemseIvesasfoIows: ‘‘OurmindswiIIbeunaffectedandwewiIsaynoeviI words.WewiIIremainsympatbetictothatpersons welfare,withamindofgoodwill,andwit}]noinner hate.WewiIlkeeppervadinghimwithanawareness imbuedwithgoodwiIIand)beginningwithhim>we wiIkeeppervadingt}]eaII-encompassingworIdwith anawarenessimbuedwithgoodwiII-abundant, 33

EVERYTHINGWEDOMAT丁ERS

expansive’immeasurabIe,freefrombostility,free

fromiIlwill”5Ifwegiveintoanger,ourmindwiIbe shakenandbemovedfromitsnaturaIyclear,tranquilstate.Ifweboldontoourwishforvengeance’ wewiI]arboreVIwordsaswelIasamindofhatred

andbitterness.ThenthismindwiIIhavenoroomfor

empathyorgoodwiIl Ifanyonebadarighttofeelhatredandfear, sureIyitwasKingDighiti.Yet,whenconfrontedwitb atruIyterri{yingsituation’bisoverridingtboughtwas toprotecthisson.Hedidnotcryoutforbissonto save}]imandhisqueen,orforDighavutosavehis ownIifebyfIeeing’butinsteadspoketohissons }]eartandtoldhimnottocomeforwardHethen

warnedDighavunottohoIdontoresentment,notto readiIydestroyafriendship,andnottoseekrevenge.

Thekinghadthepresenceofmindtoknowinan instantjusttheprecisewordsthatwouIdstrikethe rightchordintheheartofbisson’evenwhenhehad notseenhimforsomeyears. lmaginetheIeveIofrestraintrequiredtobeable

tospeakwiseIyoutofIoveandempathyinsteadof ,lbid

34

VENcEANcE

angerandterror.lmagine,witbeminentdangeraII around,howfocusedthemindbadtobe.lmagine thedignityittooktorelnaincaIm.Howmanyofus todayhaveevenafractionofsuchrestraintand dignity?Howmuchdowepracticerestraintinour dailylives>Andhowoften>Howdignifiedarewein ourdemeanorandbehaVor?

PictureinyourmindanimageoftheBuddha-an

awakenedbeing.WhatquaIitiesdoesthisimage bringtomind?Restraintanddignity.Patienceand compassion.Contentmentandgreatease.Theseare thequalitiesweneedtouncoverwitI]inourselvesif weareto)Iikehim)awaken.

ButourIivestodayaresofrantic.Wehaveso mucbtodo.Werushfromonetasktoanother.With

somuc}]todoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;wemustbeimportantpeoplelltisso easytobeseducedbycurrentideasofwhatasuccessfulpersonis.Wehaveseriouslystrayedfromour innervirtues.WepracticeIittIerestraint.Weexhibit

littIedignity.Wearehurtingourselves.Andeven worse>wearecausinggreat}]armtoourchildren.We aresettingt}]emonapathtbatwiIIIeadt}]emeven fartherawayfromtheirinnategoodnessandvirtues. lnsteadofpassingonourbadhabitsofseIf35

EVERYrHlNGwEDOMAT丁ERS

indulgenceandinstantgratificationtoourchiIdren> weneedtoteachtbemwhatisimportantinlifehowtobecometru}ycontentedandcaringpeopIe. Contented,caringpeopIehavenoroomforcraVngor batredintbeirhearts.Suchpeop}e}]avenoroomfor

tbougI]tsofreta>iationintheirminds.Sucbpeople areworthyoftherespectandtrustofothers.Such peopleareateasewithlife.Andwhensadoreven terriblet}Iingshappen’theyarenotovercomebyfear orsorrow.TheyareabIetocontroltheirfearand transformitintolove.Theyknowtbefutilityofdoing otherwise;theyknowtbegreatharmtheycandoto thosetheylovemoretbanIifeitseIf. Contentedandcaringpeop>eareabIetoconsider

notwhattheythemse>veswantbutwbatothersneed Placingtboseneedsabovepersonaldesires,such virtuouspeopleareabIetothinkandreactwith restraintanddignity.Theyareabletogivewiselyto otherswbatwilItrulybenefitotbers.

IntheaccountofDighavu,}]isfatber,theking’

gavebissontwowonderfulgifts:insightand>ife itseIf.Throughhiswordsandbisactions,withdignityandrestraint,hewasabletosendhissona

powerfuImessagetbatenabledbimtoovercomethe 36

VENcEANcE

desireforrevenge.ThekingtaughtDighavuthatone shouldnothoIdontobutshouId,instead,letgoof angerandbitterness.

PortunateIy,mostofusdonotfacesuchhorrific moments.Yes,we}]aveargumentswithfami>ymembersandfriends,andweoftenfindourselveshaVng tointeractwithpeopIewedonotlike.ButasdisagreeabIeastbeseoccurrencesare)tbeyarecertainIy notlifethreatening.Andyetwhenweencounter frustratingortryingsituations,howmanyofusare abletoremaincaImortorespondfromwisdom?

HowmanyofuswouId,instead,complaintoaIwho wouIdIistenorgrumbletoourseIves?Howoften baveourmindsbeenshakenfromt}]eircIear,tran-

quilstates>Howoftendoweuseevilwordsthatare harshorfalse?HowoftendowehoIdontoouranger privatelyandthennurturetbatangerwithour thoughts?

AsDighavu!sfathersaid,donotboldontothe wishforrevenge.WecanchoosetowrapourseIvesin ourresentmentandbitternessand,insodoingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re>ect peaceandbappiness-tberesultsofthistypeof reactioncanbevieweddailyontbeeveningnews.

Orâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;wecanchoosetobroadenthescopeofourcom37

EVERYrHlNGWEDOMAT丁ERS

passionandwisbforanendtothesufferingofall beings.Wecanchoosetocreatepeacewithinourselves,andinthiswaybringpeacetoothers.

Next,intheaccounttheBuddbarelated,theking toIdhissontonotbenear-sighted’whichmeantto

notreadilybreakafriendship.Theabout-to-beexecutedkingwantedhissontounderstandthe vaIueoffriendshipandtrust.Tobefriendothers,we needtobavetrustinpeopleandbetrustworthy ourselves.RealizingthatDighavuwasabouttokiⅡ l]im’KingBrahmadatakneItdownandbegged Dighavutosparehislife.Wecouldsaythatsince DighavuwasabouttokiItheking,thiswasnotan actoftrustbutoneoffearanddesperation· ButtI]enDighavurememberedhisfather’sadvice for}]imtonotreadiIybreakafriendship.SuddenIy awareofthemeaningofthesewords,Dighavuput awayhisswordThen,heaskedfortbeking,sforgiveness.T}Iiswasanactofgreattrustonhispart.

Hecompoundedthistrustbyreturningtotbeking,s palace,therebyputtinghisownIifeatevengreater riskTbistimethekingreturnedtheprince’strustby telIing}]isministerswbathad}]appenedandhanding backtheconqueredIdngdomtoDighavu.Tofurther 38

VENGEANcE

deepenthebondbetweenthem)hegaveDighavuhis daughterinmarriage. lnourtrust,weneedtobesincere.ltwastbe

prince’ssinceritytI]atsomovedtheking.Toooften’ whenwedosometI]ing,wedosowithbesitationand doubt.ThisdoubtmayweIpreventusfromdoing whatweknowtoberight.Orourmotivesfordoing somethingmayweIIbeseIfishDig}]avu’swerenot.

Hewantedtohonorhisfather>swordsandnotcarry hatredandbitternessinhisheart·Hiswisbtodoso

wassostrongthatbewaswiIIingtosacrificebisown Iifetoletgoofhatredandvengeance.Thiswasnot

easyforhimtodo.HestruggIedwitbhimseIf,puIIing outhisswordthreetimestokiIIthesleepingking Butinhisheart,beknewtbetruthofhisfatber,s

words,andintI]eend,hewasabIeto}ayasidehis wishforrevenge.

Sooften,weactoutofseIf-interest,unwiIing eventosacrificeourpride’much}essourIives.ln ourstruggIewithourconscience’weaIsohave

doubtsand,IikeDighavu,weaIsohesitate.Tboughts thatwearerightandthatweknowwhatwiIImakeus

happyandbringuswhatwedesirekeepbubblingup frominsideus.UnlikeDig}]avu’inrealIyimportant 39

EVERYTHINGWEDOMAT丁ERS

matters’werepeatedlyfaIlshortofactingonwhat wesensetoberight.Wedosonotbecauseweare

badpeopIe.Wedosobecausewearecarelessand becausewebavegottenintothebabitofgiVngourseIvesexcusestonotdowhatisrigbt.Wetell ourseIveswedeservetofeelthewaywedo.So,with hesitationanddoubt,wemaynotdowbatweknow wesbould.Andevenifwedowhatweknowtobe

right,thehesitationisstilIthere.Moreover,this hesitationwilIbeapparenttoothersaroundus.

Butifwecancomplete}yovercomethenegative, seIfishinclinationandwboIebeartedlydowhatwe

knowtoberight,oursinceritywiIIshinetbroughIf wearesincere-trulysincere-wewilltouchothers.

Andifwetrustotherswitbsucbpalpablesincerity

thattbeyareabletofeeIit,thenweourselveswiIbe deemedtrustworthyandhonorabIe.

Dighavu)sfat}Ier’sIastwordstohimweretbat vengeancewasnotsettledthroughvengeancebut throughnon-vengeance.Seekingrevengeneverends batredbut,instead,causesittogrow.Dighavuex-

plainedtbatifhehadsoughtrevengebykiIingtbe king’theking)ssupporterswouldinturnseekrevcngebykiIIingbim.Thenhis0wnsupporterswould 40

VENGEANcE

retaIiatebythekiIingthoseoftheking.Andonand onandonthiscycleofkiIingwouldcontinue>f> however’tI]eprinceandthekingsparedeachother,s >ives,thehatredwouIdendtbenandthere.Andso

whenthathappened,thenandtherethe}]atreddied Out.

Hatredisafiret}]atif}eftuncheckedwiIIcon-

sumeallt}]oseittouches.AddingfUeltoafireonly increasesit.NotsuppIyingthefueIwillcausethefire toburnitseIfoutlfwekeepfueIingthefireofanger andhatredwithtboughtsofseIf-justificationand seIf-benefit,ofbitternessandresentment>wewi>I

neverIetgoofouranger.EventualIy’itwiIIconsume anddestroyusall,forthosewhoaresurroundedby firewilIinevitabIybeburned.

Dighavu’sfatherhadenabledhisloveandconcern forhissontoovercomeanyangerorhatredhemight }]avefe|tforKingBrahmadataor}]issoIdiers.

Dighavu’too’wasabletoIetgoofhisbatredfOra conquerorwhohadorderedthemurderanddismembermentofDighavu’sparentswbileheIooked onhelplessIy.We,ontheotherhand,havegreat difficuItyIettinggoofangercausedbythosewbo keepusfromdoingwbatwewis}]todo’whoincon4l

EVERYTHlNGWEDOMAT丁ERS

venienceus,orwhosimpIyannoyus.Weholdonto tbesIightsofothersanddreamofshowingthemhow cIeverweareatretaliating.

‘Don}t,mydearDighavu’befar-sighted.Don)tbe near-sightedPorvengeanceisnotsettledthrough vengeance.Vengeanceissettledthroughnonvengeance.’>Donotwishforrevenge.Betrustworthy, anddonotreadiIybreaka廿iendship.Endhatred andfindpeacebylettinggoofpainandbitterness.

ThesefewwordsspokenbyDighavu’sfather,de-

spitetheirsimplicityandgentIeness,succeededin touchingabearttbathadbeenovercomewit}]sorrow andconsumedwithbatred,causingittoIetgoofthe desireforvengeanceandtherebyawakeningthe compassionandwisdomextantinthatselfsame heart.TbisverywisdomandcompassionwaspreciselywhatDigbavuawakenedto.

AstheBuddhasaid,weshouIdtrainourselvesso

thatourmindsremainunaffectedbypIeasantor adverseconditionsandourspeecbisalwaysbenevoIent.OurmindssbouIdbewitbouthatredaswe

pervadetheuniversewithgoodwillthatisabundant’ unreserved,andendIess.

42

T}-{EPolsoNsoPGREED,ANcER,ANDIGNoRANcE

神 THEPolsoNsoFGREED) ANGER,ANDlGNoRANcE

OncewhentheBuddbawasatthe>etaGroveMon-

astery)beaskedthemonasticsbowtbeywou}d explaint}]ethreepoisonsofgreed,anger,andignorancetomonkswhofoIIowedotberteacbings.Tbe monasticsrepliedthattbeywishedtoexplainto otbersastheBuddbawouId>sowouIdheplease teachtbemhowtobestexplainthesenegativestates ofmindHerepIiedt}]atgreedarisesfromthinking ofp/easanrob>ectsandsituationsinamistakenway.

Oncegreedhasarisen,thisthinkingofpIeasant thingswiIIcauseittointensify Througbourownpersonalexperience,wecansee whattheBuddhameant.Whenweseeanobjector watchothersen>oyinganactivitythatweviewas pIeasant’wewanttoowntI﹞eo坷ectortoundergoa similare）叩erience.Wewanttopossessanewermodel 43

EvERYTHINGWEDOMATrERS

ofsomethingwealreadyown.Wewanttogotothe samevacationspotaco-workerVsited.Wewantto

indulgeourseIvesbecausewefee>thatwedeserveit orperbapsbecausewewanttocheerourselvesup aftersomethingdisappointingbashappened· Andsowewant-wecrave-thingsandexpen-

ences.ButastheBuddhaexplained,craving}eadsto

suffering’forcravinginexorablyIeadstomorecraVng. Unquenchable’itgrowsIikeanaddiction.Tbemore webaveandthemoreweexperience,tbemorewe want.Ourever-increasinggreedresultsinourIives

becomingmorestressfUIasourcravingforobjectsand experiencesfarsurpassesourabiIitytoobtainthem.

Andsowefalldeeperanddeeperintosuffering.

Whydoesallthishappen>Ithappensbecausewe

mistakenlythinkthatpIeasantthings,betheymateria> ob>ectsorexperiences’wi>lmakeushappy.Buthappinessisamenta}stateHappinessisnotaquality inherentinmateriaIpossessionsorexperiences.

Whetberornotsomethingmakesushappydependson whatwetellourselves.AsShakespearewroteinHam-

/et,“Thereisnothingeithergoodorbad,butthinking makesitso.”Tbatis,itisourthinkingthatmakesus

happyorsad.WecanteIIourse>vesthattobehappywe 44

THEPolsoNsoPGREED,ANGER,ANDIGNoRANcE

needmorepleasanto坷ectsandsituationsOr》wecan teIourseIvesthatwantingmoreineVtab}yleadsto

morewantingandtbustomoresuffering Next’theBuddhaexpIainedthatangerarisesfrom tbinkingofunp/easantobjectsandsituationsina mistakenway.Onceangerarisesastheresultof suchmistakentbinking’itincreases.

Again,ourpersonaIe〉叩erienceswiIIbearthisout.

Wbenweseeanob>ectoranoccurrencetbatweVew asunpleasant,feeIingsofresentment’bitterness,and angercaneasilyarise.Wewanttbeexperienceto stopWewanttoberidoftheundesirabIeobject.We wanftbeannoyingpersontogoaway.lfonIytbese wouldbappen>thenwewouIdbehappy.

Butsucht}]inking>astheBuddbasaid,ismistaken.>ustasthepresenceofob>ectsand experiencesdoesnotnecessariIymakeushappy’ neitherdoeStheirabsence.Attemptingtosatisfyour emotionaldesireswiIInotleadtohappinesslntruth, wantingtostopthatwbichisunpleasantonlyleads tomorewanting,moreemotionalreactions,more turmoil-nothappiness.Notyetrealizingthis’we continuetobuymoreticketstogetbackonour emotionalroIercoasterofwanting’attainment’ 45

EvERYrHlNGwEDOMATrERS

disappointment,andanger.

WbatsbouIdwedoinsteadoffaIIingbackinto thisnegativepattern>InaprevioustaIkinthisseries, welearnedoftheBuddhaurgingthemonasticsto holdthetbought“MymindwilIneverbeshaken.”In otherwords’ourmindsshouIdremainstableand

focusedWesbouIdneitberfeelattachedtopleasant sensationsnorfeelaversetothosethatareunpIeasant.IfwecanaccompIishthis,wewiIlremain contentwitbwhatwebaveandcalminanycircumstanceinwhichwefindourseIves.Contentand

caIm,wewiIknowhowtoactwiseIy.OurangerwiIl graduaIydiminish’and,eventualIy,ceasetoarise.

TheBuddhaconcIudedbyexpIainingthatignorancearisesfromwrongt}]oughts.Onceignorance hasarisen,thesewrongthougbtswiIcauseignorancetointensi{yUnderstandingthis’onewould knowhowbesttoVewproperlybotbpIeasantand

unp>easanthappenings.lfonewereabIetoactfrom thisunderstanding,thengreedandangersbouIdnot arise.Andeveniftheydid,onewouldbeableto e}iminatethegreedandovercomet}]eanger.Ifone IooksatIifeproperly,ignorancesbouldnotarise.But ifitshouId’onewouIdbeabIetoovercomeit.

46

THEPo<soNsoPGREED,ANGER,ANDIGNoRANcE

Here,theBuddhaspokeaboutwrongtboughts.

WrongtboughtsareourpersonaIopinions,whicb ariseinresponsetoexternaIsensorystimu>iRelying onthissensoryinput,wethinkaboutwhatwehave encounteredanddrawconcIusionsbasedonwhatwe

haveseen,heard,smeIled,tasted,andtouchedTben,

webegintolabeIsometbingsgoodandotbersbad, somepleasantandothersunpIeasantlnotherwords, webegintodiscriminate,seeingduaIityineverytbing TbefundamentaIfIawinthisprocessisthereIianceonoursenses.WhatwefaiItoconsideristhe

facttbatourbreadthofexposureisminima>atbest andtbatoursensesmayweIlbefauIty.Considerthe BuddMsaccountofagroupofmenbIindfrombirth tryIngtodescribeanelepbant.Eachofthemenwas takentoadifferentpartoftheeIephant:itshead,an ear,atusk’itstrunk,itsstomac}],afoot,itstail,and thetuftofitstaiI.TI]ebIindmeninturnsaidthat

theelepbantwaslikeapot,abasket,aplougbshare, apIow’astorehouse’apiIlar,apestIe,andabrusb TI]eInenthenbegantoarguewithoneanotherand evencametoblowsovert}]ematter.

ThesereasonabIebutlimitedanswerswerethe

resultoflmowingonIyapartoftbetruth’notthe 47

EvERYrINGWEDOMATrERS

whoIe·AndsadIy,liket}]oseblindmen,mostofus alsoencounteronIyapartofthetruthWe,too,cIing stubbornIytoourownVewpoints,convincedthatwe }]aveal}thefacts.Andtbinkingtbatwebavealltbe factsandfeeIingconfidentofourconcIusions,we rejecttbeVewsofothers.Thus,ourignorancearises

fromourwrongthoug}]ts.T}]emanifestationofour ignoranceisourattachmenttoourwrongtboughts’ andthisinevitabIyintensifiesourignorance.

Onanotberday,amonkw}]ofoIowedother

teachingsaskedVenerableAnandawhatbappensto tbosewhogaveintothetbreepoisons.Ananda repliedthattbosewhogaveintogreed,anger,and ignorancewilIthemselvesbecomevictimsofthose selfsamepoisons.Thus,they}]armthemse>ves,not >ustothers,andmustfacethepainfuIoutcomesof whattheybavedone.SincegreedwiIIIeadoneto baveimpurethoughtsandtoengageinfIawedbehavior,thosewhoridthemseIvesofgreeddonot undergothesepainfuIoutcomes.

Whenourmindsareimpure’ourtboughtsarise

fromgreed,anger,andignorance.Tbeya}soarise fromarrqgance’ourbeliefthatinsomewayweare superiortoothers.ButtbeBuddhaexpIainedtous 48

THEPo}soNsoPGREED)ANGER,ANDlGNoRANcE

t}]atweaIhavetbesametruenature.Sow}]iIeour

pastkarmasresuItinourbavingliveddifferent}ives, andtboseIivesmayappeartobebetterthanothers, ourcurrentIivesareonlyatinysnapshotofour innumerabIeIifetimes.lnthisIifetime,wemaybe smarterormorepriVIegedthanotherpeopIe.But theserolescouIdbereversedinournextIifetime.

SuddenIy)tbosew}]omwedeemedinferiort0uswi}I becomesuperior;ourarrogancewiIcomebackto hauntus.Asissaid’“PridegoethbeforethefaIl” Ourt}]ougbtsmayaIsoarisefromdOubt.PorexampIe’wemaydoubtthatwebavet}Iesametrue natureasaBuddha,andthusdoubtourabiIityto,Iike him,awaken.WemaydoubttbatcausaIityfunctions aIaroundusandwithinus,throughoutaIltimeand space.WemaydoubttbatthemindoftheBuddhas andt}]emindofaI>beingsareaI}-perVasive-thatwe arealIone.Pinally>ourthougbtsmayarisefromde/usion,ourbeliefinerroneousideas.

Duetoallthisgreed,anger,ignorance)arrogance, doubt,anddeIusion,ourmindsarefulIofwandering anddiscriminatingthoughts.Wegetcaug}]tupin thoughtsofIikingordisliking’ofgoodorbad,of favorableorunfavorabIesituations.NoIonger 49

EVERYrHlNGwEDOMAT丁ERS

calm-noIongerpure-ourmindsareconstantly affectedbyourenVronment.

Inthisagitated,emotionaIstate’wemayormaynot

actoutofgoodintentions.Butevenifweactoutofour goodintentions,theywiIIoftenbackfirebecauseour IogicwasfaultytobeginwithSoweendupharming othersandourselves.MistakingrightfOrwrongand wrongfOrright’wemakebaddecisionsandmustsuffer theoutcomesouractionshavewrought,notbecause someonejudgestbistobeso,butbecausecausalitycauseandeffect-isauniversaI’natura>Iaw.Ourgood intentionsmaymitigatet}]eoutcomestosomedegree, butwewiIIstiIlhavetoundergowI]atwehavebrought aboutthroughourimpurebehaVor. Whenwel]aveovercomeourgreed,anger,andignorance>wewiIInotcommitsuchoffensesbecausewe

wiIInoIongerbedeIuded;wewiIInolongermistake wrongfOrright.OurmindswiIIbecalmandcIear.

Havingletgoofattachments,arrogance’andseIfishness’wewiIlnolongeractfromdiscriminations tbatresu}tfromfauItyconcIusionsbasedonsensory input.lnstead,wewilIactfromourinherentwisdom.

AnandafurtberexpIainedtot}]emonktbattI]ose whogiveintogreeddonotunderstandwhatis 50

T}{EPoIsoNsoPGREED)ANGER,ANDlGNoRANcE

meantbybenefitingseIf,benefitingot}]ers,and benefitingall Again,wecanseefromourexperiencethatour cravingisusuaIIyofaseIfishnature:wewantsometbingeitberforourseIvesorforthosecIosetous.The

satisfactionofthiscravingisatemporarysenseinduIgencethatbringsusshort->ivedbappiness.

TheonIywaytotruIybenefitourseIvesisto awaken-inotherwords,totranscendthecycIeof rebirth-wherebyweobtainlastingliberationand genuinehappiness.UntilwefreeourseIvesfrom rebirtb>wewiIInotbeIiberatedAsIongasweremainwithinthecycIeofrebirtb,weareboundby craVngandignoranceandwiIlnotfindtrue>iberationorhappiness.

Inbenefitingothers’wemovebeyondthoughtsof seIftothoseofotbers.Atthispoint’wewilIreaIize thatalIbeings,not>ustourselves,wishtoeIiminate sufferingandattainhappiness.WitbthisreaIization, wewillwanttohelpothersaccomplishtbis.Webegin bywishingthattboseweIoveandcareforwouId attainhappiness.Thenwewishthesameforthosewe donotknowand’graduaIy,forthosewedonotIike.

U>timateIy,wewi>IdeveIopthewishfOraIbeingsto 5l

EvERYrHINGWEDOMAT丁ERs

befreefromsufferingandtoattainhappiness.

Wbenwesbifttbefocusofourwishforbappiness

andIiberationawayfrom]ustourseIves’wewiIbegin tothinkIessofourownbappiness.InsteadofIooking ateverythinginase}f-centeredway>wewiItransformourt}]oughtsintothoseofcaringforot}]ers.We wil>stopaskingwhatisinitforusandwiIIinstead askhowwecanbelpothers.

TheconceptsofbenefitingourselvesandbenefitingothersoccurataIowIeveIofrealization·When ourunderstandingreachesahigherlevel,wewill rea}izethataIIbeingsareoneandthatthereisno

duaIitybetweense>fandother.Tobenefitonebeing istobenefitaIlbeings.Therefore,tobenefitothersis tobenefitoneseIf.ReaIizingthisinterconnectiVty

amongaIbeingswilIenabIeustorealizethatwedo notneedtoworryaboutself-benefitbecausewben wehelpthewbole,weheIpourseIves.So,thereisno needtoworryabout<Ime.” ThemorewecanwboIeheartedlyaspiretohelpa>l

beings,themoregoodnesswewillgenerate.This goodnesswilIinturncreatefavorableconditionstbat wilIenab}eustobe>pothersevenmore.

PinaIy,AnandacautionedthatgreedbIindsone, 52

THEPolsoNsoPGREED,ANGER)ANDIGNoRANcE

blocksone’swisdom’increasesignorance,andthus obstructsawakening. ltisourcraVngthatcausesoursuffering-because cravingb}indsustoreaIityanddisturbsourpure mindLeavingourcaImandcIearstate,webecome embroiledinacycleofwanting’obtaining,andtben wantingevenmore.Themoreagitatedwebecome, theIessweareabIetoconcentrate,andthedeeperwe buryourwisdominsideus.Notabletoreachour wisdom,wefaIIpreytoignoranceanddelusionWe becomemoreaffIicted.Ourworriesincrease.

ButthisdoesnothavetohappenWecanbefree ofgreed’anger,andignorancet}]roug}]moralseIfdiscipIine.WithmoralbebaVor,ourmindswiIIbe moresettIed’andwewiIlbeabIetoacbievemeditativeconcentration.Ast}]ismeditativeconcentration

enabIesustogainmorecontroIoverourtboughts, andconsequentlyouremotions’wewiIIbeginto touchourinherentwisdom.Aswecontinuetoact

fromthatinherentwisdom,wewiIIgraduaIlyrid ourseIvesofgreed,overcomeanger’anduprootour ignorance.OurmindswiIIremainc>earandcaImin

aIIsituations,andwewiIlgraduaIyIeavesuffering behindandattainlastingIiberationandbappiness.

53

EVERYTHlNCWEDOMATTERS

鶉 GooDwlLL,CoMPAssloN, ANDEQuANlMITY

Onetime,whentheBuddhawasinKalama,be

spoketothepeop}ethereaboutthethreepoisonsof greed,anger,andignorance·Onewhoisastudentof theBuddhasandwhoisfreeofthethreepoisonswill

pervadealIdirectionsMwithanawarenessimbued withgoodwi〃:abundant,expansive,immeasurab﹜e》

freefrom}]ostility,freefromillwill’’6 ThisstudentwiIIaIsokeeppervadingthesixdirectionsofnorth,south,east,west,above,and

below-everywbereandineveryrespectthrougbout thecosmos-withanawarenessimbuedwithcom-

passionandequanim／吼bothofwhicbare “abundant,expansive,immeasurabIe,freefrom

bosti>ity’freefromiIwill))7 6lbid 7lbid 54

GooDwlLL,coMPAssloN﹚ANDEQuAN【M】Tγ

Pirst,theBuddbaspoI(eofgoodwiII’orIovingkindness,wbichisfeeIingandshowingconcern.Itis thewishthatalIbeingsbeweIlandsecure-that theybehappy.WitbgoodwiII,wewiIIactpurelyand witboutanypersonaIagendaorselfishmotives.We wiIlhappiIyforegoourpersonaIdesiresand,instead, focusontheneedsofothers.Listeningcarefu>Iyto themwiIenab|eustounderstandwhattheyare feeIingandthinking:theirwants,theirneeds,and tbeiraspirations.lfwearewrappedupinthoughtsof whatwe’ourselves,havedoneorwishtodo)our

tbougbtswiIlbeofwhatwasorwhatmightbe-not ofwbatis.lfwearewrappedupinthoughtsofselfbenefitandego,ourthoughtswiIbeofourseIves, notofotherpeople.Soweneedtoletgoofthoughts ofseIf.Weneedtobroadenourmindstofocuson

others.Andtodothis’weneedamindand}]eartof compasslon.

CompassionistheintentionandcapabiIityto Iessensufferingand,uItimateIy,totransformthis sufferingWhenweadoptanawarenessimbuedwith compassion,weseektoeaseothers}pain.Butinour wis}]toheIp’moreoftentbannot,wereactemotionaIyandendupgettingcarriedawaybyourfeeIings.

55

EVERYrHlNGWEDOMATrERS

AttimesweempathizesocompIeteIywithwhat someoneisgoingthroug}]thatwesubjectourse>ves tot}]esamedistress.Soinsteadofonepersonsuffering’therearenowtwomiserabIepeopIe| lnsteadofreactingemotionaI}y,weneedtoIearn totemperourcompassionwithwisdom.Thenwe wiIlmowhowtobetterheIponeanother.WewiII alsoreaIizethatanindividual>scircumstancesarethe

resuItofpastkarmas.Therefore,itmayweIlbenext toimpossibIeforustoimproveanother)ssituation.

Thisrealizationdoesnotmeanthatwesbouldstop caringaboutotbersordismisstbeirdifficultiesas beingtheirownfauIt.ltmeansweunderstandthat ourwantingtoal}eviatetbeirsufferingmayinstead beofbenefittothemint}]efuture,inwayswecannotforesee.

Sobecompassionate,butdonotfocusongetting immediatepositiveresuIts.Donotgetwrappedupin egoistictboughts,thinkingthatiT’canfixtheprob}em.Wit}]outsucbexpectations’wewiIInotbe disappointedorsaddenedwhenourattemptstoheIp endinfaiIureor,worse,aggravatethesituation.We wiInotknowhowbesttoheIpifwefaiItotemper ourcompassionwithwisdomlnotherwords,the 56

GooDwlLL,coMPAssIoN,ANDEQuAN>MITY

personwewanttoheIpmaynothavetherequisite conditionsforustodoso.

WbenwestopfocusingonimmediateresuItsand insteadfocuson>ustbeIpingothers>ourcompassion wiIuItimateIybenefitaIIbeings.Byplantingthe seedsofcompassion-tI]ewishforaIIbeingstobe happyandfreeofsuffering-wecanbeconfident thatwehaveindeedhelpedothers.

IfwefeeIcompassionforonIycertainpeople’ thenourcompassionisIimited,andthusourabiIity toIessensufferinginthefuturewiIlikewisebe IimitedButwhenourcompassionforaIlbeingsis equalandunconditionaI,thenourcompassionwiII beimmeasurabIeandimpartialWhenweaccomplishthis,wewiIIpervadealIdirectionswitb awarenessimbuedwitheqL／aD／mi卹 lntheWesternPureLandofAmitabhaBuddha,

thereareuncountabIeb0dhisattvas,beingswhoare dedicatedtobeIpingaⅡothersendsuf『ering.WideIy knowninthisworIdandoftendepictedstandingto Amitabha’s}eftisAvaIokitesvara,orGuanyinBodhisattva.AvaIokitesvaraisoftentransIatedas“Great

CompassionBodhisattva”or“S}]ewhohearsthe criesoftheworId”

57

EVERYrHlNGWEDOMATTERs

Averylongtimeago,AvaIokitesvaravowedthatif sbeeverbecamedisheartenedinsavingsentient beings,mayberbodyshatterintoatbousandpieces.

Once,afterliberatingcountIessbeings廿omtheheII realmsbyteachingthemtbeDharma,sheIooked backdownintot}]eheIIrealms.Toberhorror,she

sawthatthebe>Irea>mswerequicklyfiIingupagainI Inafleetingmomentofdespair>shefeltprofound

grief.Andint}Iatmoment,inaccordancewithher vow,berbodysI]atteredintoathousandpieces.She beseecbedtheBuddbastoheIpandmanydid.Likea faIIofsnowHakestheycame.OneofthoseBuddbas wasAmitabha.HeandtbeotberBuddI]asheIpedto re-formherbodyintoonet}]atbadat}]ousandarms andhands,withaneyeofwisdomineachhandIn thisway,shecou}dbetterheIpaIlsentientbeings.

WhetheryouviewthisasatrueaccountoraIegend’thereisaveryimportantlessonberethatcan belpusinourpracticeofcompassion.Whenwefirst developthebod}]imind-themindsetonhelpingaII beingsattainenlightenment,ourseIvesincluded-we wiIexperiencetimeswhenwearedisheartenedAt thispoint’webavetwochoices:goforwardorgive

up.Togoforward,weneedtoreestabIishourconfi58

GooDwlLL,coMPAssIoN,ANDEQuAN<MITY

dence.Wemaydothisundertheguidanceofagood teacher,tbrougbthesupportofagoodspirituaI friend,ortbroughothermeans.lfwedonotgo forward’wewillfaIIbackintoignoranceanddelusion

ItwiI]eIpusatthesedifficuIttimestoremember thatWedonotgrowspiritualIyingoodtimes)when

everythingisgoingourway.WegrowspirituaIIyand progressontbepat}]ofawakeningintimesofadversityjustassteeIistemperedbyfire,ourresoIveis strengthenedbyhardship AvaIokitesvarawassI]atteredinafleetingmoment ofdespair.ButthroughtI]estrengthofI]eraspiration to}]eIpaI}beings,sI]etouchedthebeartsofthose whohadgonebeforeheronthepatbDuetoher greatvowandprofoundsincerity,shebadcreated thecausesformanyBuddbasto}]eIpherwhenshe wasmomentariIyoverwI]eImedbytI]eenormityof herchosentaskWetoowiIencounterobstacles.

Whenwedo’ouraspirationtobeIpaIlbeingswⅢ enableustoreceivetheheIpweneedtomoveback ontothepath

DuetothedepthofbervowtoheIp,AvalokitesvararegardedaIlbeingswithequanimity.Inthe 59

EvERYTHlNGwEDOMATrERs

abovestory,inadditiontotbe}]eIIreaIms,sheaIso wenttotheghost,animaI,buman,demi-god,and heavenIyreaImsteacbingalIthosewhobadthe affinitytoIearn『romher.EachbeingwasequaⅡy important,andsoshetaugbteachoneasbestshe couIdShedidnotdiscriminateandwasnotjudgmentalS}IetireIessIyandVgilantIylistenedforcries

forhelpandfoundtbebeingswhoweresuffering.

ShetI]entaughtthemsotheywereabIetoadvance onthepathtoawakening.

WithsimiIarequanimity,wetoowi}}vieweverythingequallyandinabalancedway.Oftenwhenwe trytoheIpothers,weactimpulsiveIyanderraticaIIy, notwiseIy.WerusbintoheIponedayandthenfeeI likegivingupthenext.Withoutapure’caImmind, wecanloseourbalanceandfaIIfromgreatent}]usiasmtomind-numbingdiscouragement.OnIywhen ourmindsarecalmwiIIweknowbowtotrulybenefit others.

TheBuddhatoIdanaccountofhowafathersaved

bischiIdren廿omaburning｝﹞ouse.SomechiIdren

werepIayinginsideaverylarge’oldhouse.They weresoengrossedintheirp}aythattheydidnot reaIizetbehousewasonfire.TbeirfathercaIIedout 60

GooDwILL,coMPAss>oN,ANDEQuAN<M>TY

franticallyforthemtoIeavetbe}]ouse,butunableto

hearhim>theycontinuedpIaying.LuckiIy,}]e}]ad tI]epresenceofmindtocaIIouttotbec}]iIdrentbat therewerenewIy-arrivedcartsoutsidethehouse, somethingthechiIdrenhadbeenIookingforwardto.

Onhearingthatthecartsl]adarrived,tI]eyrushed outoft}]ehousetoseetI]emand,insodoing,were savedfromthefire

OnaverybasicIeveI,tbisaccountshowshowby usingourcaImâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;cIearmind,wecanmoreeffectiveIy determinethebestwaytoheIpotbers.Byrunning intotbehouse,thefathervvouIdhaveperishedinthe firewithhischiIdren.Byremainingcalm,heacted frombisinnatewisdomandsavedthem.

Inourpracticeofcompassionandequanimity,we aIsoneedpatience.Patienceisoneofthevirtues thatbodhisattvaspracticetoperfectionAvaIoIKitesvaraneededgreatpatiencetoteachaIthebeings andthenevengreaterpatiencetocontinueheIping themaftertbatmomentofdespair.Thefatber neededpatiencetoboldhimseIfbackfromafoolish

act.ThinkingcaImIy,hefoundawaytosavehis chiIdren.Wetooneedpatiencetobecompassionate andtoregardaIwithequaIity.

6l

EVERYrHlNCWEDOMAT丁ERS

WeneedpatiencetobeIpusgetthroughemotionaIandphysicaIobstacleswhenwetrytobeIp otI]ersTherewillalwaysbeobstaclesJustbecause wearetryingtoheIpdoesnotguaranteethataII obstacIeswiIfa>IawayandeverythingwiIberesoIvedtooursatisfaction.Remember,wecannot

overcomethekarmaofothersandtbeensuingretri-

butions.Withoutpatience,wewiIbemiredinthe quagIireofourowndisappointment.

Also,witboutpatience,wewilIgiveupwhen criticizedandobstructedbythosewbodonotunderstandwhatwearetryingtodoJustaswesincereIy believethatwehavewiselyfoundthewaytobe>p, otberswiIikewisebecertaintbattbey,too,havetbe rightsoIution.Ifwearepreparedforthisanddonot alIowittodisturbourserenity,wewilInotbeshaken fromourpure,calmmind.

AsweencountercriticismandobstacIesthat

seemoverwbelming,wewiIneedpatience.Every-

thingchanges--goodandbad>pleasantandunp}easant.RemembertbatjustasgoodtimesdonotIast forever,badtimeswiIaIsochangeandimprove.

Althoughourcurrentconditionsmayseemover-

wheImingIydistressing’eventhesedifficuItieswiⅡ 62

GooDw>LL,coMPAssIoN>ANDEQuANlM>TY

somedayendlfwecanmanagetohoIdontotI]is

thought’wewiIindtbepatiencewithinustopersevere,tohoIdonuntiIourunfavorabIeconditions

begintoease.

ThisturnaroundwiItakepIacemorequickIyifwe canmanagetoletgoofthoug}]tsofourowndiscomfortanddisappointment.Think,instead’ofhowto endtbedistressofotbers.Thesoonertbeirdistress

ends,tbesoonerourswiIIend)forthepainofothers isourpainasweIlWeareaIone,aIIinterconnected withoneanother.

Donotgetsidetrackedbythinkingtbattheconcernso{anotheraretriviaI’fortothatpersonthose concernsareaIIconsumingandveryimportant.How wefeeIaboutthevalidityoftheirconcernsisunimportant.WeshouIdputpersonaI>udgmentsaside andinsteadfocusontryingtoaIIeviatetheirdistress andunhappiness,w}]ichtothemisveryreal Howcanothersbehappy>lnthesamewaythat webecomehappy:byIeavingnegativeemotions behindlfwecansbowothershowtobe>essen-

grossedintheiremotionaIreactions,wewi>Ibelp thembegintoreactmore廿omreasoning.lfwecan heIpthemseethattheunderlyingcausesofunhap63

EVERY『HlNCWEDOMAⅥ﹃ERS

pinessareattachmentandaversion,wewi>lhave }]eIpedendsomeonespain.Bylettinggoofcravlng andaversion’onewiIIrealizethatthecauseofbap-

pinessisgoodwiI’compassion’andequanimity.

Therearesometbingsinlifethatwecanchange.

ItisourresponsibilitytotrytoaIterthemfortbe better.Butsometimes,wewiIlnotbeabletoeffect

anychangelfwecanmove廿omourpersonalsense ofsorroworregretovernotbeingabletohelpdirect}y,thegentlehappinesst}]atarisesfromourwisb to}]eIpwil}stiIbringreIieftoothers.

BehappyheIping.Andbecontentknowingtbat sometimesa>Iwecandoistowishforotherstobe

happyaswell.

64

AppREclATloN

繚 AppREclATloN

lnthesutras,weoftenhearofgratitude.ThepracticeofgratitudeisveryimportantinBuddhism.But sooften’weforgetaboutfeeIinggratefUlWhen thingsgoourwayandwereceivewhatwedesire’we congratuIateourselvesanda}ItooeasilysIipinto arrogance.WeforgetaboutaItbosewhohave

heIpedusgettowbereweare,aIIowingustoen>oy wbatwehave.Whenwedonotreceivewhatwe

desire’webIameot}]ersIWeforgetthatwhatwe receiveinIifeisduetoourowncausesandcondi-

tions>ourownmeritsorIackofmerits.Butarrogance andblamingothersarebot}]afHictionsand,thus’are

obstacIestoourprogressonthepathtoawakening. lfinstead,wearegratefuIforaIlthehe}pwehave receivedfromothers,inourhappiness,wewiIIin turnwanttosharewhatwehavewithothers.Wben

Buddhistsshare)theydedicatetheirmerits-the 65

EVERYrHlNGwEDOMAT丁ERS

goodnesstbeycreateeveryday-tofourbenefactors· ThesefouraretheTh<ee>eweIs’ourparents’our

teachers,andaIIbeings.Wementiont}]esefourin ourDedicationofMerit’whicbbegins“Maytbe meritsandvirtuesaccruedfromtbisworkadornthe

BuddhaIsPureLand’<andIrepaythePourKindnessesabove.”

TbeTbree>ewelsaretbeBuddha,theDharma, andtheSangha.TbeyarecaIedjewelsbecausethey areofimmeasurabIevalue.AIIBuddhasstriveto

teachusuniversaItruthsthatwiIIenableusto

awaken-touncoverthetruenaturewithineachof

usandescapesufferingandattainhappiness.Tbeir determinationto}]elpusasweIastheirpatiencein teachingusisinfinite.Wbileourloveforothersis transitory,theBuddhas’loveforaIIbeingsisendless.

OurIoveisconditionaIanddiscriminatory,butthe Buddbas)IoveisunconditionalandheldequaIIyfor aIlbeings.

BuddhasheIpusbyteachingustheprincipIesof reaIity,principIessuchascausaIity;theimpermanenceofal}conditionedphenomena;t}]enonexistenceofapermanent,independentself;andtbe interconnectednessofeverytbingthatexistslnother 66

ApPREcIATloN

words’theyteachustheuniversaI’eternaIIawsof

tbecosmos-t}]eDharma.Whenwetrulycomprehendtheseteachings’wewiIthenbeabIeto eIiminateourmistakenviewsand,instead’haveright viewsandcorrectunderstandingWhenwedonot bavesuchunderstanding,wewillcontinuetowander aimIessIytbroughoutcountIessIifetimes,immersed inourignoranceanddeIusion

Weimproveourunderstandingandpracticetbe teacbingswiththesupportoftheSangha’thecom-

munityofthosewbopracticetheteachings.Withtbe heIpofgoodfriendsonthepathwestrivetoattain purityofmindandtoIiveIivesofbarmony.Thepure mindisthemindthathasnowanderingthoughts anddiscriminations>thasnoworries’noattach-

ments,nothougbtsoflikeordisIikeTolive}ivesof

harmonyistobegentIeandcaringinourthoughts andbehavior.

WeexpressourgratitudetotheThree>eweIsby endeavoringtopracticeastbeBuddhashavetaught us.How?Bybeingcontentwit}]thecircumstances

wefindourselvesinBy{isteningtowhattl]eother personissaying’insteadofbeingpre-occupiedwith ourownseIf-interest.Byempathizingwiththepain 67

EVERYTHINGWEDOMAT丁ERS

anddisappointmentintheIivesofthoseweencounter.U}timateIy,weexpressourgratitudeby awakeningtocorrectVewsandunderstanding,attainingpurityofmind,andliVnginharmonywitha}I beings.lnthisway,wewiIlbegintorepayourimmensedebttotbeThree>ewelsforaIltbeirpatience andhelp.

Second,weshouIdbegratefultoourparents.

Manyofusareorhavebeenfortunateenoughto have>oVngparentswhotriedtheirverybestforus.

Otbers,unfortunateIy,haveorhadparentswhowere lessthanidealorevenabusive.AsBuddhists,we

believethatwearedrawntoourparentsbecauseof karmicconnections.Afterdeathandbeforeournext

birth,wearepIungedintodarknessandrawemotionslnthatoverw}]eImingconfusion’wearepuIed toourparentsasiftheywereatinybeaconoflight piercingthatdarkness.

Therearefourreasons,karmicIinks’thatweare

drawntoandborntoourparents.Whenthelinkis stronger,peopIewiIIbecomeclosefamiIymembers’

parentsandcbildren.WhentheIinkisweakerthe peoplewiIbecomemoredistantre>ativesorfriends.

Thefirstreasonistorepaykindness.lnpastlife68

AppREc<ATl0N

times,theyhadagoodandhappyrelationship.Comingnowtorepaykindness,thechiIdrenareveryfi>ial

TheyareweIIbehavedwbenyoungandIovingwhen grown,andaffectionateIytendtotbeparents>needs andwishes.

Tbesecondreasonistoexactrevenge.ThecIdrenarekarmicdebtorsfrompastlifetimes.Often, whengrown,theywiIcausethefamiIiesruin.

ThethirdreasonistocoIectadebt.ThechiId

maycausetbeparentendIessworryandpainby beingdisobedientordemanding.TheymayfaIIiII frequentIyorhaveanongoingmedica}conditionand needmuchattentionandcarefromtheparent.T}]e degreeofthedebtcoIIecteddependsonhowInucb theparentsowetbechildren.

Thefourthreasonistorepayadebt.Tbecbildren owedtheparentsinpastIifetimes.Whent}]edebtis

great,tbechiIdrenwiIIIookaftertheirparentsvery attentiveIy.IfthedebtissmaII,thechiIdrenwilItake careoftheirparentsjustenoughtoensurethatthe

parentsIacknothing.ButthereisnorespectfOrthe parents-thechiIdrenonlytakecareoftheparentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; physicalneeds.

Regardlessofthereasonweareborntoourpar69

EVERYrHINCwEDOMATIERs

entsandregardIessoftheirtreatmentofus,westilI oweourparentsanimmensedebtofgratitude.Even ifourparentsdidnothingeIseforus>andmostparentsdonotfaIintothiscategory’attheveryleast theyprovideduswithtbephysicaIopportunitytobe born.Porninemonths’ourmotherscarriedandnurturedusuntiIwereachedt}]etimeofbirthThey

thenunderwentmanyhoursofpaintobringussafely intot}]isworId.Formanyofus,ourparentsIooked afterusforyears>sacrificingt}]eirpersonalcomfort sowemighthavebetter}ivesthantbeirs.

Butifourparentsdidnotcareforandnurtureus, andifa>Itbeydidwastogiveusourbodyandthus ourIife)westiIcannotrepayourdebtofgratitudeto tbem.Withoutthem,wewouldnotbeberetoday

striVngtoIearnhowtobemorecompassionate, aItruisticbeings.

Sowhateverthereasonswewereborntoourparents)whateverthecircumstanceswegrewupin)

howeverwefeeIaboutourparents’ourdebttothem isimmeasurable.

OncewefeeIappreciationforourcurrentparents) wenextneedtobroadenourmindsandheartsln

theBra/>ma/\/etSutIH)theBuddhasaidweshould 70

AppREc!ATloN

alwaysbearinmindthat“aImaIebeingshavebeen myfather,alIfemaIebeingshavebeenmymother.”

GraduaIly,ourappreciationsbouldbefeltforaⅡ beingstbroug}]outaI}timeandspace. lfourparentsofthisIifetimearenolongera}ive, wecanstiI}trytorepayourdebttothembycaring foraIothersasourparentsbywantingthemtobe happyandIoVngthemasift}]eywereourownparents.AppreciateaIIothersfortheopportunitiesthey provideforyoutogrow.HelpaIIbeingstofee>cberishedandsafeinyourpresence.Saythankyouat everyopportunity.

lfwearedeepIyappreciativeofourpresentparentsforthisopportunitytoIearnandgrow,and deepIyappreciativeofeveryoneofourpastparents’ wewiI}beabIetofeeIgratitudetowardsaIIbeings.

Third,weshouIdbegratefu|toourteachers, thosewhohavegonebeforeusonthepathtoawakening.UntiIwereachabigherIeveIofawakening’we wiIIcontinuetoactoutofignoranceanddeIusion, mistakingrightforwrongandwrongforright.lfwe arefortunateenoughtohaveagoodteacher,heor shewi>lbeab}etoguideusalongthepathAgood teacherwilIunderstandwhoweareandwhatweare 7l

EvERYrHlNGWEDOMATrERS

capableof.ThiswiIIenableourteacberstoguideus wisely.LiketbeBuddhas’theywillnotgiveuponus whenwefaiItodoaIIthatweshouId.

Buttofindourgoodteacber,weneedtberight conditions.lftheconditionsbavenotyetmatured, wecoulddrivepastthestreeteverydaywherethe teacherwasandnotknowheorshewasthere.On

theotberband,whentheconditionsareright,we wilInaturallymeetourteacher.ltissaid,(<Whentbe studentisready,theteacberwilIappear/>Inotber words,whenconditionsareright,itwillhappen.

OnedaywhenlwastogiveaIectureatalibrary inLawrence,Kansas,amanwbowasreturningsome

bookssawtheposterformytaIkAmazed,hewent uptooneoftheorganizersandsaidthathehad wantedtotakethethreerefugesbutdidnotknow anymonastics.AftertbetaIk’athisrequest’lserved asthewitnessinbisceremonyoftakingtherefuges.

HewasverymovedanddeeplygratefulHisconditionstoformaIlyfoIlowtbeBuddbistpat}]bad maturedHe}]adneverexpectedtowalkintotbat libraryandfindaBuddbistnun|Inthesamemanner, wbenourconditionsareright,wewiImeetour teacher.

72

AppREc>ATIoN

lfwehavenotyetfoundourteacher,weneedto pIanttbecausestodoso.HeIpingandcaringfor others,studyingandpracticingourchosenBuddhist method,andhaVngthewishtobenefitaIIbeings wiIlaIlhelptoplantgoodseeds’whichwiImature intogoodconditions.

WewiInstinctiveIyknowwbenwehavefound ourteacher.TbisreaIizationwiIoccurinourpra]na wisdom,ourintuitivewisdomthatisaIreadydeep withinus.lfwearefortunateenoughtofindour teacher’wewiIbeabIetoIearnquickIyfrom}]imor her.WewiIIhaveconfidenceinandbappi>yfoIIow whatbeorsheteaches.

Ifwearenotyetfortunateenoughtohavefound ourteacher,wecanusethesutras-tbeteachingsof theBuddhas-asourteacher.WerespectfuIIycaII SakyamuniBuddhaour“originalteacher/)MOriginaI” meansthatwithinourcurrentage,SakyamuniBuddhaisourhistorica>Buddha.Heisbynomeanstbe firstandonIyBuddha’astherehavebeeninfinite BuddbasbeforehimandtberewiIIbeinfinite

Buddhasinthefuture.Theteachingsinthesutras 日owedfromthetruenatureofShakyamuniBuddba.

Thistruenatureisthesametruenatureofall 73

EVERYTHlNGWEDOMAT丁ERS

Buddhas,ofaIIbeings.Suchteacbingsaretimeless.

Bypracticingwhatwehavebeentaugbt’weshow gratitudetoourteachers.Whatdowepractice?We needto}etgoofgreedandcraving:weonlyneed enoughmoneytobesafeandhealthy,andtomeet ourresponsibilities.Letgoofangerandfrustration: wedonotbavetoreactoutofournegativehabitsby shoutingatourchiIdrenorthepersonwhoisnot doingwhatwewish.Letgoofignoranceanddelusion:rememberthattbepersonnexttoyouwants onIywbatyouwant-tobehappyandfreeofworry.

Pourth’weshouIdI]aveappreciationforandbe

gratefultoaIIbeings.Everyoneandeverytbingis interconnectedNothingexistsonitsownWhenwe wereyoung,ourfamiIysupportedusandourfriends lookedafterus.Aswegrewup,wewenttoschools builtbythecommunitieswe}ivedin.Thenasnow, ourcountryprotectedusthroughthearmedforces andemergencyservIcespersonnelLivinginacountrvwiththefreedomtochooseourfaithtradition」

ourstandardforethicaIiVng-weareabIetonot

justmerelysurvivebuttogrowspirituallyandemotionaIIy.

Thisbookthatyouarereadingortherecording 74

APpREcIAT!oN

thatyouareIisteningtocameaboutthrougbthehard workofmanypeop}e.Manyoft}]esepeoplewerein turnsupportedbyotherpeopIe’perhapsfinanciaIIy, perhapsemotionaIIy,whowereinturnsupportedby theeffortsofcountIessotbers.Tbisinterconnectivity goesonandon.UnderstandingtbatwedonotIive soleIyonourown》t﹜﹞atnomanisanisland’wewiⅡ begintodeveIopasenseofgratitudetoalItbeinfinitebeingswI]oheIpustolivebetter,more meaningfullives.

Butwbatoft}]osewho}]aveharmedus>Dowe

needtobegratefuItothemtoo? ldeaIIy,wesbouldaIsobegratefuItothosewbo }]avebarmedus’notjustthosewe}ikeandwhocare forus.Remember,wereapwhatwesow.Ourlives

todayaretheresuItsofourpastkarmasoftbougbts, words’andactions.ThereisnooneeIsetobIame

whenweexperienceunpIeasantcircumstances.

ThosewhoI]aveharmedusaresimpIybringingus theconsequencesofourpastkarmas.Wecandoas wehaveaIwaysdone;compIainandbecomeangry.

Orwecanchoosetounderstandwhatisbappening andacceptthatwehaveakarmicdebttorepay.

GraduaIy’wewiIlevenbeabIetofeeIgratefuIto 75

EVERYrHINGWEDOMATTERS

thosewboharmus.Thosewboharmusprovideus withanopportunitytorepayadebtthatwebad incurred.

76

FouRAssuRANcEs

繃 PouRAssuRANcEs

Onetime’whentheBuddhawasinKalama,he

spoketotbepeopIethereaboutthepoisonsofgreed, anger,andignorance.HeexpIainedthatonewhoisa studentoftheBuddhas’andwhoisfreeofthethree

poisonsandwbopervadeseverythingandeverybeing throughoutthecosmoswithbound>esslovingkindness’compassion,appreciation>andequanimity wiIlbefreefromgreedandhostility,andwiIIthusbe pure.ThisstudentwiIgainfOurassurancesintbis Iifetime.

ToappreciatefuIywbattheBuddhatoldthe peopIeofKaIama,weneedtoknowtherequirements forapersontoreceivethefourassurances.Tbe Buddhasaidt}lefirstrequirementwastoeliminate greed,anger’andignorance.EIiminatingthesetbree poisonswasdiscussedintbethirdtalkinthisseries.

ThesecondrequirementwastolearnbowtoIive 77

EVERYTHlNGWEDOMAT丁ERS

astheBuddhahadtaught.HisstudentsshouIdlive IivesofgoodwiIIandsI]owIoving-kindnesstoaII beings.TheysI]ouIdregardaIIbeingsandconditions withequanimity>andneitherfeelpuIledbywhat theywantnorbeaversetowhattheydislike.lntbis way’theirthougbtstowardotherswou>dbeimbued withloVng-kindness,compassion’appreciation,and equanlmlty.

Suchpeoplefee}deepconcernandsympathyfOr aIbeingsbecausetheyrealizetbataIIbeingswisbto befreeoffearandsuffering.MostpeopIedonot knowhowtoeliminatefearandsufferingbecause theydonotknowwhatcausesthem.Thecauseof botbtheirfearandsufferingiscraving.Therefore,to eliminatefearandsufferingweneedtoeIiminate craVng.WhencraVngiseIiminated,truebappiness wilIarise.

TruehappinessisnothappinessasweusualIy thinkofit.AIIbeingswishfortruehappiness,but fewknowwhatitis,IetaIonehowtoachieveit.

Ordinaryhappinessistbatwhichiscausedby craVng’justasfearandsufferingarecausedby craVngTruehappinessariseswhencravingno

IongerexistsltistimeIessandarisesspontaneousIy 78

PouRAssuRANcEs

fromourtruenature.ltisthehappinessofawakened beings.

CauseandeffectpermeateourIives.TI]ereisno escapingthisuniversaIIaw.Whenaperson}]asdone somethingwrong,therewiIIberetributionnowor later.NoonecaneIudethisretributioneventhough theymayseemtobedoingsonow.

Understandingthis,wesbouldnotbeconcerned aboutthebehaviorofothersbecausewehavenoway ofcontroIingotbers.We]ustneedtofocusonour ownbebavior.WecanonIyhopetocontroI ourselves.Andinsodoing>byfoIIowingthe teachingsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;wewiIIeIiminatetbepoisonsofgreedâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; anger,andignorance Tbosewhoeliminatetbethreepoisonsandwho foIowtbeteachingshavegreatcompassionforthose whoarestiIsuffering.Empat}]izingwithtbedistress andunhappinessofothers,theyVewaIbeingswith limitlessandimpartiaIIoving-kindness.Tbeywishto helpaIIbeings,notjustthosetheyIikeorapproveof, findIastinghappinessandIiberationAndwiththis wishtobeIpaIbeings,theywiIlcometounderstand thattosuccessfuIyaidotherstheyneedtouse skiIfulmeansbecauseeveryonehasdifferent 79

EVERYrHlNGWEDOMATTERs

abilitiesandconditions.Somepeoplemaywishto beartheteachings.Somewi>IbestbeheIpedby

beingshowngoodexampIes>whiIeotbers>ustneed understandingandakindword AwakenedbeingswiIVewaIbeings nonjudgmentaIIyandwilIinteractwithtbem unconditionaIy.We,ontheotherhand,continualIy ]udgeotbersandusuaIIyfindthemIackingWe foolishIyhaveexpectationsofotbersandthusset ourseIvesupfordisappointment.WewouIdbemucb happierwithoutanyexpectations.

MostofusarenotunconditionaIinwhatwedo;

wesetconditionsorhaveexpectations.Mostoftbe time’wearenotevenawarethatwearedoingthis.

PorexampIe,perbapswewilIbe>pot}]ersaslongas theyconformtoourwisbes.Butiftheyfailto performasweexpectthemto’wemayfeeldisappointed.OrperhapswewiIhelpsomeoneaslongas wefinditconvenienttodoso.ButwbenbeIping requiresustoreaIlygooutofourway,welose interest.

PortunateIy,“thosewhopracticetheteachings”do notjudgeothers.TheyhavenohiddenagendasIaden witbconditions.ThougbtsofseIf-interestdonot 80

PouRAssuRANcEs

arise.TbeybaveIetgoofattachmentsasweIas aversions.ThoughtsofIikeanddislikewiIInotarise.

Tboughtsthattheyarebeinginconveniencedor takenadvantageofdonotarise.Andevenwhenit requiresmoretimeandefforttbantheyhadpIanned on,theyareabIetoremainenthusiasticabout be>pingothers.

TheBuddhasaida“nobIedisciple”whoisfreeof tI]ethreepoisonsandwbokeepspervading everytbingandeverybeinginthecosmoswitb Ioving-kindness, boundIe sscompasslon’ appreciation,andequanimitywiIIreceivefour assurances.

Thefirstassuranceisifthereisrebirthand

retributions{romgoodoriIIkarmas,t}]ent}]rougb}]is goodkarmas,hewiIIbaveagoodrebirthThesecond assuranceisifrebirthdoesnotexist,hewilIbe

happyintbisIifetime,ashewiIIfeeIneitbergreedor angernortheirattendantsuffering.

Thethirdassuranceisifapersonw}]ocommits badkarmassufferstherelatedretributions,thenobIe

disciplewiInotsufferbecausehewiIInevergiverise tobadthoug}]ts,utterbadwords,orcommitanybad actions.Thefourtbassuranceisifapersonwho 8l

EVERYTHlNGWEDOMATTERS

commitsbadkarmasdoesnotsufferthereIated

retributions,thentbenobIediscipleispurified anyway·

Thefirstassuranceisbasedontheexistenceof

rebirthandcausality.Ifonecommitswrongdoing, thenonewiIIhaveabadrebirthlfonedoesgood deeds,onewilIhaveagoodrebirthltisbecauseof thispremisethatmanypeoplestrivetoIiveamora}, seIfless’andcaringlife.Wea}Iwis}]toendour sufferingandtofindhappiness.Butanawakened being,whohaseIiminatedthethreepoisonsandw}]o isthougbtfulandcaring’goesonestepfurtheI-he wishestobeIpotberseIiminatesufferingandattain happinessasweIl ltisdifficuIttobeatrulycompassionateperson. lttakesmany,manyIifetimestobecomesuchaperson.Believingintberealityofkarmaandrebirth,we understandt}]atimmoralityandseIfishnesswiIead ustomiserabIerebirths,renderingusunabIetoheIp ourseIvesorothers.Wehavea>readywastedmore Iifetimesthanwecancount.PaiIingtopracticethe Buddha’steachings’wewiIIwastemanymore.T}]e onlywaytotrulyheIppeopIeistocreateand accumulategoodfortune.GoodfortuneincIudesa 82

FouRAssuRANcEs

safeplacetoliveâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;enoug}]materiaIresources,skiIIs, wisdom,time,andgood}]eaIthThesearethe conditionsfoundinagoodrebirthButon>ybyusing ourgoodconditionstobenefitotherscanwe continuetogeneratemoregoodconditionsforfuture uselfweseIfishlyusethegoodnesswehavecreated tomakeourownIivesmorepleasurabIeandneglect theneedsofothers,wewiIIexhaustthatgoodness andsubjectourseIvestonegativesituationsand suffering. lnthesecondassurance,theBuddhapostuIateda scenariocontrarytoI]isexperience-onewberethere isnorebirthandnokarmicretribution.HedidtI]is

sotbatthosewI]oweredoubtfUIcouldstiIbenefit

fromhisteachings.

HeshowedtI]atevenwithinsucbascenario,one

whoremainsfreeofgreed,anger,andtheirresultant sufferingwiIIbetruIybappy| Today)thisassuranceisespeciaIIyheIpfuIas peopleaskiftheyhavetoaccepttheexistenceof rebirthbeforetheycanbenefitĺťżomthepractice.As theBuddhashowed,theydonotbavetoaccept rebirthinordertoreaptbebenefits.Thosewhoare

freeofgreed,anger,andtbeirensuingsufferinghave 83

EVERYrHlNGwEDOMAT丁ERS

amindofIoVng-kindness,compassion,appreciation’

andequanimityinthislifetimeTbeynoIonger experiencegreed’noIongercravetheemotionaIhigh fromacquiringtbatwhichisnew-tbeysimpIy appreciatewbattheyalreadyhave.Cravingandits shadow’disappointment’aree}iminatedaspeopIe becomecontentedwiththeirsituation.Thisistrue

happiness.

WecanonlyimaginehowwonderfuIitwouldbe toneveragaincravesensationsandexperiences-to appreciatewhatweaIreadyhave.

Andimagineneveragainfeelingangryor

unsettIedbutaIwaysfeeIingcalmandpeacefu| instead.Suchapersonwou}dsurelya}waysbehappy andbeatease,andtbusaIwaysbewelcomed whereverheorshegoes.Withoutcravingand withoutangertherewillbenosuffering->ust }]appiness,a}ifetimeofhappiness.Andallthiscan happenbereandnow,becauseevenifonedoesnot beIieveinrebirthonewiIIsti}lbenefitifonelivesa

lifefreeofcraving,animosity’andunhappiness.

Thethirdassuranceisifapersonwbocommits badkarmassufferstherelatedretributions,thenobIe

disciplewiInotsufferbecausehehasnobad 84

PouRAssuRANcEs

thougI]ts,speech,oractions.Wbi>et}]osewho commitwrongdoingswiIIsuffert}]ereIatedeffects’ onewholivesmoraIIywiInotsufferbecausetbis personpreventsbadthoughts>speech,andactions fromoccurringInsucbaIife,therewiIbeno

resuItantsuffering廿omhavingburtanotherwith harmfuIspeechoractions.SucbapersonwiI]ave noreasontofeeIremorse.HewiIbefreefrom

worryingabouthowtoundowbathadbeensaidor

doneoutofcareIessnessandignorance.

Whatarebadthoughts)speechandactions>Bad tboug}]tsarisefromgreed,anger,ignorance’ arrogance’doubt,andwrongVews.Theybarm othersandus.WhenwefaiItogetwhatwewant,we becomeangry.Cravingandangerarisefromour ignoranceandfromourIackofunderstanding.

ArroganceanddoubtaIsostemfromignorance.

Wrongviewscompoundourignorance:noton}ydo wenotunderstand,weaIsoholdmistakenideasas correct|

Badspeechthatwhichisnotcorrect,honest,and

beneficiaI,l]armsothersandusinseveraIways.Palse speech,bycontainingmisinformation,isdeceptive andIeadspeopIeastray.Harshspeechdestroysour 85

EvERYrHlNGwEDOMATTERS

peaceofmindandthatofeveryonearoundus.

DiVsivespeechseparatespeopIeandfostersthe seedsofconfIict.EnticingspeechcajolespeopIeto dowhattheyotherwisemightnotdo.

Whatarebadactions?TheBuddbagaveustbree

preceptsofnokilling,nosteaIing,andnosexual misconduct.KiIingisdestroymganotherbeing’slife, beit}]umanoranimalSteaIingistakingtbatwhich isnotfreeIygiventous.Sexua},orsensual,

induIgenceisthetemporaryseekingofpIeasant sensationsatthecostofourpure’calmmind.

Onewho}ivesIifeastaugbtbytheBuddhadoes notl]avebadtboughts,usebadspeec}],orcommit badactions.Thus,thisperson’s>ifeisfreeof suffering.SuchapersonwilIknowonIycontentment

andpeaceofmindashisorhermindremainsina cIear’tranquiIstate,freeofagitationandfear.

TheBuddba}sfourthassuranceisifapersonwho commitsbadkarmasdoesnotsuffertbereIated

retributions,thenthenoblediscipleispurified

anywaybecausehenoIongerhasanybadthoughts, speech,oractions.

PeaceofmindcomestothepersonwhoIives

morally.HaVngapuremind’t}]ispersondoesnot 86

FouRAssuRANcEs

barborbadthoughts,speakbadwords,orcommit baddeeds.Tbispersonspuremindhasno wanderingtboug}]tsordiscriminations.lthasno attachmentsoraversionsandnocravingorhatred T}]ispuremindistbecaIm,cIearmindthatisno >ongerpuIedthiswayandthatbywhatit encounters.ltistbesereneandnaturaIstateofaII

beings.

TheBuddhaprovidedfourscenariostoheIp individuaIsIearnbowtoeIiminatetl]atw}]ic}]is

negativeand}]armfuIandtoembracethatw}]ichis positiveandvaIuabIe.Leadingone!sIifein accordancewiththeBuddha’steachings,onewiII I]aveatranquilandstablemindPureinmind,one willaIsobepureinbodyasweI,forthemindistI]e forerunnerofone’sactions.OnewI]otI]usacbievesa

puremindandbodywiIlen>oythefourkindsof assurances·

87

EVERYTHINCWEDOMAT丁ERS

嚇 TRANsPoRMINGCREEDANDANGER

刀﹚eDes仃uc㎡vcEmotionsofGreedandAnger

Asbumanbeings,wearesubjecttomanynegative habits,tbemostseriousanddetrimentaIofwbichare

greedandanger.Thesestemfromouremotionalattac}]mentstotheconceptof}]avinganindiVdua>and permanentse>f,andtoour>ackofunderstanding aboutourtruepIaceintheuniverseandourrelationshipswithalIthosewboinhabittbeuniversewithus.

Greed,orcraVng,arisesfromthemistakenidea thatwecanobtainandhoIdontopossessions,to ideas,andeventootherpeople.Cravingarisesfrom selfishness’fromthemisconceptionthatourbodies arewhoweare.Butifwetrytopinpointwhere‘T’ actualIyexistsinourbodies’wecannotdoso.“I” cannotbefoundintheheart,inthehead,oranywheree}seinthebody.

EverybodyissimpIyacombinationofdifferent 88

TRANsFoRMlNcCREEDANDANcER

parts;twoarms,twoIegs,manydifferentorgansincludingthebrainandtheheart-butnoneofthemis “l.>)Notyetunderstandingthis,wenotonIydoeverythingwecantoprotectthisbody,butweaIsogoto lengthstoprotectourpossessionsasweIlWeeven beIieveintheneedtodefendourideas,feeIing threatenedwheneversomeonedisagreeswithus.

TbereaIityistbatthisbodywiIIonIyexistfora shorttimeandtbatourpossessionswiIlbeoursforan evenbriefertime’fOrwewi}Itakenothingwitbusat theendofthisIifeWeknowthisrealityal>tooweI’ butwestiIItrytoholdondearIytowhateverwehave.

Ifyoufeelthatthisdoesnotapplytoyou,pIease thinkofoneofyourmosttreasuredpossessions.

Now’imaginegivingawaythattreasuredpossession HowwouldyoufeelPlfyouareIikemostpeop>e,you

wiIIfinditisverydiscomfortingtothinkofno}onger bavingsuchavaIuedpossession.

Thisisaformofcraving’aswedesiretokeepthe thingsthatwebaveandaIsoacquireadditionalor newpossessions.WeconVnceourselvesthatsuch

possessions,evenintbeformofpeopleandideas’ canmakeushappy.

Butafterwehaveacquiredsomethingneworob89

EVERY『HlNGWEDOMAT丁ERS

tainedmoreofsomethingweaIreadyhave’wesooftenfindourseIveswishingforanotbernewob>ector perhapsfOrmuchmoreofwhatwejustobtainedThis is’unfortunately,bumannature.Evenyoungchildren demonstratethisastbeydowhateverisnecessary,for exampIe,toconVncetheadultwiththemtobuya newtoy.Later,ofteninamatterofbours’thechiId IosesinterestandwantsanothernewpIaything.

Wedotbesamething;ourtoysarejustIargerand moreexpensive.ButtheprincipIeistbesame:OIdor young,wearerarelysatisfiedandare’instead,often disappointedandtI]us,oftenunhappy.

WewiIIneverfindIastingandgenuinehappiness througbpossessionsbutwiI,instead,remainforever discontentedNotyetreaIizingthis,westilIfeeItbat itisperfectIynaturaItowantmoreandtoaccuInuIatemore.Weareevenenviousofothersandmavbe

secretlybopetoimpressotberswitbwhatwehave.

Thisfault-riddenideaof“moreisgood”isbuoyed

upbyanadvertisingindustryconstantlyteIIingus thatbypurchasingwbattheyareseIling,wewiIfind theanswertoourprayers:happiness,Iove,youth, security-tbelistisendIess.Peelingtbatwedonot baveenoughbappiness,Iove,youtb,andsecurity,we 90

TRANs｝可oRMINGGREEDANDANGER

buyintotheirenticingpitchesinthebeIiefthattheir productorserVcewiIIaIIeviateournaggingsenseof discontent.

CIingingtotheideathatthesourceofhappiness liesoutsideourseIves,webecomeattacI]edtothings, pIaces’andevenideas.WeignoretbereaIitythat notI]ingremainswithusforever:possessionsarelost orbecomeunimportant,peopIeIeaveusorweleave tbem,pIacesareleftbe}]ind,ideaschange.Sucl]attachmentsarewbywearestiIivingIivesofunhappiness:becausewecIingtothings’toideas,toIife.

Wedesire-wewant-alIofthese.

lnourdesiretopossess,weevenwishtopossess otberpeopIe.Wewantotherstorespectusandto Ioveus.WewantotherstoonIytl]inkofus)toalways comebacktous)toforeverbewit}]us.ThisisafOrm

o『cravingandama】orattac﹜﹞ment﹚whichisdue

IargeIytonotyetreaIizingt}]atweareaIimpermanent:WeaIchangefrolnsecondtosecondNoneof usremainsthesame.NoonecanforeverboIdonto whatwenowhave.

OurIivesarebriefTimeseemstotickbvso 』

sIowIywbenwearemiserabIe.Butwbenweare

bappy,t}]atmomentinourlivesfeelsveryshort.AI9l

EVERYrHlNGWEDOMATTERS

bertEinstein,whiIetryIngtoexplainthetbeoryof relatiVty,putitintosimpIewordstI]atmostofus canunderstand:lfweputourhandonahotstovefor afewseconds,itwiIIfeellikeeternity.Butifyouare amansittingnexttoanattractivewoman,tenmin-

utescanfeeIlikeseconds.Everythingisrelative.

Butevenasbriefasour>ivesare,nothingwillremainwithusforever.Tbepersonwithusnowwill notaIwaysbewithus.Thisissopainfulforusbecausewebecomeattached,inthiscase,topeople whomwedonotwanttolose.W}]entheyaregone, wewiIlmisst}]emaswecontinuetothinkofthem

andthepIeasanttimeswebadtogether.But>for goodorforbad,wecannotkeepanypersonwithus.

AsBuddhists,webelievethatwehavebeenre-

borninnumerabIetimes.lnmanyoft}]oselifetimes, wehavecareddeeplyforotherslnfuturelifetimes) thiswiIhappenagainasourattachmentspullus baclKintothoserelationshipslifetimeafterlifetime.

Theseattachmentsmaybeforplaces,forthings,for ideasorpeopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;andthistimearoundtbeymay spreadoveranentirelifetime,perhapsourcurrent one.OrtheymaycomerushingtogetherinourfinaI moments,overwhelmingus.

92

TRANsPoRMINGGREEDANDANGER

Wbenwearedying’wecanbeIeadintomanydirectionsbyourtboughts.ThesefinaIthoughtsareso crucialbecausetheyIeadustoournextlifetime.l have)ondifferentoccasions’spokenwitbnurses) fami>ymembers,andfriendswhowerewit}]peopIe whoweredying.OnesuchpersontoIdmeofwhat hadbappenedtoafriendofhers.

Afewyearsago)anothernunandlwerespeaking weeklytoasmaIIgroupof廿iends.Thefirsttimewe metwitht}]em,we>earnedofafriendoftheirswI]o

wasveryiIlHertimewasspentbetween}]ospitaI andhome.WhenshewasintheI]ospitaI,thefriends wouldtaIktoheraboutpracticingBuddhismandtryingtobeabetterperson,butshewouldexp>ainthat shedidnothavetbeenergyrigI]tthenandwouId practicewhenshereturnedhome.Wbentheyvisited herathomeaftersheIeftthehospitalandagaindiscussedBudd}]ismandurgedhertobeakinder>more forgivingandhonestperson)shewouIdsaytbatsbe washeaIthiernowandwouldgetaroundtosuch thingsIater.

Aswecontinuedtomeetwithtbegroup,we learnedthatinthepastwhenthefriendswouldgo outsbopping’tbeonewbowasnowsickwouldin93

EVER\THlNGwEDOMATrERs

variabIysaythatsI]ebadforgottenhermoneyand wouldthenasktoborrowsomefromtheothers.It

wasalsoahabito『I﹞erstoforgettorepaywhatshe badborrowed.ThefriendswereunderstandabIyupsetaboutthisbuttheyaIsoknewthatt}]eirfriend stiIlneededsupportandencouragementtoaccept andbenefitfromBuddba)steachings.

Oneday,whenthewomanwasintbehospital again,oneofthe仕iendsvisitedher.Asshewaslying there,shebegantoteIherVsitoraboutatimewhen shebadIoanedanotherpersonsomemoneyand>ewe}ry.AssbewasbitterIyandangriIycompIainingtbat thispersonhadfaiIedtoreturntI]ejeweIry,the womansuddenIydiedT}]efriendwhohadbeenwitb hertoldustbatthewoman’sfacewascontortedwitb

angerwhenshediedAndwitbinthirtyminutes’her faceturnedaverydarkgray.

Whatwearefeelinginourfina>momentswil> IeadustoournextIifetime.lfwearecaImasweare

dying,tbatcaImnesswiIIIeadustoournextIifetime. l{weareveryangry,thenangerwiIeadusintothe nextlifetime.WemaynotbeabIetoprovewhere thiswomanwasreborn,butherappearancerightaftershediedwasdireindeedSbediedthiswaybe94

TRANsPo∣｛MINcCRl王DANDANGEl｛

causeofangerandcraving SbewasnotthinI(ingofthekindnessofthefriend

wboI]adcometovisither’orofthetI]oughtfu>ness ofaItheotberfriendswhoreguIarlyvisitedberevery timesheenteredt}]ehospitaI-aIthosewbowanted toheIpherbecomeabetterperson.Sbewasnot thinkingofanyofthat.Norwasshethinkingoft}]e nursesanddoctorswl]oweretryingtobeIpherand toeaseherpain.Sbewastbinkingofhermissing jeweIryandshewasinduIginginI]eranger.AsBuddbists>wearetaug}]tthatangerwiIIIeadonetobe rebornintheI]eIIreaImsandtbatgreedwiIeadone tobereborninthehungryghostrealm.

T}]ehungryghostreaImisareaImwberebeings haveinsatiabledesires.Theyareconstantlyhungry andt}]irstv.T}]eirstomachsareimmense,buttbeir

throatsaretinyand’so’theyareunabIetosatisfy tbeirhungerandthirst,unab}etoquenchtbeirdesires.NotwitbstandingwbetheronebeIievesthatthe heIandhungryghostreaImsareinotl]erdimensions orwhethertI]eyexistnowinthisworId,weareledto

thembecauseofourangerandcraving.

OurgreedandcraVngtieustounI]appinessand leadustosomuchI]armfuIbehavior.Becauseofcrav95

EVERYrH<NGWEDOMATTERS

ing,webecomeangryasotberstakeorhavesomething wewant.GreedcanaIsobethereintheactofgiving shouIdwecontinuetothinkabouttheo坷ectwehave

givenaway,becauseourmindstilIcIingstoit.

GreedisoneofourmostsevereprobIems,but thereisawaytocounteractourgreed.ltisthefirst ofthesixperfectionsthatBodhisattvas’whoare awaIKenedbeings,practice.

刀﹞eGMngo／OnebSe胚andPossess／ons TocounteractourcraVng,wecanpracticegener-

osity.Thinkagainofgivingawaythattreasuredpossession.Doyouthinkthatyoumightmissitand wishtbatyou}]adnotgivenitaway?ldea}ly,wben wegivesomethingtoothers,wewanttodosowitboutalengthyanaIysis,incIudingsuchthoughtsasto wbetherornotweIikethereceiversofthegiftor whethertbeymayormaynotdeservegettingit.

Uponseeingsomebodyneedinganobjectthatwe have,wecansimplyoffertbeob>ecttot}]eperson GenuinegenerosityistospontaneousIyandunconditionaIyofferwhatwehavewhenwebelieve thatitwiI>maketberecipient}]appy.Wedosowith96

TRANsPoRMINcCREEDANDANGER

outhavingsecondorremorsefu>thoughts·Aftersuch giving,westrivetoIetgoofthethoughtthatwebad givenandtbatoftheobjectgiven Whenwepracticegenerosity,wecanstartout witbsomethingt}]atisnotafavoriteitem,andfrom thatwecontinuegivingWe}iveinanaffIuentworId andmanyofushavemorethanweneedWeonly needamodestamountofclothestokeepuscomfortableandtoprotectusfromincIementweather.

WeonIyneedareasonab>esizehome.WecanIive veryheaIthiIyonsimpIe>w}]olesomefoods.WereaIy donotneedalot.Insteadofclingingtoeveryitem thatwehave,wecanpracticegenerosity.

InitiaIy)ifyoufindgenerositydifficult’startby givingsomethingthatyoubavenotusedforawhiIe, sayayearortwo.Doingso,mostpeopIewi>lreaIize theydonothaveanyregretsorfeeIasenseofIoss.

Onthecontrary,mostofuswillinsteadfeeIgood becausewehaveheIpedanotherpersonWebave givenawayanarticleofnotmuchusetousand,in

doingso’heIpedsomeoneeIse. Eventually,wewiIunconditionaIyandspontaneouslyofferthethingsthatwedouseandtreasure whenwefeeltheotherpersonneedsitmoret}]anwe 97

EVERYTHlNCWEDOMAT丁ERS

do.Afterwards,ifwebappentothinkabouttheobject’wewilIstiIIfeeIhappyandgIadthatwehad givenittoanother.

EveniftherecipientsusetheitemforonIvashort time’wewiIIgraduaIIyacceptthatwebavepracticed genuinegenerositvandhadmadeanofferingofbappiness.PromtbisgiVngwecanbecontentedAnd eveniftheyneveruseitagainorpassittoanother’ wecanremainbappyknowingthatwehavebegunto reduceourcIinging,thatweareonetinystepcloser toseveringalIofourattacbments,onetinystep cIosertoawa>(eningtotbeinnategoodnesswithin eachofus.

WbataboutthosewboareunabIetogiveposses-

sionsbecausetheyhaveverylittIe?Portbosewbo mayjusthaveenoughtoprovidefood’sbe}ter,and thebasicnecessitiesfort}]eirfamiIies,whatcanthey doi{thereisnothingextratogivetoothers?Nothav-

ingexcessmateria>resourcesdoesnotprecIudeus fromgiving,forwecanaIsogiveofourabi}itiesand time.AIformsofgivingalIowustocounteractour craVng-thisisjustanotherwaytodoso.Howmany timeshassomebodyaskedusfor}]eIptodosoInetbing>Andhowmanytimeshaveweexcusedour98

TRANs『oRMINGGREED／﹨NDANcER

seIvesbysayingtI]atwewereverytiredbut,inreaIity>wejustwantedtostay}]omeandrelax)ormaybe watcI]teIevision?

AndwbatifwehadbeIpedPHowmanyofushad tbought’“lwonderhowsoonlcanleave.ThisworI( isverydifficuItandwbenlamfinaⅡyfinisl〕ed﹚『m goingtobeexbaustedandwon’t}]avetimeformyseIf.IwisIhadstayedI]ome.

ThisisaformofgreedThisisthinkingthatthis body--ourbody-isimportant’t}]atkeepingour bodycomfortabIeisimportant,perbapsmoreimportantthanheIpingsomeoneeIse. Tocounteractthiskindofgreed,wecanpractice generosity.WeaIprobablyknowexceIIentexampIes ofpeopIewI]odothis’peoplewhomweadmireand whomwewisbwewereIike.Uponseeingthat somebodyneedsassistance,tbesepeopIeautomaticaIyhelptheotberpersonlt]ustseemssonaturaI ,)

fOrt}]emtodoso-aneffortIessact.

Whenwespendsometimetothinkaboutit,we

wiIreaIizethiskindpersonwasprobabIyevenmore tiredthanwewere,butwasabIetodosomuchmore

thanwedid’orwantedto,andseemingIywitbout gettingtiredordisgruntIedTheyIookedhappydoing 99

EvERYrHlNGwEDOMATTERs

exactlywhattheyweredoing’whichwashelping someonee>se.Thisisgenuinegenerosity.

We,too,wiIbeovercomingourgreedwhenwe canhelpothersspontaneousIylfwepersevere,tbe daywiIlarrivewbenwewiIbeabletohe>ppeop>e withoutwaitingtobeasked’wbenwewiIIjustdoso withoutanyprompting.Thispracticetakestimeto deveIop,butgraduaIywewiIimprove.

Wecana>sopracticegivingwhenuponseeing somebodywboisupset,wewaIkupandsimplysmi}e atthemorsayafewthoughtfulwords.Doingso’we instinctiveIyprovidethemwithwhattbeyneedto feeIbetter.Anditmigbtbeatamomentwbenwe ourseIves’veryhonestIy,mightnot}]avefeltlike smiIingorbeinginsigbtful)andperhapsevenfeltlike weweretheonesneedingasmileorkindwordBut frankly,I]eIpingotherswiIIbemorebeneficialthan beingheIped-a}ways.

Whenweareabletogiveinthisway-wbenwe IearntogiveascaringandgenerouspeopIegive-we wiInolongerfeeItired.Andevenifwefee>tired whenwebeginhelping,afterawhilewewilIfind thatgiVngmakesusfeeImoreaIert,happy,anden-

ergetic.WewiInoIongerbeworriedbywhathad l00

TRANsFoRM>NGGREEDANDANGER

beentroubIingusbefore.Byconcentratingonhelpingothers,wewiIlnolongerbeupsetbynegative feelingsthatseemtobeconstantIybombardingus.

TbisistberesuItofsincereIygivingtoothers. ⅧeGMngof咒acbing WecanaIsogivebyteaching.Wemaynothave manyobjectstogiveButmostpeopIearegoodat doingthingsthatothersarenot,ormayImowthings tbatothersdonotknow.Wecanimparttoot}]ers whateverskillsandknowIedgewehave.Wedonot needtohaveexceptionaIskiIsorspecialknowIedge.

We>ustteacbotberswhowishtoIearnsothatthey toowiIacquiretboseskiIsorunderstanding.

Whenweseesomeonewhoisinneed,perhaps’

offoodorotherbasicnecessities,wecanfirstgive themwhattheyneedtomeettheirimmediateneeds’ butthenwecangoastepfurtberbyfindingwaysto teachtbemwhatt}]eyneedtoknowtobecomeseIfsufficient.Thisway>theycanaIsocareforthosethey >oveandareresponsib>efor.

Inourteaching’bowever,weshou}dnotwithhold

anyinformation,butcontinueteachingaIthatwe l0l

EVERYTHlNGWEDOMATTERS

know,asIongasthepersonwisbestoIearn.lf,due toourseIfishness,wedecidetonotteachtheotI]er

persontothebestofourabilitybysbaringalIthatwe know,orperhapsduetoseIf-interest,wedecidetbat wehavedoneenougbandthattheotberpersoncan figureouttI]eresthimseIfthenwearenotsincereIy teac}]ingSincerityistbekey.Wemaynotknowa Iot,butaslongasweknowsomethingtbatothersdo not,thenweshouIdopenlyandhonestIyshareour skilIsandknowledgewiththem.

EvenifwedonothavepossessionsorknowIedge togive,wecanstiIbekind.WecanstiIlberespectfuI toothers.WecanstiIlbeconsiderateofaIIbeings aroundus.WecanbeIpotberstofee}safearoundus. 乃eGiⅦ】gof凡ar／essness

AnotherwaywecangiveistoreIievetheworries andfearsofot}]ers.AfriendtoIdmeofanincident

thathadoccurredinberhome.Acaringwomanwith anexceIIentsenseofhumor’shedoesdrawtheIine

atsometbings.UponwaIkingintoherbatbroom,she sawalargepythononthefloor.HavinggoodrefIexes’ shedrewtheIineandfirmIycIosedt}]edoor.Knowl02

TRANsFoRMINcCREEDANDANcER

ingshewasnotatrisk’berimmediatethoughtwas for}]ereIderlycatthatcouIdnoIongermovequickIy. >enny’whoisBuddbistbypractice’caIIedtober busband,Rob,whoisBuddhistatbeart.RobIooked

inthephonebookandlocatedasnakecatcher.

However’beforethesnakecatcherwasaIIowedto

IeavethepremiseswitI]I]iscatchRobthoughtfUIIy queriedtl]egentIeman:WastbesnakeokayPHow wou}ditbereIeasedandwhere?WouIditbesafeor

wouIditbesubjecttoanyriskpTbesnakecatcher patientlyexpIainedthathewouIdtal(eitaconsiderabledistanceawaybeforehewouIdreIeaseitina

saferandI]orenaturaIenvironment.Mytwocaring friendswatchedwhi>etI]esnakecatchercarefuIy checkedthepython)tbenassuredtbemthatitbad notsufferedanyfromitscaptureandtbatitwou}d befineinasaferbabitat.

HowmanyofuswouIdhavetakenthetime)made theeffOrt,andgonetotI]eexpenset}]atwasinvolved incatchingandsavingthesnakePTbiswasacaseof thegivingofsafetyandofcaringfOrthewelfareof

others>evenwbenthe“other”isasix-footpytbon.

T}IisisanidealexampIeofhe}pingotherbeingsfeeI safearoundusbecausetbisofferingoffearlessness }03

EvERYTHlNGWEDOMATrERS

andsafetywasnotgiventoonIyonebeing-thecatbutaIsotoaIbeingsinvoIved,incIudingthesnake.

EverytboughtwehaveisinstantIyfeltbyaIlotbersthroughouttheuniverse,forweareaIone-we areal}inter-reIated.Wejustdonotyetrealizethis becausewehavenotexperiencedtbisoneness.In tbeaboveexampIeofthesnake,thetboughtwasto protectoneIifewit}]outharmingtbeotber·That

thougbt,ofcompassionandIoving-kindness,wasfe}t byallbeingswhethertheywereinthebousewith thesnakeorontheothersideoftheuniverse.

ManypeoplewhofindthemseIvesinthissituationprobablywould}]avethought,“Toprotectmy cat,lwilIkiIItbesnake.”But>ennyandRob}s

tbougbtsdidnotcomefromattacbmenttotbeircat orfromtbedesiretoprotectwhatwastheirs.Rather, tbeirth0ughtsarosespontaneouslyfromthereverence}IeldequallyforalIformsoflifeandtheirwish toprovidesecurityandsafety.

Whenwe,too,begintogivewitbcompassionand understanding,wewillgraduallyfeelasenseofcontentmentandhappinesslntime,wewiIbeab}eto }ookatatreasuredpossessionwitboutfeeIingattacbedtoitandthink,•‘lknowwhowouldreaIIy>ike l04

TRANsFoRMlNGGREEDANDANGER

tbis.”And,intime,asourgivingbecomesmorenatura>,wewi>Ifindt}]at,moreandmore,ourspontaneousgivingisaccompaniedbyfewertboughtsofwhat webavejustdone L／v巳sofHappinessand凸eedbm Buddhistteachingscanbesubsumedintothree phrases: AvoidalItbatisbad,

EmbraceaIItbatisgood, PuriM]emind ToIiveIivesofhappinessandfreedom,weneed to“eradicateaIItbatisbad.”WeneedtocurtaiI-

andeventuallyeIiminate╴ourcraⅥng,desires’and attacbmentsbecausetbeyIeadthewaytosomanyof ournegativeemotionsandbadhabits.WewiIex-

periencelifetimesuponlifetimesofunbappinessif weallowthemtomakeuscIingtopossessions,people,etc.

Asweworkto“embraceaIIthatisgood,”agood placetostartistbeeradicationofourgreedthrough l05

EVERYrHlNGWEDOMATTERS

givingandgenerosity.WewiIfeelthebappiness fromgivingsomethingtoanother.GraduaIy,wewiII findourseIvesthinkingIessoftheeIationwefee>afterI]avingdonesomet}]ingforanot}]er.EventuaIy, wewiII>ustfindourseIvesofferingspontaneousIyand nolongereventhinkingaboutwhatwehavedone.

WewiIlfind,instead,thatwenaturaIymaintaina quietandserenestateofhappiness.

AsweIetgoofattacIm]ents,atsomepointwewilI nolongerbecomeupsetbutwiIIremaincaImand contentwbenweencounterthingsnotworkingout aswebope.ThisideaIresponsewiIhappeninfrequentIyatfirst,butgraduaIywewiIIreactthisway moreoften.ConverseIywbenthingsdogot}]eway wewant,wewiIagainremainca>mandcontentinsteadofproudordesirousinwantingthep>easantnesstocontinue.ThemoreweIetgoofselfishness andattacbments,themorewewiIIremaincalmand

contentregard>essofthecircumstancelnthisway, wewiIbelearninghowtoâ&#x20AC;&#x153;Purifytbemindâ&#x20AC;?

ManyofuswiIIfindthatwecangraduaIlymanage notbecomingupsetatbadoccurrences.Butnot

wantingthegoodtimestocontinuecanbemoredifficuItbecauseitseemsharmIess.Whatiswrongwitb l06

TI{/\NsPoRMlNcCREED/\NDANcER

wantingtomorrowtobeasgoodastoday?WhiIetI]is

thinkingdoesnotharmothers,itcaninadvertentIy }]armusforweareattac}]ingorcIingingtogood times.ThisisstiIIaformofgreed.

WhatweareaimingatistoreInaincaImandcontent-tobeunattached-ataIItimes.Yes,thisisex-

tremeIydifficuItatfirstandmayweIIseemimpossibIe.ButwitI]entbusiasmande{{ortâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;verygraduaIy, wewiIindtl]atwhethertbingsdonotgoourwayor onthoseunusuaItimeswhent}]eydo,wewiIlremain calmandcontenteitherway.

Sooftenitseemsthatotl]erpeop}ewanttodo sometbingdifferentIyfromtl]ewaywewanttodoit.

Whenotberswanttogoonewayandwewanttogo anotber,thisistbeveItimetbatweneedtobenot

attachedtoourwayofdoingthings.IftbeirpreferenceisnotmoraIIywrongbut>ustanotherwayof doingsomet}]ing,trytogoaIongwithit.Becoming upsetandmakingeveryoneuncomfortabIewiIInot

beIpanyone.Tryandremembertwocontrastingoccasions,onethathadyoufumingandanotherin whichyouwereextremeIyI]appy.WhichfeeIsbetter?DonotgiveintotheoIdnegativehabits:Pinda morereasonabIewayofreacting. l07

EVERYTHlNCWEDOMAT丁ERS

Acost-free,painless’andinstantaneouswayofreactingistosmi>e.Evenifthereisnoonearound,we cansmile.lnitia>>ywhenwetrytodothis,wewiIl feelsomewbatembarrassedshouIdsomebodywalk intot}]eroomandfindussittingtherejustsmilingto ourselves.Theymay}ooksomewhatconcernedat first,butaswesitthere,smi>ing,theywillvery quicklyfeellikesmiIingtoo.Sosmileandbehappy; otherswilIfeeIit.

Peelingthehappinessofothersisfarsuperiorto pickinguponotherpeople’sgreedandseIfishness.

WedonotfeeIcomfortab>ewithpeoplewboseemto radiatesucbnegativefeelings.Alternatively,when wearewithotherswboaregenerousandaIways tbinkingofothers,wefeeIhappyjustbeingnear them.

Aswepracticegenerosityandstarttoeradicate ourgreed,otherswiIInotice.Theymaynotsayanything’buttheywiInotice.AndtheywiIseethatin sinceregiVng,boththeonewhogivesandtbeone whoreceivesbenefit.Thisisbowwecanteachoth-

erswitboutsayIngawordbutbysettingexampIes. IfsomeoneteIsustogivebutt}IeythemseIvesdo notgive’wewiIlnotvaIuewhattbeysay.Ont}Ie l08

TRANsPoRMINcGREEDANDANGER

otherhand,ifweseesomebodywhoseemstonot havemuch,butconstantIygivesthingsaway-for exampIe’somebodywboonIybasalittlebitoffood, butwbosays,“Here,havetbis”-thisistbepersonto Iearnfrom.

Greedisveryug}yltleadstomanynegativeemotions.ItleadsustoendlesslivesofunhappinessbecausewetrytoseIfisbIyprotectourselves,ourpossessions,ourideas>andourknowledge;andbecause wetbinkourpossessions,ideas,andknowledgeare realandwiImakeushappy.Butourideas,possessions,craving,desires,andattac}]mentswiIInot bringhappiness.

GenerositywiIbringhappiness.MorethanIikeIy, wearenotyetabIetopracticet}]elevelofgenerosity tbatwewishButwecanstiIIbeginwhereweare: Wecanteachothers.SureIy,eachofuscansmileat somebodyeIse.Manyofusbavethingsthatwecan givetoothers,skiIsthatcanbeusedtobenefitothers)ortimethatcanbeusedtoheIpothers.

Indoingso)wewilIfeeIhappyandwewiIlbeginto feeI廿ee.WewilIevenbegintofeeIIighterbecause ourattachmentswiIIstarttodropawayfTomus.Butif wedonoteIiminateoratleastreduceourgreed,cravl09

EVERYrHlNGWEDOMATrERS

ing’andattachments,wewiIIfalIpreytoanemotion tbatmostofusbavecometodread-anger.

刀﹚eSeedsofADger Angerariseswhengreedisunrestrained;whenwe donotgetwhatwewant,becauseothersrejectour ideasorobtainwhatwehadwantedforourseIves;or whenwhatwehaveistakenfromus,orthosewe

loveare}osttous.ThewaystbatcraVng,desire,and attachmentscanoverw}]eImusand,then,leadusto

angerareendless.Thepaingenerated,asaconsequence,isinfinite.

Angerisoneofourgreatestproblems.ltarisesbefOreweevenreaIizewbatisbappening.Somebodysays somethingand,inaHasb,weareangry.ItistooIateto trytocontro}theanger:lthasaIreadyignitedWben thishappenswecantrytothinkaboutwhywehave becomeangry,wherethisangerrealIycame廿om. ltdidnotstartwiththisincident)nordiditstart

yesterday,lastweek’orIastyear.AsBuddI]ists,we believethatitstartedmany,manylifetimesagoln thepast,oneofussaidsomethingtotheother.We didnotmeantohurttheotherone’sfeeIings;wejust ll0

TR/\NsPoRMlNcCREEDANDANcER

didnotpayattentiontowbatwewereabouttosay.

SowespokecareIessIyanddidnotrealizetbatsometbinginwbatwehadsaidhurttheotberperson.

Butdeepwithintheonewehadupset,t}]eincidentwasregisteredinthatpartofaIIofusthat coursesthrougbeacbIifetime.Whenwenextmet, maybeinournextIifetimeormaybeafterabundred lifetimes,tbatot}]erpersonunconsciouslyrememberedtbepainofwhathadl]appened.Tbistime,he saidsometbingtousandthistimetherewas]usta bintofresentment.Afterthat’t}]eincidentagain withdrewintobothofoursubconsciousnesses.

Wecontinuetopasstbeangerbackandfortheach timeweencounteroneanother.Eachtime,ourmu-

tuaIangerbecomesstronger.Eachtime,asweacton thatanger,our『eeIingsintensified.EventuaⅡy,ver﹣ baI}ylashingoutattheotherwiInotbeenough:One ofuswiIIstriketI]eotber.ButstiIIitdoesnotend

Meetingagain,wewiIlgetintoafight.Meeting yetagain’fightingwiIlnotbeenoughasourneedto seekretaIiation-tohurttbeother-wilIhaveinten-

sifiedintoanintensefury.Ourdesireforrevenge wiI>IeadustoaninevitabiIity:OneofuswiIdIIthe otber.Buteventl]isisnottheend,forpersonaIanger llI

EVERYrHINCWEDOMATTERS

anddesireforretaliationisnotconfinedtoindividu-

aIs.lndiVdualangerIeadstoterritoriaI)et}mic,and religiousconflicts.Conflictsleadtowar’wartoannihiIation.

Al>oftbisanger,pain,andsufferingcameabout becauseofoneunnoticedthougbt,onecareIess wordWedidnotmeantohurttheotherperson;we justwerenotpaylngattentiontowhatweweresaying-thisishowangerandhatredbegin.

Sothenexttimeangerisbeingpassedbackand fortb,aswebecomemoreembroiIedinit,remember

tbatwearenotinnocentvictimsintheIatestspateof rage.Webotbhaveparticipatedinthisexchange, onewhic}]hasgoneonforIongerthanwecanimagine;theotherpersonisnottheonlyoneatfau}t.

Withtbisrealizationcomestbethoughtthatwecan eit}Iercontinuefue}ingtheangeroroneofuscan choosetostopwhatisbappeningbyconsciousIyIettinggooftheanger.

Whenwebecomeangry,nothingpositiveisaccomplished’notbingisresolved,nothingata>I.lfwe respondinanger)thatangerwilIgrowmoretenacious’morefrightening.ButrespondingwithIogic whiletheotberpersonisangrymaynotheIptodifll2

TRANsPoRMlNGCREEDANDANcER

fusetbeangereither.

Logicis,veryoften)thelastthinganangryperson wishestobear、Wehavebeenthereourselvesjust tryandremembertbeIasttimeyouwereangry.How wouIdyouhavereactediftbeotherpersontoIdyou toca>mdownPItisveryraretbatapersoncansayto us<‘PIease,donotbeangry”withanyrealeffect,especialIywhenwearepracticaIIyfuming.

Sowbereisthisangerthatissodifficulttorestrainstemmingfrom>Theangeriscomingfrom withinus,notfromtheotberperson.Wearemaking ourse|vesangrybyaIIowingtheotherpersonto“pusb ourbuttons))andtoinfuriateus-wearedoingitto ourselves.

Beingcognizantofthis,wecanchoose’instead,to letgooftheanger.Maybewecanchoosenottosay anythingeIserightaway.Maybewecancounttoten ortakedeepbreaths.Maybe’insteadofreplyingangriIytothem)wecansimpIysay(<Amituofo.”Maybe wecansaynotbing,orifnothingelseseemstowork, wecanquietlywithdraw.

Usua}Iy’intbisway,theotherpersonsangerwill diedownmorequicklybecausewearenotrespondingtothem.Lateron’wecantrytalkingtothem·We ll3

EvERYrHlNGWEDOMATTERS

couldaskwhatwedidtoupsetthemandpossibIy apoIogizeforhavingdoneso.Often)aIItheotherpersonneedstobearis<Tmsorry”;thismaybeenough tocontrol,reduce’ordiffusetbeangerontheirpart.

Angermakesusmiserable,guiIty,andupset,as wecannotsIeeporconcentrate.MorethanIikeIy, theotherpersonfeeIsequaIlyunhappy,upset’and unsettIedOutofcompassionfortheotherperson, weshoulddowhatwecantotryandreducethisanger,totrytoresoIvewhatisgoingonbetweenuslf wecannotdoso,ifwecannotfindawaytoeradicate╴tostop-whatishappening,wemigbttryto avoidt}]epersonforawhi>eoravoidt}]ecircumstancet}]atseemstotriggerthebostiIity.

AIso’wecanthinkaboutwbathappenedinthis instance-whatwedidthatcontributedtotheother

personasweIIasourselvesbecomingangry－╴and, then,wecanresolvehowtoactmorejudiciouslyin thefuture.

AH﹜Dit／esandE〉m〕㎡es

PromaIourpastIifetimes,t}]epeop}eweencounteredaremorethanwecancount·Someof ll斗

TRANs｝可oRMlNcGREEDANDANcER

thesereIationshipsbadbeengoodones,whileothers) unfortunateIy)hadbeenbadones.Sometimes,when weencounterpeopIewehadknownbefore’we“recognize)’them.MostofushavehadtheoccasionaI experiencewhereuponmeetingsomeone’wefeltIike weweremeetinganoIdfriend.lnasense,wewere.

WefeItIikewecouIdI]avesatdownandtalkedfor

hours,andmaybewedidWheneverwearewitb sucI]an“oIdfriend,”wefee>bappyandreIaxedThis isagoodaffinity,anaturaI)positiveconnectionwith anotherperson ConverseIy,weaIprobabIyhaveaIsohadtheexperienceofmeetingsomeoneandinstantIyfeelingan immediatedisIikefortbatperson.T}]eindividualdid notsayanythingoffensive’perhapsonlysaid“HeIlo,” butwestiIIfe>tastrongdisIike.Wheneverweencounterour“oIdantagonist’”wefeeluncomfortabIe andtense.Tbeseareenmities,ornegativeaffinities fromourpast.

Whenweencountersomeonewithwhomwehave

anegativeaffinity’wecanremindourse>vesthat, verypossib}y’weareirritatinghimjustasheisirritatingus.Wbyhaveweendedupinthissituation> Karma.Karmais}iteraIyan“action.’>Ourtboughts, ll5

EvERYrHINGwEDoMATTERS

speech,andpbysicaIbehaviorplantcauses.EverythingthathappensinourIivestodayisalmostentireIytheresu>tofthecausesweplantedinourpast Iifetimes.Verylittleofwhatishappeningtousnow istheresultofwhatwedidearIierinthiscurrent lifetime.

SincethecauseswereaIreadycreated,thereis nothingwecandotochangethem.Wecan,bowever,controltheconditionsthatallowthecausesto

deveIoparesult.ForexampIe,aseedisacausethat needstherightconditionstogrow:goodsoil,adequatewater,andplentyofsunshine.Whenthese conditionsarepresent,theseedcangrow.Butwe cankeeptheseedfrommaturingbywit}]holdingthe necessaryconditions.Withoutsoil,water,and sunlight’tbeseedcannotgrow╴╴thecausecannot mature-becausethenecessaryconditionsareabsent.Tberefore’ifwecannotdiffusetheangerby

lettingitgo,wecantrytocontroltbeconditions.

ThereisanaccountofaBuddbistwbohadat-

tainedacertainlevelofinsightduetobisyearsof cultivation.HaVngsomeabiIitytoforeseewbat wouIdhappeninthefuture,heknewthatinacertaincityinCbina,anindividuaIwouldkilIhimbell6

TRANsPoRMlNcGREEDANDANGER

causehehadkiIledthatpersoninapreviouslifetime.Knowingthis,heaIsounderstoodtbatalt}]ougb he}]adattainedsomeachievementinhispractice,he wasnotyetattheIeveIwhereuponbeingkiIedhe wouIdnotfeeIangerwhentl]ishappenedThus’he wouIdnotbeabIetocontroIhisemotionstoavoid

creatingmorenegativekarma.

However,bynotgoingtothatparticuIarcity,he couIdcontroItheconditionslnthisway,hewasabIe tofUrthercontinuehispracticewithsincerityanddiIigenceWhenI]ehadreachedtheIeveIwberehe

wouldnolongergiveintoanger’bewenttothatparticuIarcityinChina.Hemetthepersonandhewas killedButsince}]ecouIdcontro>hisemotions,he

wasabIetostoptheangerandI]atredattbatpoint.

Hemanagedtopracticetoapointwherehecou}d controltheconditions-ararefeatindeed.Hedid

thisnotjustforhimselfbutfortheotherpersonas weII,becausebeunderstoodthatifhegaveriseto angerthenhewould’inturn,killtheotherpersonin afuturelifetime.

HisactionsrequiredmuchmoreseIf-discipIine thanmostofuspossess.ButwecanstiIworkat controIingconditionsonamoremodestleve>.lf ll7

EvERYrHlNGWEDOMATTERs

somebodyconstantlyirritatesusandaIofoureffOrts toresoIvethesituationhavefaiIed,wecanwithdraw

temporarilyandgoworkonreducingouranger,wit}] agoaIofe>iminatingit·lnthisway,wecanbeginto controIconditions.

i∕﹜∕γ】oMakesUSADgIy〉

WecanaIsoremindourseIvesthatotherpeop>e donotmakeusangry-weourseIvesdo.Wbenwe encounteradifficuItsituation,wehaveachoiceof

howtoreact.WecancareIesslyfaIlintoourusuaI babitoflosingourtemper,orwecanreactwisely.It isentireIyuptous.

Wbydowesoeasi>ybecomeangry?Wedosobecauseweareattachedtose>f-importance,ourVewof wboweare,totheconceptof“l.”Whenourconcept of{T’isthreatened,‘T,veryoftenstrilKesoutinanger.

Agoodexamp}eofthisisthetypicaIreactionto criticism.Wehavemanyfau>ts’butwegeneraIIydonot appreciateotherspointingthemouttous.RegardIess’ othersveryoftencriticizeus,justasweareoftencriticalofothers.Whensomebodypointsoutafault,tI]ey, likeus’usuaIlydosoclumsiIy’andconsequentIy,our >l8

TRANsPoRMINGGREEDANDANcER

feelingsarehurt.Pewpeopleareabletocorrectusor criticizeuswithoutusreactingnegativeIy. Weresponddefensive|ywithresentment’guiIt, embarrassment,orascoreofotherreactions.We

mayweIknowwehavedonesometbingwrong)but wedonotappreciateotherspointingitouttous.We resentcritiquesbecausewefeelthatothersareinno positiontocriticizeus:SureIy,theymusthave,sometimeinthepast,donewhatwejustdidandmadethe samemistakeasus.OrwemayfinditdifficuItto apologize-nomatterl]owguiltywefeeI-andsowe reactwithangerortrytoignorethesituation. ltisverydifficuIttoacceptotbers>criticismofus, anditist}]erarepersonwI]owouldfinditeasyto say,MYouareabsoIute}yrightlapoIogizeandwiIInot doitagain’lSucbhumiIitycoupledwitI]strengthof characterisusua}}ynotreadiIyfoundinmostofus.

MoreIikeIy’wewiIIactdefensivelyorworse.We may>inturn,criticizetheotherpersonSo’>etus thinkbeforewereact.

TberearetwopossibiIitiesoccurringwI]eneverwe receivecriticism.ThefirstpossibiIityis’yes,wedid orsaidsometbingwrong.lfweareunab}etodeaI witbthisreaIityrightaway’perbapswecanretreatby ll9

EvERYTHINCwEDOMATrERS

ourseIvesorwithafriend.HopefuIly)onourownor withourfriendisheIpγwecanfigureouthownotto makethemistakeagain.Maybewecantrytobe moreawareofhowothersarereactingtous,or maybewecantItot}]inkmorebeforewespeakor act.W}]ateverwedecidetodo,wemustcarryout witbdetermination.

lnsteadofbeingangryorfeeIingguiItyorbecomingembarrassed,wecantrytobegratefulAfteralI, itisnottheywbohaddonesometbingwrong-itwas us-sobecomingdefensiveandgettingupsetis rat}]erfUti>e.Moreimportantly,wemustrealizethat wehavebeenprovidedanopportunitytoimprove andtobeabetterpersoninthefuture.Porthiswe shouldbeappreciative’notangry.Thisisthebest responsewhenwemakeamistakeandsomeoneis heIpfuIenoughtobringittoourattention.

Thesecondpossibilityisforsomeonetocriticize usevenifwehavedonenothingwrong.Beingaccusedofdoingsomethingwhenwehavenotiseven moreIikeIytoinvokeanger.AsquicIKIyaspossible, weneedtogetoverourindignation.Whetherthe otherpersonhonestlythoughtwedidsomething

wrong’misunderstoodwhathappened)ormaybeexl20

TRANs【司oRMINGGREEDANDANcER

aggeratedthecircumstancesisnott}]eissue WecantrytocaImIycleartbingsup’butwhether ornotwesucceed>again,wehaveachoiceastobow

torespond.Knowingthatangerresolvesnothing,if wecannothelptheotherpersontounderstandour position’wecanatIeasttrytoIetgoofouranger.

Awareofourmistake>wecantrynottocommititin thefutureandIetgoofwI]atbashappened.Wedo notneedtoconstantIygoovertheincidentorfeeI sorryforourse>vest}]atsomeoneisgivingusadifficuIttime.SimpIyforgetaboutit╴Ietitgo. lftheycriticizeusandwediddowhattheysaid wedid’t}]eybavepointedoutoneofourshortcomings’andwenowImowwhatweneedtocorrectin

thefuture.Buti{theybavemisjudgedusandcriticizedusforsomethingwehavenotdone’thenwe musthavedonesomethingintbepastthatbrought tbiscriticismabout-perhapswehadunfairlycriticizedanother,andourkarmahas’caughtupwithus. lfwedonotgetupset,tbenwemaybeabletorepayonekarmicdebt』fso’thepersonbasjust beIpedusandbas,actualIy,doneusafavorlfwe canacceptthesituationandnotgetangry,become defensiveorirritated,orfeeIanythingnegative,then l2l

EVERYTHINGWEDOMAT丁ERS

thispersonhashelpedustorepayakarmicdebt,of whichwebaveanunimaginabIeamount.Howcan webecomeangrywithsomeonewhohashe}pedus?

WhenafriendbeIpsus,weappreciatetheir thoughtfulness:WhendoesareasonabIepersonever respondwithanger>Never.Eveniftbisfriendwas notdoingsomethingoutofkindness,tbeyarestiII helpingus,stiIIdoingusafavor-sometbingwecan trytoappreciate﹀

Yes,itisextremeIydifficulttoviewthesituation thisway,butgraduaIIydeveIopingtheabilitytoIook atlife’siniquitiesfromtbisperspectivewiIIbeIpus tobecomecaImerandmorecontented.Bycriticizing usunfairIy)thosedoingsohaveactuaIydoneusa kindness.IfsomebodyhasdonesomethingtboughtfuIforus,howcanwebecomeangryP If’inthefaceofourtryingtoreasonwitbourcritics-andwithadeepdeterminationnottogiveinto

anger-theycontinuetocriticizeus,thereisnoneed torespondinkindor,even,indefense.lfwerespond bydefendingourseIves,weknowwhatwiIhappen.

Theysaysomething,tbenwewiIsaysomething.

TbeywiIIsay,“Yes,youdid”WewilIsay,“No,l didn’t·”“Yes’youdid.”‘‘No,ldidn!t.})Thisgoeson l22

TRANs『oRMlNGCR匪DANDANcER

andon>witbbothofusbecoIning>ouderandangner.

Neitheroneofusisaccomplishinganytbing,otI]er tbanpIantingmoreseedsforcriticism,un}]appiness, andangerinthefuture.Theotberpersonmaynot reaIizewhatisgoingon’butwedobecausewebave someunderstandingofkarmaandcausaIity.

Everythingarises廿omthemind.Whatwesayand donowwiIIdeterminewbatI]appensinourfuture.lf weargue,wepIanttbeseedsforacrimonyinourfUture.Ifweareconsiderate,weplanttbeseedsfor thoughtfUlnessinourfuture.lfweappreciatethefact thatthispersonhashe>pedustorepayakarmicdebt, and,consequentIy,reactwithkindnessbydecidingto haveanyangerstophereandnow,thenwehave p}antedtheseedsforunderstandinginourfUture.

WhenwestartpIantingmoreseedsofconsiderationandseIessconcernfortbeweIfareofothers, wewiI】creategoodconditionsinourfuture﹚asweⅡ ascontributetoabetterfutureforothers.Wecan

startdoingthisbyreaIizingthatasmucI]asaperson irritatesusnow’ifwedonotstoptheescaIationof anger,itwiIonIygetworse:ThepersonwhoisirritatingusnowwiIIkeepdoingsoevenmoreinthe

future.AndtheresuItwiIbetwopersonsgetting l23

EvERYrHINGWEDOMAT丁ERs

frustratedandangry,notjustone-notjustyou.Por hissakeasweIlasourown,weneedtostoptbisugly exchangeofanger.

ldeaIly’wewiIInoIongerworryabouthowwefeeI butbefocusedonhowtheotherpersonfeels,on howtofreethem廿ompainandunhappiness.Atthis

point’wewiIIbeactinginaccordancewithourtrue nature.AndthegoodnessthatwecreatewilIbeimmeasurable,evenenoughtopositiveIyinfIuenceour currentlifetime.

DecidingtoCbange Liao色nb凡urLessonsistherecordedaccountof

LiaofanYuan>agovernmentofficialwholivedin Chinaalmostfivehundredyearsago.Asayoung man’hewastoIdexactIyhowbislifewouIdunfoId, andformanyyears,everythinghappenedexact>yas hehadbeentoIdHebecameconvincedthatsincea

person}slifewaspredestined,tberewasnoneedto trytodoanything:Wbatwassupposedtohappen would.AsaresuIt,hebegantoaim}essIycoast tbroughIife.

Afterdoingsoformanyyears,hemetanaccoml24

TRANs﹜司oRMINcGREEDANDANcER

pIishedZenmasterwhoexplainedtoLiaofanhowhe couIdchangewl]atwasdestinedtohappenifhe couIdcorrecthisfauIts,changeI]isselfishbehavior, thinkonlyofbenefitingothers>andcreategoodness.

Doingeverythingthemastertold}]imtodo>Liaofan createdsomuchgoodnessinbisIifethat}]ewasab}e tochangehisfuture.

PreVouslyitwassaidtbataImosteverythingtbat }]appensintbisIifetimeistheresuItofourtl]ougbts> speech’andp}]ysicaIbehaviorfrompastIifetimes.It isextremeIydifficuIttochangewhatisdestinedto happeninonescurrentIifetime,butthatiswbat LiaofandidHeadmittedtothemasterthatoneof

hisworsttraitswasbisbadtemper,wbicheasilyinfIamedhimwithangerattheIeastprovocation’and whicI]madehimcritical,impatient,undiscipIined YetwithaIIoftheseaswelIasmanyotbersI]ortcomings,LiaofandeveIopednew,positivewaysofreactingtosituationsandotberpeopIe.Inthisway,he completelychangedhislife.

Hewasdestinedtodieattheageoffifty-three,but heIiveduntilseventy-four.Hewasdestinednotto

havechiIdrenatatimewbenhavingsonstocarryon t}]efamiIynameandbringinghonortoonesancestors l25

EVERYTHlNGWEDOMATTERS

wasextremelyimportant’butheandhiswife}]adtwo sons.Hewasnotdestinedtohaveagood>ob>buthe retiredasarespectedgovernmentofficial LiaofanIivedfivecenturiesagoinCbina.How canwereIatetoamanwboissofarremoved廿om

today>sworId>WecanbecausewhatLiaofanIearned wasauniversaItruthtI]atisnotboundbytime,geog-

raphy,Ianguage,orculturaImores:Wereapw}]atwe sow.-HeIearnedthataIhisproblems-poverty’ chi}dlessness,hisunfuIfiIlingcareer-werealIthe resu>tsofwhathehaddonepreviousIy.Andhisbad

temperlayatt}]eI]eartof}]isprobIems.Somany thingswouldsethimoff,notunIiketoday,whenit seemsthateverythingweencounter}]asthepotential forangeringus.

We,IikeLiaofan,candecidehowwewiIreactin

tI﹞efuturetoaIlthose廿ustratingandinfuriating situationsweencounter.Wemightdecidetocontro} ourtempersbypromisingourseIvesthatwewiⅡ catchtheangerbeforeitgetsoutofhand,butthisis veIdifficulttodoforwewiIIhavetocatchouran-

gerbeforeiterupts.

AnotberwaytocontroIangeristounderstand causality:Webecomeangrybecauseofpast l26

TI｛∕﹨Ns『oRMINGGREEDANDANcEl｛

thoughts,speecb’andactions.Duetopresent thougbts’speechandactions’ifwedonotmodify ourbehaviornow,wewilIsufferevenmorefromour

tempersinthefuture.TbisunderstandingwiIenabIeustobetterovercomeouranger.

Thebestway,bowever,istohaveachangeof heart.Whenwedoso’wewiIIhaveaIreadybegunto understandhowburtfUlandresentfuIcriticismfeeIs,

andbowuncon]fortabIeandupsettingangerfee}s.

WewiIla}sounderstandhowhurt’resentfuI’andupsettheotberpersonfeeIs.EventuaIy)empat}]izing witbtheirpainandthepainofsomanybeingswl]o sufferfromt﹜﹞econsequencesofanger,ourangerwiⅡ dissoIveandnotevenarise.

Overcomingourangerbywatchingourthoughtsis verydifficuIt:Wehavetobeawareofeachincident

tbatirritatesussowecancatchtheangerbeforeit erupts.OvercomingtbeangerbyunderstandingcausaIityisalsodifficuItbecausewehavetoconstantIy remindourselvesofwhatisactuaIlygoingon.

Overcomingandtransformingangeranddamaging,negativeemotionsisbestaccompIishedbyno Ionger}]avingroomfortheminourhearts.Leaveno pIaceforthoughtsofretaliation,ego,ordefenl27

EvERYTHlNGwEDOMATrERs

siveness;onIyaIIowunseIfishthoughtsofbe>ping otherstogrow.

Wecandothisineverythingwedoinour>ives.

ThetriggersforangerareencounteredconstantIy: whiIedriving)atwork,athomeorsc}]oolâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;whenwe arewithotherpeopleoraIone.Buteverythingdependsonhowwereact.Wecangiveintotbeanger orwecanreaIizethatifsomebody}]assaidsomethingunkind,insteadoflashingback,wecanovercomeandtransformtherisingangerbychoosingto

reactwiselyandkindIy.Bydoingthiswecanplant tbeseedsforaIIthegoodthingsthatwewanttobappeninourIives.

Reflectwitbin.Tbinkabouthowwefeelwbenwe

becomeangry.Contrastthiswithbowwefeelwhen wearecalmandcontent.T}]inkabouttbequietstate

ofserenity.Wbicbdoweprefer?Tbeangerortbe serenityPltisentireIyuptousbowwewiIfeelin thefuture.ltisentire}yuptouswhatothersaround uswilIexperienceinthefuture.Itisentirelyuptous whatourworldandotherpeop>eintbisworld,and otherbeingsthroughouttheuniversewiIlexperience. ltal>startsfromwitbinus.Serenityand]oystart

fromdeepwithinus,growtoincIudethosearound l28

TRANsPoRMINcGREEDANDANcER

us,andthenswelItoincIudeaIthosewemeet.Ul-

timateIy,ourserenityandjoywiIlreacbeverybeing throughouttheuniverse.

AIIthiscanhappenifwejusttransformouranger andcravingbyil}uminatingourmisunderstanding withthelightofwisdom.Perhapswewerenot taugI]t,orifwewere’wedonotunderstandordonot

beIieve.Whateverthecause,wedonottrulyunderstandlfwedid,wewouIdnotbehaveaswedo.We

wouldnotcarelessIysaythingsthathurtotbers.We wouldnotcease>essIybewantingmoreorconstantly

begivingintoanger.WewouldnotcontinuaIIybe makingthesamemistakesoverandover,Iifetime afterlifetime·

WhenwereadorhearthatourtI]oughtsandactionswiIII]aveconsequencesthatwewiIIhaveto bearinthefuture’manyofusconcurandnodin agreement.Whilewearereadingorlistening,webelieveandaccept.But’howIongwiI>weremember andhowweIwiIIweunderstandafterthebookis

cIosedorthespeakerhasceasedspeaking?

WedonottrulyunderstandWehavebeentold’ butwecannotremember,wecannotdo,andwe cannotchange.SoeasiIywefaIIbackintothosecoml29

EvERYrHlNGWEDOMAT丁ERs

fortablebadhabitsofdesireandattachment,selfish-

nessandanger.Wetry:Wewanttodowhatisgood.

WesincereIydonotwanttoburtanotherperson,put ourse>vesfirstattheexpenseofotbers)orbeconsumedagainbyouranger.Butastimepasses,we sIipbackintoforgetting Maybe,inthisageofalmostinstantcommunication’wehavebecomedesensitizedtowrongdoings.

W}]at}sa}ittlebitmoreangerPAIittlebitmorehateP

AlittIebitmoregossip>AIittIebitmorefaIsehood?

AfteraI,everyoneisdoingit-steaIing,coveting,>ying.PeopIeargue,“Surely’tbelawofcauseandeffect doesnotappIytolittIeindiscretions.,>Butitdoesltis auniversaIIaw,whichmeansitappIiesl00percentnotjust60percentor80percent-oft}Ietimelnour desensitization,weconvenientlyrationalizethatcertainwrongactionsareokaytodo’tbatonIycertain wrongactionsaretruIywrong.Sowedeviseourown IittleIawofcauseandeffect.Andweendupwith knowing-≡butnothlI｝yunderstanding.

OuroIdhabitsbIindustorememberingtbeprin-

cipIeofcauseandeffect.Maybe’ifwecanberemindedrightaway,or]ustbeforewedoanyt}Iing wrong’t}]atawrongfulactionisfortbcoming,maybe B0

TRANsPoRMINcCREEDANDANcER

wecanstopouroldbadbabitslfonIywecan’just

aswbenwebitourfingers(thecause)wefeeIpain (theeffect)’feeltheconsequencesrigbtaway)maybe wewillstopaIIourwrongdoings.Thefearofinstant repercussions-inthiscase)instantthrobbingpainin thefinger-wiI>sureIystopfurtbercauses.AIas’ mosttimeswedonothavesuchinstantreminders.

Andsoweslipbackagainandagain,furtherandfurtber,toknowingbutnotfu>lyunderstanding.

ApersonwhotrulyunderstandsreaIizestbatconstantIywantingmoreispointIess’becauseweonIy needwbatwecanreasonab>yusewhetheritisfood’ clothing,aplacetolive’orothernecessities,andtbat wewi}Inotfindhappinessinwantingandobtaining more.”Thiswisepersonfindscontentmentinthe [(

appreciationofwhatwehave.

Apersonwboisawareknowstl]attheyfeelmuch betterwbentbeyarecaImandundisturbedthan

whentheyareangryandagitated.Thiswiseperson understandsthefutilityanddangerofangerand choosestoIetgoofit.

ThereaIityisthattl]ewisdomisaIreadywithinus asiscontentmentandserenity.Craving,anger,and unawarenessarenotourtrueessence,ratherdel3l

EVERYTHINGWEDOMAT丁ERS

structivebabitsthatwehavepickedup.Altboughwe

haveyettobecomesincerelyaccompIishedinaIt}]e practicesofgenerosityandgoodness’eachofuscan worktoaccomplishthisgoa}.

BytbinkingofbenefitingothersinsteadofourseIves’byIettinggoofourangerinsteadofal>owing ittogrowandfester’byilluminatingthedarknessof unawarenesswiththecIearlightofunderstanding, wewilltransformourselvesfromwithin,fromour

heartandmind.Wecancarrythisdetermination withus.Wecanbroadenthatthoughtunti}itisour

guidingthought.Andthenoneday,wetoowiⅡ awakentoourperfectcompassion>gentleness’and bappiness.

B2

W<THOuRTHoucHTsWECREATETHEWoRLD

蠻﹨ CLlMATECHANGE:WlTHOuRTHouGHTs WECREATETHEWoRLD

Donobarm.

Dowhatisgood.

Puri句themind Ifyoucannotpurifythemind’

tbendonobarmanddowhatisgood Ifyoucannotdowhatisgood, atthevery>east,donoharm.

EverythingismanifestedbythemindandaIteredby theconsciousnesslnotherwords)withourthoughts wecreatetheworIdAsBuddbists,welearnthatour

greedresuItsinfIoods.Angrythoughtsresu}tinfires, andignorantthoughtsaretbecauseofdisastersinvolvingwindThisiscausaIity:everycausewiIhave aresuIt.Aswecontinuous}ycravemorepower,more materia>goodsandexperiences,andwefaiItoobtain l33

EVERYrHlNGwEDOMAT丁ERs

whatwedesire,theresuIts-IikenaturaIdisasters

andenVronmentaIdegradation-Iikewiseintensi{y WhenweIookaround’considerwhatwesee;pro-

|ongeddrougbt;morefrequenttornadoes;recordingbreakingfloods,hurricanes,andwiIdfires·Theseare theresultsoftbethreepoisonsofgreed’anger,and ignorance.Theterribletruthwearefacinginthe worIdtodayistI]atweareunableevento“Dono barm.”Wearepoisedattbebrinkofwor>dwideenVronmentalcolIapseand}]aveverylikelyalready reachedour“tippingpoint.’>Thisistbepointat whichwehavegonetoofarandarenoIongerabIeto puIbackfromthepIungeintotbeabyss.ThequestionbecomesMHowdeepistheabyss?”Andthen, “Howdidwegettothispoint?”

ThemorepowerandweaIt}]politiciansandcompanieswanttohaveandthemorecomfortindiVduaIsseektoenjoy,themorewewiIharmtheenVronmentandeveryperson,animaI,andpIantwho struggletoexistinthatenVronment.Wearenow experiencingtheresult:cIimatechange.Thisnow IoomingworIdwidedisasterhasarisenfromavery reaIcause-craving

Weconsumemore,tbinkingaI}t}]ethingswe B4

WITHOuRTHouGHTsWECREATETHEWoRLD

cravewiIImakeushappy.ButinreaIitywearedepIetingournonrenewabIeresourcesandexhausting ourplanet.Toxicwasteseepsintotheeartband worksitswayintoourriversandoceans,contaminatingeveryt}]ingittoucI]es.Ourimportedgoodsand exoticfoodsaretransportedaroundthewor>don sbips,pIanes’andtruckstbatspewtoxicfumesand

pumptonsofcarbondioxideintotheatmosphere.

Therigbtsoftbepoortohavecleanwater,arabIe land,andasafepIacetoraisetheirchiIdrenare completeIydisregardedinthenameofprofit.AscorporationsbecomeIargerandIarger,theirpreoccupationwitl]thebottomIinesmakesthemforgetthat those“purcbasingunits”arereaIpeopIe’strugg>ingto liveontbisplanet.Oneagribusinessfundmanager gleefuIysaidrecentIy<<HigherfoodpricesareinevitableaIovertheworld;we’reinasweetspot.”

T}]emorewebuyandtheIessmindfuIywelive, tbemorewedestroywhatisnaturaIandpure.lnits place,weIeavedevastation.TragicaIy’wearecommittingunimaginab}eharm.Becauseofourgreed andwishforcontroI,wearecomingprecariousIy cIosetodestroyingourworIdasweknowit.

IsthereawaytostopthisreckIessbebavior-a l35

EVERYTHlNCWEDOMATrERs

waytobehaveresponsib>yandstopclimatechange?

IstherestiIItime?Wedonotknowtheanswerto

thesequestions.Butweneedtodoeverythingwithin ourpowertotry.

Evenifeveryoneelsedoesnotdowhatisright, lalonewill

EvenifeveryoneeIseisdoingwrong, IaIonewiInot.

IeResu/[;C/ima[eCbange

IcecapsandglaciersmeIted.TheworId!smostfamouscitiesunderwater路One-thirdofthepIanet turnedtodesert;theotbertwo-thirdsfilledwith

peopIestrugglingforenoughfoodandwatertosurvive.Isthistobeourfuture?

OurworIdisspiraIingoutofcontrolandyetwe stiIlhave>eadersfailingtotakeactionongIobal warming.NewscastersandjournaIistsreportonbow thestockmarketbouncedbackaftersomeminor

profittakingandwhatt}]e>atesttidbitsfromHOllywoodare.Peopjecomplainaboutt}]epriceofgasoB6

WITHOuRTHoucHTsWECRE/VETHEWoRLD

IineastheygetbackintotheirSUVanddriveoff’

aIone.Parentsshaketheirbeadsandworryabout howclimatechangewiIaffecttheircbiIdren’tben boardtheplanetogovisittheirchiIdrenandgrandchildrenbecausetheyIovethem.

OnMarchll’2007’theSundayTfmes’ama>or newspaperintbeUnitedKingdom,detailedthe earth-cbangingscenariosdegreebydegreethat wouldIikeIyoccuringIoba>warming.Tl]earticlewas anintervlewwitbMarkLynas,theauthorofSrxDegrees;OⅡr几﹝ureonaHOr〔erP／aDetandreferenced

researcI]bytheHadIeyCentreforCIimateCbange intheUnitedKingdom.Basedontensofthousands ofpagesofscientificresearch’SixDegreesprovidesa succinctana}ysisofwhattheworldcouldIookIike aftergloba>warming: (‘Atonedegreeofwarming,theArcticisice-free forhaIftheyear,theSouthAtIantic-typicaIy voidofhurricanes-experiencescoastalhurricanes’andinthewesternU.S.severedroughts arepIaguingresidents.

l37

EVERYrHlNGWEDOMATTERS

TwoDegreesofWarming:PoIarbearsstruggIe tosurvIveasgIaciersincreasingIymeltaway.

GlaciersinGreenIandbegintodisappear,wbiIe coraIreefsarevanishing.

ThreeDegreesofWarming:TheAmazonrain forestisdryingoutandElNifio}sintense

weatherpattembecomesthenorm.Europerepeatedlyexperiencessearingsummerheatthat hasrarelyhappenedbefore.

PourDegreesofWarming:Oceanscouldriseâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

takingovercoastaIcities.Thedisappearanceof gIaciersmaydeprivemanyoffreshwater.

NorthernCanada}sagricu}turecouldboomanda ScandinavianbeachcouIdbethenexttourism

botspot.ApartofAntarcticacouldcoIapse> causingwatertoriseevenfurther.

PiveDegreesofWarming:Uninhabitablezones couIdspread,snowpackandaquifersfeeding bigcitiescouIddryup,andcIimaterefugees couIdruninthemiIions.HumanciviIization

couldbegintobreakdownwiththisdrasticof l38

WlTHOuRTHoucHTsWECREATETHEWoRLD

cI]angestotI]ecIimateThepoorwouIdIikely suffertbemost.

SixDegreesofWarming:T}]eoceanscouIdbe marinewasteIands,thedesertscouIdmarch acrosscontinents,andnaturaIdisasterscould

becomecommonevents.Theworld)sgreatcities couIdbef>oodedandabandoned.TbiscouIdbe .”)I

<tbedoomsdayscenarlo.

刀﹞eChL／se;US

Forthepastl50years,wewereslowlydrawninby cheap>accessibIeenergy.ltbecameinevitabIethat theenvironmentaIcostsofpoIutionandresource depIetion,notbornebyconsumers,wouIdfaIlon others.lntime,asheaIthcareproblemsarose,tbese costswerebornebytaxpayerswbowerenotquite sureexactIywheretbeirtaxdoIIarswent.ButasIong ast}]esystemseemedtobeworking’fewpeopIewere incIinedtoaskquestions.PeriodicaIlyastorywouId Ibttp://channelnationaIgeograpbic.com/c}]annel/sixdegrees/ l39

EvERYrHlNGwEDOMAT丁ERS

beonthenews-thedepIorabIeconditionsminers Iaboredunder’increasingcancerrates,inequality issues-butpeopIedidnotconnectthedots·Most wereengrossedwit}]thecommercialsaftert}]enews anddreamingofwhattobuynext.

Howdidtheygettotbispoint?Asconsumers,afterWorIdWarI,Americansbecamecaugbtupin thegovernmentpromoteddreamofowningahouse inthesuburbs.Therewasseeminglyendlessland’ governmentprogramsand}oansfOrthesoldiersreturninghome,andIotsofcheapoiItopowerthe dream.SoAmericansinrecordnumbersbeganmovingtothenewsuburbs.Daddroveintotbecityto workwhiIeMomstayedhomeandIookedafterthe children.ltseemedidyIlic.

ButsomewbereaIongtheway,thedreamofsuburbiabecamecompIicatedPeoplegotcaugbtupin thetragicaIymistakenideathatpossessionsandexperienceswouldmakethemhappy.Themessage theykepthearingwas“moreisbetter.”GraduaIly’ thehousesbecamelargerandfamiliesfoundthemseIvesseparatedasgrownchildren,nowwiththeir owndreamsofanidyIIiclife,Iefthometoworkin otberpIaces. l40

WITHOuRTHouGHTsWECRE八TETHEWoRLD

WithouttI]egrandparentsaroundtobelpcarefor thechildren>Momneededtogeta>obtohelppay forchiIdcare.Dadfoundheneededtoworklonger hourstobeabIetoaffordaIIthegoodthingsthey wantedfortheirchiIdren.Shortontime’tbeparents turnedtothenewelectronicheIp.Disbwashers, was}]ingmachines’andvacuumcleanersweresoon deemedhousehoIdnecessities.Thenumberof(must

have’>electronicappIiancesincreasedasmoreproductscametomarket.

ButwithplannedobsoIescencecarefuIycaIcuIatedtoincreasecorporateprofits’thecarsandaII tbeothermoderngadgetryneededtobefrequently repIacedSincetherewassomucbIandandsomany garbagedumps’thenolongerwantedgoodswere simplythrownaway.PIastic,polystyreneandother petroleumby-productsthatwouIdtakecenturiesto breakdownendedupatdumpsites.Toxinsbeganto leacl]intotbesoiIandgroundwater.Butitwasokay becausetherewassomucIand

AstheIistofmodernconveniencesgrew’timehonoredhouseholdskiIIsweredeemedold-fas}]ioned

andunnecessaryinthemodernworId.TheVctory gardensthatwereama>orsourceoffoodduringthe l4l

EvERYrHlNGwEDOMATTERS

wargavewayto>awnsandflowerbeds.Therewasno needtocookanymorebecausetberewereTVdinnersandpreparedfoodsthatcouldbequicklybeated

upbyaMomnowverytiredfromworkingalldayat theofficeorfactory.TherewasnoneedtopersonaIIy preservefoodsanymorebecausetherewereIotsof cannedandfrozenfoodinthesupermarket.

DadforgottheskiIlshehad>earnedfromhisfatherbecauseitwasnoweasiertohirepeopIetodo whatneededtobedone.Plus,hebadaItl]osetime-

saVngpowertoolsandcouldbuyready-madeitems attbestore.People,hookedontbeeIectronicmarvelstodotheirwork’becameincreasing>ydependent onaIlthecheapenergythatpoweredtheirIifestyIes. Today’noneofthishaschanged.Weseepeople buyingIargerhousestostoreaItbenewelectronic gear’Thechildren’seeingMomandDadbuying more,wanttheirownteIevisionsandcomputersjust likeaIltheirfriends}]ave.Pamiliesmightgatherto eatdinneratthesametime,buteveryoneheatsup theirownfoodinthemicrowave.Afterthrowing awaythemicrowavabIecontainers,tossingthepizza cartoninthetrash)andputtingthecut}eryinthe dishwasher,parentsandcbiIdrengototbeirown l42

WIT{-{OuRTHoucHTsWECREATETHEWoRLD

rooms.Theytl]enimmersethemseIvesintI]eir}]ome entertainmentcentersorpIaygamesontI]eircomputersuntiIitistimetogotosIeep.Theninthe morning,it>stimetogetupandbeginalloveragain.

Andsowe}]avetheAmericandreamtoday’a dreamthatmanypeopIearoundtI]eworIdwantto }]ave.ButthisisadreamgoneterribIywrong.

E／ep力an㎡ntheLjvingRoom

Fromdeepwitbineachpersonwhobeginstograsp theenormityofcIimatechangeandgIobaIwarming, aprofoundsenseofgrief﹂andfear-beginstoarise.

Humanity’sdreamofprosperityisnowbecominga nightmareWearenowIearningwhatthefutureof ourworIdwiIIbelikeAndwiththisreaIization

comesanother:thatsix-degreesfuture}]asa>ready begunAnditisevenmoreborrificthanwehad feared

ClimatechangehasbeencaIIedthe(<eIephantin theliVngroom.>’Thinkofitasalarge,unruIyguest whodoeswbateveritwis}]estodo.ButcIimate

changeisnottheonIyeIephant.PeakingoiI>natural l43

EVERYrHINGWEDOMA丁TERS

gas,coaIanduraniumreservesareanotherfour.

Thentbereisaquiferdepletionandabumanpopu>ationthesizeofwhichtheearthcannotsustain.It takessomuchIandandwatertofeedonehuman

andwehaveonIyafiniteamountoft}Ieseresources inourworld.OnceweexceedtbatnaturaIcarrylng capacity,thereisnoIongerenoughfoodandwater foreveryone.

Ourcurrentwor}dsituationistbatweareattbe

brinkofanenergycrisistbatbeganwithgIobaIoiI reservespeaking·TbeU.S·EnergyInformationAdministrationreportedin2007thatthepeakoccurred inMay2005.2ltismoredifficuIttogaugenatural gasreservesbutitisgeneraIIyacceptedthattbey baveeithera>sopeakedorarecIosetodoingso.CoaI anduraniumareexpectedtopeakaround2020and before2050,respectiveIy.Oil,naturaIgas,coaI,uranium,andhydroeIectriccurrentIyprovide93percent oftheglobaIenergysupply.Tberemaining7percent ismainIyhydropowerfollowedbybiomasswitha fractionprovidedbyrenewabIesIikesolarandwind power.

zUS.EnergyInfOrmationAdministration’“EIectricPowerAnnuaIfor2006Report,”reIeasedOctober22,2007 l44

WITHOuRTHouGHTsWECREATETHEWoRLD

Peakresourcesmeanswehavereachedthepoint intimewhenthemaximumproductionrateoftbe resourcebasbeenreachedOncepastthepeak, thesenaturaIresourceswilIbecomeincreasingIydifficuItandcostIytoextractandprocess.Astbeprices riseâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;eachofuswiIIreachourpersonalpeakâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;the pointwhereourIifeisimpactednegativeIybytbe highcostbrougbtaboutbyever-increasingcompetitionfortberemainingoil AIso>wearemovingcIosertothepointatwbicb theextractionandproductioncostsoutweightbeenergyobtainedWecanseetheIogicinthiswitbour foodltwouIdmakenosensetoexpendonehundred caIoriestoeatfoodthatwilIonlyprovidetencalories ofenergy. lnadditiontoextraction)productionanddistributioncosts,therearethehiddencostsIikepolIution, aquiferdepIetion,soiIdegradation,andhuman hea}thissues.T}]esecostsarenotcaIculatedinthe

priceatthepumpw}]enwefiIlupourcarsoratthe storew}]enwebuyaboxofimportedchocoIateencasedinIayersofpIasticpackagingThecostsare beingbornebytaxpayersandthosewhowereforced offtbeIandbygovernmentsandinternationa>conl45

EVERYrHINGWEDOMATTERS

glomerateswhoarefocusedonprofitnotonclimate c}]angeort}]esufferingofl]umans.T}]esemiIionsof economicrefugeshavenochoicebuttomoveinto citieswberetheycannotfindworkorraisethesubsistencecropsthatusedtofeedtheirfamilies.The costsarebornebyt}]ecbildrenwbomustbreathe polIutedair,drinkcontaminatedwater,andIivein squalidconditions-chiIdrenwhohavenofuturefor tbeywilInotbeabletomakealiVngorfarmtbe Iand.NorwiIItheybetaughtbythosewhodispossessedthemhowtodoprovidefortheirownfamiIies inthefuture.

UnderstandingwhatpeaAoi/means,whathappenswbenwereachit) TbeUnitedStates,theIargestoilconsumer, reacbedtbepeakofitsdomesticoilreservesinthe l970s.Now,whentheUnitedStatesisrelyingmore heavilyonimportedoil,lndiaandC}]inaarea>sobecomingmajoroiIimporters.Thisishappeningatthe sametimet}]atdomesticdemandisincreasingwithin theoilexportingcountries.SocountriesIikeVenezuelaandSaudiArabianeedtosuppIytheincreasing needsoftheirowncitizensasweIastbeirforeign custon]ers.

l46

WITHOuRTHoucHTsWECREATETHEWoRLD

AsthegapbetweensuppIyanddemandincreases, thepriceperbarreIwillcontinuetobitnewhigbs.

TbisisaIreadyhappeninglnthefal>of2004abarreI ofoi}}]it$50>ustthreeandahalfyearsIater’on Marchl2’2008’oiIit$l09.72.AIreadyweareseeingpeopIeinthedeveIopedworIdhavingtodecide w}]ethertospendmoneyonI]eatingoiIoronfood, agonizingdecisionsthoseinthedeveIopingwor>d bavefacedforyears.WhatdopeopIecboose?They arechoosingtobuyheatingoiIbecauseittakes longerforchiIdrentostarvetodeathtbanitdoesor themtofreezetodeath.

Evenifwe}]avereac}]edthemaximumofgIobaI production’don’twestiI]aveaIot>eft>SureIywe havepIentyoftimetocomeupwithanothersolution totbeincreasingenergydemands> No>wedonotbavetimebecausetI]eeaseand

costofextractionfortheremainingreservesarevery differentfromt}]eaIreadyextractedoiIbotbinquaIityandeaseofextractionAlso)newso>utionstakea }ongtimetodevelopAsreservesdwindleandbe-

comemoredifficuIt,andthusexpensive,toextract’ thequaIitygradeoftheoiIaIsodecreasesasdoesthe energyoutputperbarrelHigheroiIpricesreHectthe l47

EvERYrHlNGWEDOMAT荳・RS

additionalproductionexpense.

Wbataboutotherenergy-producingmateriaIsIike tarsands?TarsandsareactuaIybituminoussands thatareanaturaImixtureofsand,water,andbitu-

menTheIargestreservesareintbeoilsandsin CanadaandthetarsandsinVenezueIa,withsmaller reservesintheUnitedStates,Russia,andtbeMiddIeEast.TheseoiIsandsarenotVscousIikeoil,thus

theymustbemined.Thisprocesstakesmuc}]water andIargeamountsofenergytoextractandprocess.

Thisheavycrudeoilisinturnexpensivetoprocess intogasoline,dieselfuel)andotherproducts.

Currently,thegovernmentofAlberta,Canada}]as approvedtheextractionoftbepetroIeumfromtbe sandseventhoughenVronmentalistsaythiscompIex processwiIcreateanenVronmentaInig}]tmareand thusbastengIobaIclimatechange.TheoilcompanieskeepexpIoitingour蟒ｿagilepIanetjusttoprolong tbecomfortoftheweaIthywhodonotwanttogive upt}]eirpersonalcomfortandconsumptive}ifestyles.

Whataboutnaturalgas>TheUnitedStatesisnow anetimporterofnaturaIgas.NorthAmericandiscoveriesbavebeenonagenera>decIinesincethe earlyl980s.EuropeaIsobitthehighofitsnaturaI l48

WITHOuRTHouG｝﹣﹛TsWECR巴ATETHEWoRLD

gasdiscoveriesaboutthesametime.Dr.AIiSamsam Bakhtiari,formersenioradvisertotheNationaIIra-

nianOiICompanyinTebran’reportedtotheAustralianSenatein2006tbatnaturaIgaswouIdpeak worIdwideabout2008or2009.Healsofeltthat

Russiabadalreadypeaked,wbichinturndirectIy affectedEuropeanimports.

UnlikeoiI’whichcanbeeasilytransportedin tankers,gasbastobeusedonsite,ortransported throughpipeIinesorinspeciaItankers.Somovingit aroundismoreprobIematicthanoil WhataboutcoaIPTheWorIdCoaInstitutehas

beensayingformanyyearsthatthereareenough coa>reservestoIastforanotherl50years.Butthe EnergyWatchGroup,workingwitbmorerecentIy updatedreservenumbersandfactoringintheincreasingrateofextractionduetoincreasingdeInand’ }]ascaIcuIatedt}]atthecoaIpeakwiIIoccursomewherebetween2020and2030China,the>argest consumerofcoaIispredictedtopeaksooner.

EnvironmentaIy,coaIisevenmoredamagingthan oiIornaturalgas,asweIIasbeingfarIessefficient.

TheUnitesStateshastheworId>slargestcoaIreserves’butwhathasbeenextractedisthehigher l49

EvERYrHINGwEDOMATTERS

gradeanthracitecoaI,withabigberenergydensity tbantheIowergradelignitecoalbyafactoroffiveor six.Now,muchoftberemainingcoaIreservesare

lignitenotanthracite.SowbiIecoalproductionis increasingintbeUnitedStatesbecauseoftheIower qualityoflignite>tbeenergyoutputderivedfromthis coalpeakedaroundl999.ConsequentIy>theUnited StatesisnowanetcoaIimporter.

Whataboutnewtechnologies>SureIypeopIeare

workingonasoIution.Won,tsomethingbeinvented thatwilIproVdeforourfutureenergyneedsPYes,we arenowseeingdevelopmentsintecImoIogiesIike solarandwindbutthesecurrentlyprovidejusta fractionofonepercentofourcurrentenergysuppIy. ltwiI|taketimetoincreasebothdemandandsupply.

RichardHeinberg,authorandpeakoileducator’has saidthatitwouIdtakefifteenyearsforpeopIeto graduaIyreplacetheircurrentpetroIeum-powered vehic}es.Sothereisnoquicktransitionevenwhen wedeveIopothertechnoIogies.Also,tbesetechnolo-

gieshavetheirownenVronmentaIimpactassolar vo>taicarrays,windmil>s’andtheothernecessary equipmentneedtobeproducedandshippedTben wefacetheVnotinmybackyard’)syndromeEveryl50

W<THOuRTHouGHTsWECREATETHEWoRLD

onewantsthenewteclmologyinplace,buttbeydo notwanttobavetolookatit.

Also,forthesizeofwbatwearetalkingabout,we needanationa}andeveninternationalenergydistributioninfrastructure.WedonothaveamagicfUeI thatwecansimplyplugintoexistingdistributionsystems.ltwiIltakenationaIandregionalgovernment actiontobuiIdanewenergygrid.ThiswiIenabIe indiVdualsandcompaniesw}]oproducemoreenergy thantheyrequiretobesharedwitbothers.

BeforeanewtechnoIogycanbeproducedand used,nationaIgovernmentsneedtodostudiesofthe technoIogy.PoIiticiansneedtopoItheirconstituents’listentospecialinterestgroups,andvotelfa biIispassed,fundingneedstobefound,andfinaIly buildingneedstobedone.Then,aswegetcloserto reaIproduction’wehaveacbicken-and-eggprobIem. BeforecompanieswiIcommittoparticipatinginthis newdistributionsystem,tl]eywiIwanttoseecustomersreadytousethenewformofenergy.ButbeforecustomersinstaIlthecommercia>andresidentia>

systemstousetbenewtechnoIogy’theywillwantto besurethecompanieswiIIsuppIythenewformof energy.Sowhichcomesfirst-supp}yordemand? l5l

EvERYrHlNGWEDOMATTERS

Tbecbickenortheegg> Aswithanynewtechnology,priceswillbebighto

beginwithAsproductionmethodsimproveand morepeop}epurchasetheitem’theperunitcostwill graduallybereducedandthustbenewtechnology willbecomemoreaffordab>etoalargernumberof people.Butevenwithlowercosts,manypeoplewill wanttowaitfortheoIdtecbnologytowearoutbeforereplacingitwiththenew.

Hurd／esroOv巴rcome

WebavetoVewthewboIepicture.Climatechange,

peakenergy,aquiferdepletion’soildegradation,and overpopulation-everything-isinterrelated.Innature,ifyoutinkerwithoneaspect’alltheotbersare alsoimpacted.Wecannotignoreanyoftheseother “elepbants,>’fortodosowillputatriskwbatever goodwemightdoregardingtheothers.

IfwearegoingtohaveanypositiveinHuenceon climatechangeandpeakenergy,wehavetorecognizetheseothereventua}crisesaswellandincorpo-

ratesolutionsforal}ofthemaswequicklyadaptto l52

WlTHOuRTHouGHTsWECREATETHEWoRLD

ournewreality.AstheBuddhasaid,everythingis interconnected;nothingexistsonitsown.

Cqgni㎡ved／ssonance

Wbenfacedwithinformationthatisdrastically differentfromwhatonebelievestobetrue,t}Ieten-

sionhastoberesoIvedtbroughchoosingeitberthe familiarbeliefortheproposednewone.Mostpeople willgowiththebelieftbeyarefamiliarwith WhenpeopIe’hearingaboutglobaIwarmingand peakoiI,Iookaroundandseethateverytbinglooks normalandfeeIthattheirlivesarenotthatmuch

affected’theytendtodismissthenewperspective.

Yes’tbepriceofgasandfoodbasincreasedbut sureIythat>sjustduetoincreaseddemandandcorporatepricegouging.Yes,theweatherisunusualbut thatisnormalYes’theiceismeItinginGreenland,

theArctic,andinhigb-mountaingIaciersbutthat couldjustbeatemporaryoccurrence Itislikeputtingafroginanuncoveredpotofwater,placingthepotonthestove,andturningupthe heat.Becausetbetemperatureincreaseisgradual, thefrogkeepsadaptingtotheincreasingheatuntilit istoolate,andthefrogisboiledtodeath. l53

EVERYTHlNGWEDOMATTERS

Econom/cDecl/neandC/tizenPanic

Whengovernmentsseetheirfinancialmarkets fallingandimminenteconomicdownturn>t}]eywill wanttogiveintocorporatespecialinterestsandpanickedvoters.Shortsightedleaderswi}ldoastbey havedoneforseveraldecades:lookforthequickfix.

TbeywiIIdivertmoneyfromlong-rangeplansto combatglobalwarmingandspenditonsbort-term economicinjectionsofcapitalintotbeeconomy.But appeasingimmediatedemandstostopthepainwiⅡ onlyinsureevenmoreterriblepaininthefuture. 助ecia／hreres〔Cm叩s

TberearespeciaIinterestgroupswhohavefunded organizationsspecificaIlysetuptoconVncepeople tbatclimatechangeisahoax.Tbroughoutbistory businesshasbadcIosetiestothoseinpowerandto-

dayisnodifferent.TberearecompaniesandindividualswhoarecaughtupintheircraVngforpower andwealthToonlookers>itseemsamazingthat

thesecorporategiantsandgovernmentofficialsseem tobecompIeteIydisconnectedfromreality·Their chiIdrenandgrandchiIdrenwiIIbavetoIiveintbe l54

W【THOuRTHouG日TsWECREATETHEWoRLD

wor>dtheycreate.Wbatoneartharetheythinking> Wbatevertheirreasons>thesespecialinterestgroups makeitdifficultforpeopletoIearntbetrutbabout globalwarminganddenythemtbetimetomake necessarychanges.

【∕【∕﹜〕a〔ChI】Cov巴rnmen店Do〉

SomethingscanonlybedoneonanationaIorIoca> governmentlevelForexampIe,toensureequityand toslowdowndepIetion’rationingsystemsforresourceslikegasoIine,heatingoiI,andnaturalgaswilI needtobeinstituted.Newenergypo>iciesandinternationa>treatiesasweI>aslargeinfrastructuresto moveenergymoreefficient>yneedtobedoneatthe

nationaIandinternationaI}eveI.Newtecbnologies needtobesharedwitbdeveIopingcountries.WeaIso neednationa>farmpoIiciesthatwi>lencouragebackyardgardensandsmallfarms.Largefarmswillneed togrowmorevariedfoodinasustainableway.

WeneedmoreHexibIebuiIdingcodesandfinancialincentivesforpropertyownersandrenterswho insta>ltheefficientnew-energysystems>improvethe l55

EvERYrHINGwEDOMAT丁ERS

insulationintheirhomesandbusinesses,andincor-

poratewaystoreducetheirenergyconsumption.

LocaIcommunitiesneedtofocusonfoodavail-

abilityandconservationmeasures.Porexample,in tbeUnitedKingdomandAustralia,transitiontowns arepIanningtomoveawayfromreIianceonexisting

energysourcesintorenewables.Theyare}ookingat howtosupportmoreefficientwaysofmanufacturing,providemorepubIictransportation,usemore efficientwaystoheatandcool,andprovidemore securefoodsuppliesthataremuchclosertohome.

l/IatCbnlbdMdua/SDo>

IfwelivejustforourownsatisfactionandHawed perceptionofhappiness,wewilIhavelittIereasonto maketbesacrificestbatwemustmakeforhumanity

andaIlbeingstoallowthemtosurviveintbefuture.

Ouron>yconcernwilIbefor(<me>>and(‘mine,’>meaningourimmediatefamiIyandclosefriends.Asresourcesbecomeincreasinglyscarce,andthusincreasingIycostIy,wewilIbecomeevenmoreselfcenteredandselfish.Themoretbefearsetsin,the l56

WlTHOuRTHoucHTsWECREATETHEWoRLD

morese>f-centeredwiIwebecome.UnIessour

depthofunderstandingisprofoundanddeep-rooted’ wewillbeovercomebyourfearandwewillfigbtto surv1ve,atanycost.

TbosewhotruIyunderstandcausalityknowtbe importanceofeverythought,word,andaction.Our everydecisionwiIlhaveconsequences.Wbeneverwe takemoretbanourfairshare’wearetakingfromanotherbeingTbesufferingwecauseotherswiIcome backtous.

WewiIlpaytheterribIecostforourindulgence.

AsGeorgeMonbiotwroteinHeat:HbwtoSrOp t/jeP/anetBuming,“…theconnectionbetween causeandeffectseemssoimprobabIe.Byturningon theIigbts,fiIIingtbekettIe,takingthechildrento scboo},driVngtotheshops,wearecondemningpeopIetodeathWeneverchoosetodothis.Wedonot seeourselvesaskiIers.Weperformtheseactswit}]outpassionorintent.”3 Be／】a㎡orCbange Ourparentsworkedveryhardwiththehopethat 3GeorgeMonbiot》Heat:HOwroStOP肋eP／anerBuming,

(Cambridge’Mass.,SouthEndPress’2007)22. l57

EvERYrHlNGwEDOMATrERS

ourIiveswouIdbebetterthantheirs.Pormanyofus’ ourliveswouldappearbetterbecausewehavemore “stuff”andenjoyabroaderrangeofexperiences.But itisnotenoughforus.WeareIockedintobehavior weseemunabletochange.Itisasifwearewearing bIindersasweforgeabeaddeterminedtobaveone Iastfinalorgyofself-induIgence.

Webavegrownsousedtoourcomfortsthatthe

thoughtofhavingtowasbourclotbesbyhand’of walkingmore,ofgrOwingandthencooking-from sCratch!-ourownfoodseemsIikeareturntothe

darkages.OurexpectationsbavefaroutruntbeabiIityofourfinitep}anet’sresourcestosupplybutwe seemunwillingorunabIetoa匈usttothisreality Thetrutbistbatwehaveunthinkinglymade

manywastefuldecisionsregardingeIectricityproduction,transportation,andbousing.GeorgeMonbiot calculatedthattbedevelopedworldneedstocut

carbonemissionsby90percent.UsingtbeUnited KingdomasanexampIe’heshowsbowtbisisnot impossible.Notknowingwhetberwewillbeableto makeadifferencebycuttingback’westilIneedto try.

l58

WITHOuRTHoucHTsWECREATETI-lEWol{LD

CbangingPerceptions

M<M>uchofwhatisrequired…issimplycomingto termswitbthenotiont}]ataradicalchangeinyour wayofIifeisnottbesaInethingastbeendofthe worIdlthinkmanypeop>etendtoassociatethe two-wehavealwaysbeenwealt}]yandcomfortabIe and>uckyhereinthewest’andthelossofsomeor

aIoftbosetbingsseemsIikeadisasterofunimaginabIepropoTtionsBut{tdoesn>tI]avetobe-thafsa

wayofthinkingwecancboosetodiscard,recognizingt}]att}]osewboIiveIesscomfortabIelivesoften

vaIuethemequaIy.’)4 Re／oca／fza㎡on

lntheUnitedStates,foodtraveIsanaverageof l500miIestoreachtheconsumer.Onaverage,supermarketskeeponlyathree-daysuppIyoffOodin stockSmalI,IocaIyownedstoreshavegoneoutof business,unabIetocompetewitbtheWaImartsof

theworldWithgIobalization,manufacturingjobs haveIeftthedeveIopedcountriesandgoneoverseas 斗Anonymouscomment’Casaubon’sBook,﹙﹙HaIIowingtheDescent’”bttp://casaubonsbookbIogspot.com/2007/l2/baIowingdescent.btml,accessedDecember27Ih,2007 l59

EVERYrHlNGWEDOMATTERS

wherelaborischeap,oftenbecauseworkersdonot receivehealtborotherbenefits.Inmanycountries,

smal>farmershavegoneoutofbusiness’unableto competewitbgovernment-subsidizedagribusiness.

Asenergypricescontinuetoc}imb,tbedistributionoffoodoverlongdistanceswillbreakdown TherewilIbenoguaranteetbatwhenwegotothe supermarkett}]erewillbeenoug}]foodforeveryone.

ThesolutionisreIoca|izationNotonIyisitaneconomicsolution’thisisalsoalifestylesolution.Agri-

businessmaybegoodforthecompaniesbutitisnot

goodforconsumers.Poodtransportedl500miIes Iosesmucbofitsnutrition.Butfoodthatwaspicked

yesterdayandboughttodayatthelocalfarmersmarketisnutritiousandsomuchbettertasting.Organi-

caIlygrownandsustainablyraised,itisgoodfortbe consumer,thefarmer,andtheenVronment.

EnergyaIsoneedstobeprovidedonalocalbasis.

Movingenergyoverlongdistancesrequiresmany resources·Peakenergymeanswewillhavemuch IessaccesstothefueIswethoughtwouldlastforever,oratleastaslongaswewantthem.Butasresourcesdwindle,wewillneedtofocusourlives

mucbclosertohome.Soon,ourpersona>spbereof l60

WlTHOuRTl-{oucHTsWECREATETHEWoRLD

existencewillbeverysmallifwearetocombat

globaIwarmingbyreducingcarbonemissions.Tbe fIeetingconceptoft}]eglobalviIIagewi>>becomea memoryasournewprioritybecomesenergyconservation.Long-rangetravelandcbeapenergywil>soon beathingofthepast.

TbeupsideistbatwewiI>bui}dcommunityaswe gettoknowourneighbors’dobusinesswitbIocaI people)andgrowmuchofourownfoodtoprovide foodsecurity.WeonlyhavetothinkbacktotheimagesofthepeopleinNewOrleansafterhurricane Katrinatoknowthatweneedtodependonourselves andourcommunity.

AcceptingReSponsib洫卹witbHOnor

Inhisbook’OnHa〃ow加gOnebDim加／sAmeⅢs, theQuakerwriter>ohnYungblutwrote’ 《《Onem妙tsayw／tbtbeBαddb／srs’t／iatrhS 伍a／／Owing／／sanimPor〔ant允rmof加IDd／ij／ness’ an（Myan（／clj／㎡vatet／﹚eiDnerpostureinw／jic／】 suc乃consciousnesscanbere／a㎡ve【ysαsta加ed l6l

EvERYrHlNCWEDOMATTERS

Consu／㎡ng叻ed／c㎡onaIy／觔d叻atfbr肋e wo㎡乃a〃owing’tbefb〃owIngde觔i㎡onsareofL fbred;加aAeMyorSe〔apartfbrMyuse’con﹣ secmre／toreSpeαgreat加venera﹝e.7twasa newa㎡mosrencoumgingideatome﹣that onebdiminiSbmentscou／dbe加a（／e／io耽』匕on﹣ secmteα﹚℃Spectedgrea咖’evcnvenemted／ ／saw肋at叻e／﹜l召rsrepfbrmein／eamingto乃a／﹣ ／ow’的eprqgressivediminis／】mentsInstore／br mewasdeep﹃goIngacceprance.Butt／】eaccep﹣ tancewou／d／】averobepos㎡vB’notanegatIve one’if／〔weretobearea川a／／Owing.Imust /earntodosome[/>ingcrea[IveVt/>/t.>’

Wedonotknowwhetherwehaveenougbtimeto

alterfutureeventstbathavebeenputintomotionby somanypeopIeforsoIong.Butweneedtodoevery-

tbingwepossibIycantotry.Wehearsooftenabout intention.OurintentioninhaIowingourdiminishmentsofglobalwarmingandenergydepletionisto

acceptresponsibilityforwhat}iesinourfuture.As SharonAstyk,apeakoileducator,wroteonberblog

l62

W}THOuRTHoucHTsWECREATETHEWoRLD

℃asaubon﹚sBook／’5ll【W】ecancometorecognize thatsometimes>thepointisnotwbet}IerwecanaIter events’buthowwefacethem.Wecanfindmeaning, evenwhenwecannotchangetbings,inourabilityto shapethemeaningoftbings-todorig}]t,evenwben

therightthingisnotenough)tofaceevenveryhard timeswitbcourageandhonor,eventhougbitwon’t makethehardtimesgoawaytodoso.”

Wecanfigbtandrailagainsttbethingsinlifethat feelsounfair.Wecanslipintopretendingtheydo notexist.Wecangiveupindespair.Orwecanturn aroundtofacetbathorrorandworktounderstand

wbyitissoterri吋ingWecanlearntofaceitwith honorandthus’manageourfear.

Whatwearenowfacingaretheconsequencesof ourownpastactionsanddecisions.InitiaIy,wewere unawareofwhatwashappening)butnowweknow.

WebavebeenusingupournaturaIresourcesand nowtheyarerunningout.Webaveexportedour sty}eofIivingthroughmoVes’teIeVsion’andotber media.NowpeopIearoundthewor>dwanttoIive IikeAmericansdo.ButtherealityistbatAmericans 5lbid

l63

EvERYrHINGWEDOMATTERS

canno}onger}iveasAmericanshavelived.The Iongertboseofuswboenjoytheprivilegesofwealth delaymakingthenecessarycbanges,t}]eharderit wiIlbeforallofustofacethemIater.

Previously,wedidnotthinkofwbatweweredoing.Nowwehavecomeupagainsttherealityofour actions.Wecanpostponewhatneedstobedoneor justmaketokeneffortsatmakingsomechanges.But ifwefailtomakethebigchanges-life-a>tering changes-ourchildrenandgrandchildrenwilIbe forcedtoinbabitaworldterrib>ydifferentfromthe onewebavebeensopriVIegedtoen>oy.

IfwecanhalIowourdiminisbments,wewiIlfind

somebenefits-astrongersenseofcommunityand family’tbeknowledgethatwetriedtodot}]eright thingwhenwereaIizedthatwehaddonesomeofthe worst·

TbeBuddhataughtaboutimpermanence,how

everythingiscontinuouslycbanging.Eachofushas changed廿omwhowewerejustaminuteago.Some cellsbavedied,othershavereplacedthem.Theseare

minorchanges,notevennoticeable.WestilIfunctionaswedidaminuteagoeventhoughwehave changed. l64

WITHOuRTHoucHTsWECREATETHEWoRLD

ButcIimatechangePNomorecheapoi!and, eventuaIy,nooilatanyprice?Notenoughnatural gas〉Notenoughwater?Theseareterri觔ngWben wecomeface-to-facewithtbeclIangestbatwefeel areoverwheImingandmorethanwecanhandIe,we initiallyreactfromourfear.Wesayitcannotpossiblybetrue.WesaythosewhosufferfrominadequateresourcesandnaturaIdisasterssufferdueto

theirkarma.OrweIookforwaystodisprovewhat peoplearesayingOrwecboosetodonotbingaswe abruptlyshutthedoorinthemessenger!sface.

AsacommenterwroteonAstyk)sblog“Ithink cognitivedissonancehasmuchtodowithourcoIIec-

tivedeniaIofresponsibility.We’reunwiIlingtosacrificeastandardoflivingthatcannotbesustained witboutexp>oitingothers.Soinsteadofchanging,we findwaystominimizethetruthandbIameourVctimsfortbeirtroubIes.Peopleshutoutclear’rational argumentsthatdon>tfitwiththeirworIdviewand

self-concept.OurseIf-esteemistotal>ywrappedup withconsumption.Wehavebeentoldsincewewere childrenthatbaVngIotsofstuffiswhatmakesus

<winners>inIife·Wedon,twanttogiveanythingupitwouldbegivingupapartofourselvesthatwe’ve l65

E\/ERYTHINCWEDOMATTERS

workedhardtocreateandnourish.That}swhypeo-

plegetsocompletelydefensiveandpissedoffwhen youbringupthissubject-youremessingwiththeir seIf-esteemandsenseofself-worth.llmnotjust

pointingthefingeratotherslaIsopleadguilty.”6 SothereisaIotgoingoninpeopIe’sreactionsto wordslikegIoba>warmingandresourcedep>etion.

ThereactionsrevoIvearoundcbange.Weusuallydo notlikeit.TheBuddhataughtthatchangepermeateslife.Thatjustasourmindsarecontinuously

changing’pbenomenaareaIsocontinuouslycbanging.EverythingismanifestedbythemindandaIteredbytheconsciousnessandtbus,withour thougbtswecbangetheworIdAndyet,westiIbeIievethatwecankeeplivingaswehavebeendoing.

Wedoubt,debate,anddeny.Butdoubting,debating’ anddenyingwiIlnotheIpusfixthisnew’廿ightening wor>dofours.

NorwiIIwhatwehavebeentoldtodoforthepast

sixtyyears-goshopping-solvethisprobIem.We believebuyingthingswewiIImakeus}]appy.But studiessbowpeoplewerehappierinthel950s.Yes 6Ibid l66

W}THOuRTHoucHTsWECREATETHEWoRLD

theyhadless-lessstu{fButtheyhadtimefortheir chiIdren,theyworkedfewerhours,andtheyfeIt moresecure>twassafeforchiIdrentowalkto

schoolPeoplecouIdIeavetheirdoorsunIockedBut then,weweretoIdtobuymore,thatbydoingsowe wouldbereaI}yhappy.

WebaveseentheresuItsoflookingforbappiness inconsuming.ltdoesnotwork.Tl]isishardIynews sincetbeBuddhataugbtover2500yearsagothat

happinessdoesnotIieinnewthingsorexperiences.

Happinessistobefoundwithinourselves,itIiesin w}]atweteIIourseIves.Happinessisamentalstate, notaphysicaIstate TbeearIierwereaIizehappinessdoesnot>iein consumptionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;theearlierwewiIIreaIizewecannot

consumeourseIvesoutofwhatisnow}]appeningIt isgoingtotakemorethanchangingIigbtbuIbsand carry1ngreusableclotbshoppingbags.Theseareof courseanexceIIentstart,butthatisaII-abeginning WeneedtomakechangesinourIives,inevery aspectofourIives.WhatweteIIourseIvesabout thosechangeswiIdeterminehowwefeeI.Wecan makethechanges,orwecandoubt,debate,and

deny.WecancompIain,orwecanhal>owtbose l67

EvERYrHlNGwEDOMATTERS

cbangesbybonoringthemandacceptresponsibility forwbatwebavedone.Wecan>earntolivewitbthe

changes’understandingthatdoingsois,asAstyk says’<‘notanun>ustcruelty,butsimplywbatisasked ofus,ourshareoftheburden.>)

Peakoil)waterdepletion,andcIimatechangeare someofthemostdestructiveconditionsthatcould

happentosocietyandthispIanetweliveon.But theyarewhatwehavecreated.Verysimply,t}Ieyare causeandeffect.lnitiaIly)weactedoutofignorance.

Atsomelevel,weknewtherewasonlysomuchoil andnaturalgas,butwefiguredsomecleverperson wouldcomea>ongandfIthingsforus.Tbeywould

findanewformofenergyorinventabettertecbnology.Itwasnotanythingweneededtobeconcerned about.

IgnoranceisoneoftbethreepoisonstheBuddba sooftenwarnedabout.TheothertwopoisonsP

Greedandanger.Indeed,withourthoughtswecreatetheworIdSonotonlyfromtbeeverydaystandpoint’but廿omthekarmicstandpoint’webavecre﹣ atedandarecurrentlycreatingtbeworldwewilIbe

Iivingin.TheenVronmentalchangeswearenOwbeginningtoexperiencearenotanun]ustpunisbment l68

WITHOuRTHouGHTsWECREATETHEWoRLD

inHictedonus.Wehavereckless>yexploitedour planetandnowwewillbepayingforouractions.

Howwillwe>usti{\/whatwehavedonewhenour childrenandgrandchildreninherittheworIdfrom us>Whentheyrealizehowwehavelived,theywill wonderwhatwewerethinking.Whydidwenot changewbenweIearnedoftheimmensebarmwe weredoing>HowcouldwehavecaredsoIittIe?Por theworld’schildren?Porourown?

Itisuptoustofaceourdiminishmentsnow, whenwestiIIhaveachoice.Todosowbenweare

fOrcedtowou}dbeirresponsible,andIargelyfutile.

NowatIeast,westiIIhavesometimetochangetbe waywedothings.

AndthisiswherethehaIIowingcomesin,for therearebenefitstobehadifwejustrecognizeand honorthem.Wewi>lhavemoretimewithfamilyand neighbors,benefit廿omheaItbierlifestyIes,Iearn moreaboutourseIves,andmaybe,justmaybe,help savethefutureforourchildrenandourplanet.

Lifeinforty’twenty,eventenyearswiIlbevery different廿omwhatitisnow.Weneedtocometo﹣

getberandIearnwhattodo>bothonacommunity leveIandasresponsibleindividuals.Weliveinaunil69

EVERYrHlNGWEDOMATrERs

versethatadherestotheIawofcauseandconse-

quence.Theconsequencesarenotwitbinourcontrol.Butourcurrentkarmas,ourcurrentactions,are.

HonoringandrespectingresourcedepletionandcIimatechangearewithinourcontrolandabiIity Weneedtodoeverythingwithinourpowertoha|lowthesediminishmentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;fortheyareours.

l70

Maythemeritsandvirtues accruedfromtbiswork

adorntbeBuddha>sPureLand)

repaythePourKindnessesabove,

andrelievetbesufferingsofthose intheThreePathsbeIow.

Maythosewhoseeorhearoftbis

bringforththeBodhimind, andattheendofthislife,

beborntogether intheLandofUltimateBliss路

WaystoReachUs ht已met

www.abuddbistperspective.org wwwamtbweborg AuS<mIa/5I/ AmitabhaBuddhistAssociationofNSW T:2-9643-7588F:2-9643-7599

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u】itcd肋】gdbm〃勺 BuddhistEducationPoundation(UK) T:l7l-586-6923F:l7l﹣794﹣8594E:info＠buddhisteducation.cαuk www.buddhisteducationco.uk

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肋itedStatesofAmer尢a／I／ AmidaSociety T:626-286-5700P:626-286-7988EamtbIa@pacbeIlnet

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AmitabhaBuddhistAssociationofStateWas}]ington T:425-25l-6822F:425-656-9789

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AmitabhaBuddbistSocietyofNY’lnc T:7l8﹣96l﹣7299F:7l8﹣96l﹣8039E:amitabha-ny＠ya｝﹞oαcomtw Amitab}]aBuddhistSocietyofPhiladelphia T:856-424-25l6P:856-489-8528E:amtbphi}a@hotmailcom AmitabhaBuddI]istSocietvofSeattIe •

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