everything we do matters
DESCRIPTION
Everything We Do Matters, Venerable WuLing This book explores how by learning to maintain a calm, clear mind, we will gradually transform greed, anger, and ignorance into compassion and equanimity. It is so important that we do this because our current thoughts lead to consequences that affect not only ourselves and our surroundings, but even our world and all the beings in it.TRANSCRIPT
VenerabIeWulingisanAmericanBuddI]istnunofthePureLandschooIofMahayanaBuddhism.Moreofherwritingcanbe『oundatwwwamitabha-pul)Iications.org.
AmitabhaPubIications,C}]icago,60532•2007byAmitabhaPublicationsSomerightsreserved
ReprintingisaIIowed「ornon-profituse.NopartoftbisbookmaybeaIteredwitboutpermission廿omthepubIisher.FortheIatestedition,contactwww.amitabha-publications.org
l5l4l3l245678
lSBN:978-l-59975-358-4
LibraryofCongressControINumber:20079075l9
TheCorporationRepubIicoIlwaDzanSociety2F,No.333-l,Sec4.HsinYiRoad,Taipei,TaiwanTel:(886)-2-2754﹣7l78Pax;(886)﹣2﹣275斗-7262E-MaiI:[email protected]
PormoreteacI]ingsandgiftsoftheDharma’pIeasevisitwww.amitablTa-publications.org
慨
lNAPPREclATIoN
Tomymother)EvelvnBoIender.
lcametovisitherfOrthreemonthsbuthad
thegoodfOrtunetobewithberfOrtbreeyearsuntilherpassing
Muchofthisbookwaswritteninherhome.
SomeIifetimeswearetruIybIessedwithIaughterasweIIas}ove
CoNTENTs
AcknowIedgmentvii
EverythingWedoMattersl
MaintainingtheCaIm,C}earMindl4
Vengeance28
TbePoisonsofGreed’Anger,andlgnorance43
GoodwiI,Compassion,andEquanimity54
Appreciation65
PourAssurances77
TransformingGreedandAnger88
CIimateChange:WithOurThoughtsWe
CreatetheWorIdl33
EⅦRY「HINcWEDoM/﹨『TERs
一訾卡
EvERY『ⅢNGWEDoMATTERs
lna>andandtimeverydistantfromus,twomenencounteredoneanother.OnewasaBra}]min,a
Hindupriest.HereaIizedthatthemanhewas>ook-
ingatwasnoordinarybeingandsoheinquired:“Areyouagod?}’<‘No,Brahmin”‘‘AreyouanangeI>”MNo’Brahmin.’)“Areyouaspirit?”“No,Brahmin.”“Whatareyouthen>”MIamawake,l’repIiedtheBuddha.
Byhisownassertion,theBudd}IawasnotagodHewasanordinarymanIivinginawor}denguIfedingreed,anger,ignorance,anddeIusion.
Twenty-fiveI]undredyearsago,wbentheBuddhawasteachingwhatbehadawokento’hisworIdwas
simiIarinmanywaystoourworIdtoday.Thereweregreatcentersofcu}ture’andtherewerelandsof
stagnation.Therewererulerswithgreatpowerwbothirstedforevenmore’andtherewereoppressedpeopIewhoonIywantedtoIiveinpeace.TI]erewere
l
EVERYIHINGWEDOMAT丁ERS
menwhosaidthattheyaIoneheIdthekeytospiri-tualsecrets,andtherewerethosewhosearchedfor
differentanswers.Therewerepeop>ewI]ohadgreatweaItb,andtberewerethosewbobadnothing.
Tberewerepeoplewbosaidwemustcbange,andtherewerethosewhodeniedtherewasanything
wrongPerbapsthatdistantIandandtimeisnotthatdistantafteraIlGreed’anger,ignorance,anddelu-sionaresti>Iverymuchwithus.
lntbeworldtoday’webearsomuchaboutcon-fIict:EconomicconfIictbetweenthedeveIopedcountriesandthird-worldcountries.CuIturaIconf>ict
betweentheEastandtheWest.Sectarianconflictin
theMiddIeEast.Et}]nicconflictinAfrica.Somuc}I
prideandarrogance,somuchbatred,somucbpain.WbenevengovernmentIeaderscannotpeacefUllyresoIvetheworId!sprobIems>whatarewesupposedtodo?Howcanwe)individualswithoutpoweror
influence,hopetoaccompIishanythingpositiveintbefaceofsuchfuryandintoleranceP
InourtechnoIogicalIy-advancedworld,istbereanythingwecan}earnfromthismanwborodeawayonenigbtleavingbehindalifeofsensoryinduIgence’privilege,andpowertospendt}Ierestofhislife
2
EvERγTHINGWEDoMATrERs
walkingbarefootacrosslndiaandNepal,sleepingundertrees,andbeggingforhisfood?Istbereany-thingwecanlearnfromtI]ismanwboawoketotbe
truthtwenty-fivehundredyearsago?IfweviewBudd}]ismmere}yasare>igionfiIed
withrituaIsandgonofurther’no>wewiIlnotbene-fit.ViewingBuddhismintI]isway>wemayputtoomuchenergyintocreatingtheperfectpracticespace.Andwemayruntheriskofbecomingengrossedintbeaccoutrementsofpractice:robesandmeditationcushions’incenseandmusicalinstruments.Ap-proacbingBuddhismint}]isway,ourtimewiIIbespentcapturingtheappearanceofBuddhistpracticeratherthanappIyingtheteachings.
IfweviewBuddhismso}eIyasastudyofmorality,concentration’andwisdom,t}]enagain,no,wewillnotbenefit.lfwemereIystudyBuddbism,wemayreadmanybooksandgainknowIedge>butwewiIInotexperience╴andwewiIInotsavoI╴thejoyoftheDharma.TheDharmaistheuniversaItruththatthe
BuddhabimseIfexperiencedandthenreIatedtous.IfweonIyreadaboutBuddhism’wewiI]avemisused
ourtimebyinte}lectua}izingtheteachingsinsteadofpracticingthemJuststudyingBudd}]ism’oranyfaith
3
E\/ERYTHlNGWEDOMATIERS
traditionorethicaIteaching’wiIIdonothingtosolveourprobIems.Weneedtoact.Buthow>
lfweconcurrentlvviewBuddhismasateaching
ofmoraIity)concentration,andwisdom,andwepracticeit,yes,then-andonIythen-canBuddhismtruIyheIpus.On}ywl]enweexperiencewhattbeBuddhawastaIkingaboutwiIIwebegintobenefitourseIvesandourwor}d
Wheredowestart?WecanstartwitI]twofunda-
mentaIpreceptsfromtheBuddha:todonoharmandtopuri吋ourmindsHedidnotteⅡustoinstruct
otherstocorrecttheirfaults.Hedidnotsaywe
shouIdforceothersintothinkingaswedoorbeIitt>eotherstomakeourselveslooksuperiororwiser.HetoIdusthatifwewishtoawaken,wewouIdneedto
stopbIamingothersforourprobIems,tostoparguingwithothers,andtostop>udgingothers.
Instead,weneedtoIookatourse}ves,understand
oursituations,andassumefuIresponsibiIityfor
whathappenstous.WereapwhatwesowOurlivestodayaretheresuItofwhatwethought,said,anddidinthepast.WI]atwethink,say,anddotodaywiI,Iikewise,shapeourfuture.Ifweharmothers,wewiIIbe}]armed.IfweIoveotbers)wewiIIbe}oved·lfwe
斗
E﹨∕ERY「HINcWEDoMAT兀Rs
havepeacefuItboughts)wewiI]avepeace.Every-thingwiIIcomebacktousful}circIe.Tbus,
everythingwedomatters.TheBuddbatoldusnottoharmothers.Howdo
weaccomplishthis>MoraIity-dotootI]ersasyouwou>dhavethemdotoyou.TheBuddl]aexpressedthesameideawhenbesaid,“Donothurtotberswith
thatwbichhurtsyourseIf.”Mohammedsaid,“None
ofyouisabeIieveruntiIyouloveforyourneighborwhatyouIoveforyourseIf.”HiIIeIsaid,“Whatishatefultoyou,donotdotoothers.”Confuciussaid,$WhatyoudonotwishforyourseIf,donotdotoothers.>’lfyouwouIdnotwantsomeonetoIietoyou,donotlietoothers>fyouwouldbeunhappyifsomeonetooksomethingfromyou,tbendonottake
anythingwithouttheownerspermission.lfyouwouIdbeupsetifsomeonespokeharsbIytoyou’thendonotspeakhars}]}ytoothers.
Therealityistbatthereislitt}ewecandoto
quicklyandeasilybringaboutchangeonagIobalscaIe.ButtbereisagreatdeaIthateachofuscan
do-andmustdo-tochangeourseIves.TheonIywaytoacbieveworldpeaceistocreatepeacewithineachofuslftherearefirestothenorth,south’east,
5
EVERYrHINGWEDOMAT丁ERS
andwestofus,donotexpecttoavoidgettingburnedApersonsurroundedbyfirewiIsuffer.Ifwewantaharmonioussociety,wemustcreateharmonyinourfamily’inourworkpIace,andinourcommuni-ties.InsteadofbeingconsumedbythefireofourcraVngandanger,weneedtocreatepeace.
W}]enwe}]earsuchwords,wearemoved,andwe
nodourheadsinagreement.TreatingothersaswewanttobetreatedsoundswonderfulTbesetruthfuI
wordsfaIikeraindropsonheartsthataretbirstingforgentlenessandserenity.TheyIuswitbjoy.
Buttheminutewestopfocusingont}]ewords,weforget|Soquicklytheawarenessand>oyfadeaswearepulIedbackintoeverydayconcerns.PerhapsthiswilIhappenevenaswedrivebometoday.Howeasyitwi>lbetosIipbackintoseIfisbnessandforgettotreattheotherpersonontheroadaswewisbtobetreated.Howreadi}ywewiImakeatboughtIessremarkaboutsomeoneandinadvertentlypolIuteourmindandthemindsofthosewithus.Forgettingthatwedonotwantothersinjectingtheirharshwords
intoourpeacefu}thoughts,wewiIcarelessIyintrudeontbepeacefulthoughtsofotbers.
Topracticenotharmingothers,weneedconcen-
6
EvERY「HINGWEDoMAT丁ERs
tration-theabilitytofocusonourchosentask.Tonotharmothers,andthusnotbarmourseIves’we
needtofocusonwhatwearethinkingandonwhatweareabouttodo.Butwerarelydoeithermind-fulIy.
Therearefartoomanydistractionsaroundus.TbereissomuchwewanttoIearn,somanytoyswewanttopossess,somanyexperienceswewantto
have-wewant,wewant)wewant.OurdesirespuIlusfirstinonedirectionandthenaImostimmediateIyinanother.Whatwewantedsourgent>y>astyear’wewanttorep>acethisyear.WearepuIedbyourcrav-ings,soweremainprisonersofourownattachmentsandaversions-IittIewonderwecannotconcentrate|
Butlearntoconcentratewemust.UnIesswelearnto
bemastersofourminds’wewillcontinuetobeslavestoouremotions.
Donotbarmany}ivingbeing.TheBuddhashowedushow.Oncewebegintoreinourse>vesinbyliVngmoralIy)wewiIlcommitfewerwrongdoings.lnthisway’wewil】be}essplaguedbyguiIt.WewiⅡreact>essfromemotionsandmorefromreason.
Harmingotherslesswillresultinourworryingless.Bynotwastingtimeworrying,ourmindswiIbe
7
EvERYrHlNGWEDOMATTERs
moreatease,andwewiIIbebetterabletofocuson
whatwewishto:perbapsonourspiritualpracticeorsimplyonwhatwearedoing.
AsweprogressivelybecomecaImer,ourconcen-trationwiIenabIeustotouc}Iourinnatewisdom.
TbisisthewisdomthattheBuddhaexperiencedand
thenspokeofltaIreadyliesdeepwithineachofus.Butwehaveyettoenter,mucblessfunctionfrom’tbisclear,intuitivewisdom.
Ascaringmembersofsociety,itisourresponsibiI-itytopracticetheVrtuesofharmlessness’compassion,andequanimity.Thesevirtuesliedeepwithinus,withinourtruenature.TbistruenatureisthesameastbatofaIBuddI]as.Thetruenatureof
Buddhas-theirveryessence-isIoving-kindness,altruism’andtranquility.Thesequalitieslieattbecoreoftbeirbeing,andours.
A}thoughsuchvirtuesarealreadywithineachoneofus’alItoooftentbeyIiedormant.Why?BecausewearethoroughIyengr0ssedinfooIishattemptstosatisfyourpersonaIdesiresWeareconVncedthatourwayofdoingthingsiscorrectandthatourhap-pinessIiesinpossessionsandpower.Consequently,weareintentongettingotberstodothingsourway
8
Ev巴RγTHINcWEDoMA﹞丁ERs
andonaccumuIatingweaIthandinfIuence.A}tboug}]wehavethesametruenatureasaBuddha,wefaiIto
experiencethewondersoftbistruenatureWe
consistentIyfaIbackintoourbadhabits.Thus,weendupactingfromourhumannature’aI}thewbiIe
buryingourtruenatureevendeeperwithinus.TheBuddhaknewtheprobIemsof}]umanityfor
hehadexperiencedtheInButheovercamethoseprobIems.Heawoket}]rougbthepracticeofmoraI-ity>concentration’andwisdom.Heexperiencedtbetruthofthecosmos.HefoundthepathtoawakeningandIeftcIearguideIinestoenableustofoIowafter
}]im.ButtI]atwasaIIhecouIddo-Ieaveguidelines.AscompassionateasBuddhasare,theyareunable
togoagainsttbenaturaIIawsoftheuniverse.TbeyknowthetruthAndtI]eyknowthattl]enaturallawswbichgoverntheuniversecannotbechanged,notevenbyaBuddha.So,asmucbastheywanttobelpus’BuddhascannotundowhatweI]avealreadysetlntomotion.
IcreatedmyIife.OnIylcanchangeit.Youcre-atedyourownIife.Onlyyoucanchangeit.Otherscreatedtbeirlives.OnIytbeycanchangetheirIives.OurIivestodayarethedirectresultofwhatwe
9
EVERYTHlNGWEDOMATTERS
thought,whatwesaid,andwhatwedidinouryes-terdays.Aswehavelearned,ourtodays’justlikeouryesterdays,are>ivedinthisseIfsameworId,awor}denguIfedingreedandanger>aworIdenvelopedinignoranceanddelusion.
Greedisourendlesscraving,andangeriswhatariseswhenourgreedisunfuIfilledIgnoranceisourlackofunderstandingthetruthsthatunderliewhatishappeningtousandaroundus.DeIusionismis-takingwrongideasforthetruthDuetoourignoranceanddeIusion,webeIieveinideasthatarewrongandrejectthosethatarecorrectandbenefi-cialButwedosonotbecausewearebadpeopIe.
Lazy?Yes.Easilydistracted?Yes.lmpatientandjudgmental?Yes.Butbecausewearebadpeople?No.
LackingtheabilitytocIear}ydiscernrigbtfromwrong,weautomaticallyreactoutofourbadhabitsand,consequently,weareimpatientandinconsider-ate.Inmostinstances’ourintentionsarenottoharm
others.Wearejustsoeasilycaughtupinourdesires>wisbes,andexpectations.Whentheseareunfu}-filled,inourimpatienceanddisappointment,wegiveintoanger’Whichrisesfromwithinus,uninVted
>0
EvERYI﹃HINcWEDoMAT丁ERs
andunnoticedSoeasiIy’soautomaticaIly,wefeeIresentmentandirritation,ifnotoutrightrage.
lntbegripofthesenegativefeelings’wereacttootherpeopIe’tooursituations,notoutoftbewishto
heIpothersbutfromthecompeIIingurgetoprotectourseIves.AngerariseswhenweareseIfisb,wbenweareonIythinkingofwbatwewantbutfailedtoob-tain.Theotherpersondoesnotgoalongwithourideas-wedonotreceivetheiragreementandpraiseforourc!everness.Theitemwewanteludesus-we
donotpossesstheobjectweareconVncedwouIdmakeusbappy.Thepersonwedesirere>ectsus-weareaIoneandafraid
AIthesefearsIieatthecoreofouranger.WeconVnceourselvesthattbeideas,thepossessions,thepersonwiIImakeus}]appy.Wewantittobap-pen-weexpectittohappenlButourexpectationsfaiItomateriaIize.HappinessonceagaineIudesus.InsteadofIookingatourseIvestoseeifweperhapswerethecause,webIameotbersforarguingwithus,fornotgivinguswhatwedeservetobave’fornot
lovingusaswehope.Andsoourfearofnotbeingadmiredbyothers,ourfearofnothavingwhatothershave,ourfearofbeingloneIyandaIonearise.We
ll
EVERYTH}NCWEDOMATTERS
strikebackdefensiveIyattbosearoundus.WestrikeatthoseweperceiveashaVngrobbedusofwbatwewanted,ofwhatwefeItwedeservedtoobtain,andofwI]atwebeIieveothersaIreadv}]ave.Weareafraid
割
Inourfear’wefeeIvulnerabIe.lnourinsecurity
andanxiety’ourfeargivesbirthtoanger.WemayhoIdourbitterness,resentment,orpaininside,orwemayreactbystrikingoutattI]eotberperson.Eitherway,wegiveintoanger0nceagainlnthesameway,ourfamiIymembersgiveintoanger.Friendsandco-workersgiveintoanger.ThosewithpowerandthemeanstoinfIictgreatharmgiveintoanger.AndourworIdisengu>fedingreedanddisappointment,inignoranceanddelusion,andinangerandretaliation.
Not>ustindividuaIsbutgroupsofpeopIe’bound
togetherbyethnicity,reIigion,orbypoIitics,reactinthesameway:withgreed,fear,anger,reta}iation.Whatistheanswer)Howdoweresolveconflictand
attainpeacePWishfuItbinkingwiIlnotendthe}Iatredandin-
toleranceintheworId.MereIyreadingbookswiInotsoIveourprobIems.RelyingonotherscertainlydoesnotworkTheonIywaytocreatepeaceistbrougbhardworkanddedication,andbyunderstandinghow
l2
E﹨/巴l{Y「HINcWEDoM∕﹨T丁EI{s
muchisatstakebere.We,eachoneofus,mustbededicatedWemustdothebardwork.
ButweneednotdiscoverbowtodotbeworkThe
BuddhashaveaIreadytaughtuseverytbingweneedtoknowandshownusthepathweneedtofollow.WecantakecomfortintheknowledgethatalthoughBuddhascannotgetusoutofthechaoswebavecre-ated,theywiI]eIpusas|ongasweneedtbemto.Thistheydobycontinuingtoteachusandshowingustheway.We>ustneedtoIistenandfoIowtbeirguidance.
Donotharmotl﹞ersPuri吋yourmindDotooth﹣
ersasyouwouIdhavethemdotoyou’Morality,concentration’andwisdom-t}]eseprovideaprovenpathtofoIIow.TbeBuddhareachedtheendofit
twenty-fivehundredyearsagoandawakenedWetoocanreachtheendofthepathandawaken.A}Iweneedtodoisstepontoitand)then,Ietnothingdeterusfromfindingthewaytounderstandingandpeace.
l3
EVERYTHlNGWEDOMATTERS
璧﹤MAINTAlNlNGTHECALM,CLEARMlND
OnetimewhentheBuddhawasstayinginSravasti,anincidentcametohisattention.CIosetowherehe
wasvisitingresidedanumberofmonksandnuns.IthappenedthatwbensomenunswerespokeniI}of,oneofthemonkswouldbecomeangry.Whent}]atmonkwasspokeniIIof,thenunswouIdbecomeangry.Afterconfirmingwiththemonkthatthiswasaccurate,tbeBuddhaadvisedthemonkthathe
sbou>ddiscipIinehimselfandhoIdthethoughts:“MymindwiIInotcbange<beswayedlIwi}lnotutterevilwords,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
TbeBuddhathentoldthemonasticstoalwaysremembertbatevenordinariIycalmmindscanbedisturbedindifficulttimes.Sothemonasticsneeded
totraint}]emse}vestoremaincalm,regardIessoftbesituation.TheBuddharecountedhowtberewas
onceawomanwhoIivedint}]esamecityw}]ere}]eandtbemonasticscurrentlywere.EveryoneregardedthewomanasgentIeandquiet.S}]ebadaslavenamedKa}iwhowascIeverandbardworking.Ka>iwonderedwhet}]erbermistresswasasmiId-
temperedassheseemedMig}]thermistressactuaIlybehidingabadtemperPPerhapsKaliwassoeffi-cienttbathermistresshadnothadcausetoreveal
hertruetemper|KaIidecidedtotesthermistressbygettingup
laterthanusuaIonemorning.WhenthemistresssawKaliandaskedherwhyshegotupIate,Kalire-spondedthatshedidnothaveareason.Tbemistress
becameangry.ThenextmorningKaIigotupevenlater.Oncemore’hermistressquestionedher.And
oncemore,KaIirepIiedthatsbedidnothavearea-son.Whentbishappenedyetagainonthethirdmorning,theinfuriatedmistressstruckKaIi.Bleed-ing’KaliranoutofthehousecryIn只outtbather
l5
E﹨/ERYTHINGWEDOMAT丁ERS
mistresshadhitberbecauseshe}]adgottenuplateIWordofwhathadhappenedspreadandwithitthereportthatthemistresswasactualIyvioIentandbad-tempered
TheBuddhapointedouttothemonasticsthatasIongastheydidnothearanythingdisagreeabIeorunpIeasant,mostofthemwerequietandweIIbe-havedButwhentheyheardsomethingobjectionabIe’suchwordsbecameatestasto
whethertheyweretrulycaImandpoIite.TbeBud-dhagaveanexample:MonksmaybegentleandkindbecausetbeyhaveeverythingtheyneedButiftheybecomeupsetwhentheirneedsgounfulfiIIed,tbentheyarenottruIygentIe.
TheBuddbaexpIainedtothemonksthattberearefiveaspectsofspeechbywhichothersmayspeaktotbem:“timeIyoruntimely,trueorfa>se’affectionateorbarsh,beneficialorunbeneficial’withaInindof
good-wiIIorwitbinnerhate.’’2Inthesecircum-stances,theyshouldtrainthemseIvesbythinking:“OurmindswiIIbeunaffectedandwewiIIsaynoeVl
』ThanissaroBhikkhu’Ka/a!刀aSurra,ANⅡl65(l994)
(http://accesstoinsight.org/canon/sutta/anguttara/an03-065htmI)
l6
M/\INTAlNINcTHECALM,CLE/\RMIND
words.WewiIIremainsympathetictothatpersonsweIfare’withamindofgoodwiIandwithnoinnerhate.WewiIkeeppervadinghimwithanawarenessimbuedwithgoodwilland,beginningwitl]him,wewiIIkeeppervadingtbealI-encolnpassingworIdwithanawarenessimbuedwithgoodwiII-abundant’
expansive,immeasurabIe,freefromhostiIity>freefromiIlwiII.”3
TheBuddhacontinuedthatevenifrobberswere
tocarvethemonksupIiInbbylimb,withatwo-handIedsaw,t}]emonkwI]obecameangryevenatthatwouIdnotbedoingtheBuddha’sbiddingHeinstructedthemonasticsthatevenundersuchcir-
cumstances,theyneededtotrainthemselvesto
maintainanunaffectedmindandtocontinuouslypervadetheuniversewitbthougbtsofgoodwiII,byeIiminatinghatredandnotspeakingevilwords.
TbeBuddbaaskediftherewouIdbeanyspeechtheycouIdnotendureweretheytofolIowthisguid-ance.Tbeyrespondedthattherewasnone.Hethen
toIdtbemtbattheyshouldcaIItomindoftenthe
SimiIeoftbeSaw,fordoingsowouIdbringthem
•
d●■﹣■且
bl]
l7
EVERYrHlNCwEDOMATTERS
happinessandgreatbenefit.TbeBuddbawasteachingthemtodiscipline
themseIvesandtotrainbyrememberingthesewordsofadvicewhenevertheyheardpeoplespeakingtothemusingspeechthatwastimeIyoruntimely,trueorfaIse,affectionateorharsh,beneficiaIorunbene-
ficiaI’withamindofgood-willorwithinnerhate.Inotherwords,theyweretotrainthemseIvesbyre-memberingthesewordsofadVceatalItimes.
Pirst’themonksweretotrainsothattheirminds
remainedunaffectedTomaintainacaIm,cIear,and
unperturbedmind,wesbouIdnotalIowtbatwhichwesee’hear,taste,touch’orthinktodisturband
thustaintourpuremind.Whateverbasbeenper-ceivedmustnotmovethemindbutbeaIIowedtofa>I
away,justasanimagemovinginfrontofamirrorisrefIectedbutisnolongerpresentafterpassingoutofsigbt.
AIso,themonksweretosaynoeVIwords.Likethem,wecanendeavortoneveragainsaywordsthatarefalse,harsh,diVsive,orenticingThisguidelineofsayingonlywhatiscorrect>honest,andbeneficiaIenabIesustokeepourspeechproper.Sooftenwhenwearespeakingwithothers,wedonotsayanytbing
l8
MA!NTA}NlNcTHECALM>CLEARMIND
be>pfulbutinsteadinduIgeinidlechatterorfrivo-loustalk.lfthereisnothingcorrect,honest,andbeneficialtosay’itwou>dbewisertoremainquiet.Thiswaywewi>lnothavetoregretwbatwebavesaidorwonderhowtoundotheharmwehavedone.
Wbenspeakingwitbothers’itisalsoimportanttofindtherighttimetodiscusssensitivematters.Em-barrassingor}]urtingsomeonebecausewecbosethewrongtimetospeaktothemwiIIcauseadditionalsuffering.Purtbermore,itwiIdonothingtocorrectthesituation.Weneedtofindboththerigbtwordsandtherigbttimetosaythosewords.
Next,themonksweretoremainsympatbetictothatpersonsweIfare,witbamindofgoodwiIandwithouthate.WeneedcompassionnotjustfortheabusedbutaIsofortheonewboistheabuser·One
wboburtsothersdoesnotunderstandcausality’doesnotunderstandthatbydoingtbisbeorshewillcontinuetobepuIIedbackagainandagainintothecycleofinfIictingandreceivingpainPeopIewhoburtothersdonotunderstandthatthepersonstheyarehurtingbadhurttheminthepast.Byretaliatingnow,tbeyarejustperpetuatingtbiscycIeofpain.
Weneedsympathyandcompassiontounderstand
l9
EVERY「HlNCWEDOMATTERS
howbothtbevictimizerandtheVctimarecaughtinthiscvcIe.Unawareofthecauseandeffectthathas
broughttbemtothispoint;theyareunabletoactwiseIy.TbisiscertainlyunderstandabIe.Howmanyofushave}earnedaboutcausality)Weshou}dun-derstandwhatisrealIyhappeningwhennegativethingsoccurinourIives·Butwhensuchthingshappen,howoftenareweabletoremaincalmandreactwise}y?
lfwearesympat}]etictoothers’we}farewhilemaintaininggoodwi}I,commiseration,andIoVng-kindnessforaIIpeopIe,thenwewiInot>udgeotb-ers.WewiIInotsaythatthispersonisrightandthatpersoniswrongbecausewewiIlcometounderstandthatwedonotknowwhatisreaIIyhappening,thatwewiIike}ymistakefaIsityfortruthButifweareabletoregardbothfriendandfoewitbsympatIWandloVng-kindness’wewillthenbeabIetopracticethenoniudgmental’unconditionalgivingofIoveandthuswisbforaIlbeingstobebappy.
Next,themonkswereto}]aveamindwitboutha-
tred.NottalkingharshIytoothers,notbeingsarcastic>andnotIashingoutblind}yarewaysto
controIanger.Butweneedtogofurtber·ldeaIly,we
20
MAINTAININGTHECALM,CLE八I{MIND
shouldnotevenho}dangerinourhearts.HoIdingontoourangerwilItainteverythingwedo:whenweinteractwithothersfromamindofbitternessand
frustration,wewiIIinfIictourangeronothers.lnconclusion’t}]eBuddhatoIdthemonksthat
tbeyweretokeeppermeatingthepersonwhospoketothemoutofiIwiIIwithanawarenessimbuedwith
goodwiIlBeginningwiththatperson,theyweretokeeppervadingtheaII-encompassingworldwithanawarenessimbuedwithgoodwiII-abundant)expan-sive,immeasurabIe,freefromhostiIity,andfreefromiIIwiIllnitiaIy>wecanstartthistrainingwiththosew}]oarecIosetous:famiIyandfriendswhocareforus.WestartherebecauseitiseasierforustoIove
thosewholoveusandwboarekindtous.ltismuch
moredifficulttoIovethosewhomwehavenegativefeeIingsfor.
OnceweestabIishthismindofcompassionandgoodwiIforfamiIyandfriends,wecanthenbegintoexpandittoincIudepeopIewecasua>Iyencounter’peopIewhomwehavenostrongpositiveornegativefeelingsfor.AccompIishingthis’wecanbroadenthismindofbenevoIencetoincludepeopIewedisIike,andeventualIyeventhosewehate.lfwecankeep
2l
EVERYTHlNGwEDOMATrERS
wideningtbismind,wewillgraduallybeab}etoaccommodatemanyothersinanever-wideningcircle.Then,wecanopenupthiscaringmindtoincludeallbeingstbrougbouttheuniverse.Tbemoreencompassingthiscaringmindis,thegreaterourrespectfOrallbeingsandalltbingswillbe.OurregardforotherswiIIbringustranquilitybecausewewillnotfaIlbackintoanger,frustration,andresent-n]ent.
TheBuddhaspokeoftbeSimi}eoftheSawtosbowusthatevenwhensomethinghorriblehappens,weshouIdnotfeeIaversiontowardtheonewbois
burtinganother.lfwereacttoanabusiveorviolentsituationwithanimosity,thenwearemakingtbesituationworse.Wewillhaveallowedanother’sanger
todestroyourpeaceofmindandrobusofourmindofcompassion.
lfwefallintothehabitofproceedingfrombitter-
nessandanger’thenwewillbereactingoutofblind,destructiveemotion.Whenwedotbis,wearenot
belpinganyone-nottheotherperson,notour-selves-becausewewil}becomeemotionally
ensnaredintheotherperson’ssituation.Ifwecanremaincalm,wewiIbaveamuchbettercbanceof
22
MAINT/﹨INlNGTH厄CALM,CLEARMIND
successfuIyutiIizingourinnatewisdomandthusknowingbowtobetruIyI]eIpful
ReactingtovioIencewithviolenceonIyincreasestheexisting}]ostiIity.ltmayappeartoso>vetheproblematthatmomentbutweareactualIyplantingseedsformoreantagonismint}]efuture.lfonIywehadbeenabIetoactwithwisdomint}]epast,thenwewouIda>readyhavereso}vedthisenmity.But
havingfaiIedtodosoonce)wehaveenabledittogrow.Andifwedonotreso>veitwithunderstandingtoday’thisangerandvioIencewilIincreaseandbeevenworsethenexttimeiterupts.AstbeBuddhasaid,hatredneverceasesbybatredbutbytheab-senceofhatred
OftenwhenlspeakoftbistopeopIe,theywouldaskaboutasituationwheretbeyseesomeonehurt-inganotherpersonorevenattackingsomeoneweIove.HowdoesonereactinsuchanemotionaIsitua-
tion>
TbisisexactIywhenweneedtobaveacalm
mindlfwebecomeangry,tbenwewilIjustchargebIindIyintot}]esituationandmightevenbegintobebaveviolentIyourseIves.Wit}]acaImmind,wewillhavethewisdomtoknowwI]attodoevenin
23
EvERYrHlNGwEDOMAT丁ERs
dangerouscircumstances.ThesutrashaveaccountsinwhichtbeBuddba
encounteredangrypeopIeandviolentsituations.Butheknewtherightwordstogetthroughtothepeopletobelpthemstopwhattheyweredoing.WedonotknowtherightwordsbecauseourmindsarenotcalmenoughOnlywhenourmindsaretranqui>andcIearwiIwebeabIetoaccessourinnate’nonjudg-
mentaIwisdomsotbatwewillknowtherightwords
tospeakandtberigbtactionstotake.ldealIy’whenweseesomeonehurtinganotberor
w}]ensomeoneistrylngtoharmus,weneedtounderstandtbatt}]isisakarmicconsequenceofsomethingtbat}]appenedinthepast.WiththisunderstandingofcausaIityandwitbtheunderstand-ingthatthisbodyisnotMl/’wewouIdnotfightbackinemotionalIy-chargedmomentswhenattackedbyanother.IntheD/amoDdSunH,wereadofabodhi-
sattvawhowasviciouslyattackedandkilIedwhilehewasmeditatingquietIyonamountainButduetohisIevelofunderstandingandhiscalm,clearmind,befe>tnoanger,nobatred
lthinkitissafetosaythatwearenotyetattbatIevelUnabIetoreactasawakenedbeings’wecan
24
MAlNTA<NINGTHECALM,CLEARMlND
defendthepersonbeingattackedorourselvesoralternativelytrytoescapewithouthurtingtheonewhoisbeingviolent.WeshouIdtrytodoeverythingpossib}enottoInaket}]esituationworseThemorewepracticemeditativeconcentration’theeasieritwouIdbetoreactfromourcaImmind.WewiIthen
knowhowtoreactwiseIyinaIlsituations.Buttbesituationthatwearetalkingaboutisa}]y-
potheticaIonethatmostIikeIywouldneverbappen.AmuchmoreprobabIesituationwouIdbeonewberesomeonecutsusoffaswearedrivingdowntheroad
TbisbappensaIIt}]etime.lnsteadofactingoutofangerbybIowingthehornortryingtospeeduptocuttheotherpersonoff,howmightwereact?
RecentIy,ayoungwomantoIdmetbatsbeprac-ticespatiencewhi!edriving.ShealIowsherse>fampIetimetoarriveatherdestination.Tbisenab}esherto
driveatamoderatespeed.lfsomeonecutsberoff,noprobIemINotinarush,sheisabletoremainunaffectedbythecareIessnessorrudenessofotbers.Shemigbtarriveatherdestinationafewminuteslaterthanifs}lebadbeenspeedingandweavinginandoutoftraffic,butitisworthitbecauseshe
arrivesinaca}m,bappymood
25
E﹨/ERYrHlNCwEDOMAT丁ERS
Thesearethesituationsweencounter-life)sdailyannoyancesandfrustrations.Whetheritbetherudenessoftbeclerkinastore,thetelemarketerwe
cannotgetridof,orthepersonatworkwl]oaIwaysargueswitbus,thesearethereal-lifecircumstancesthatweencountercountIesstimesduringtheday.ThesearetheverytimeswhenweshouIdpracticewhattheBuddhaspokeof.
lfinsmaIIeverydaysituationswecanstartre-sponding廿omthemindthatisnotswayedby
emotions-themindofsympathyandlovethatisfreeofhatredandbitterness-wewiIbepIantinggoodseeds.T}]esegoodseedswiI>matureintogoodconditions.Withgoodconditions,wecancontinuetopractice.OurpracticeofmoraIityandofrespect-ingandnotI]armingotberswiIIfurtherincreaseourgoodconditions.Withsuchconditions’tbebadseedswilInothavetbeopportunitytomature,andwewiIlnotfindourseIvesinviolentsituations.
PoIIowingtheBuddha’sadVce,weshouIdstrivetoneverloseourcalm,cIearmindandneverutter
harshoreviIwordsbutinsteadtreatotherswitha
mindofsympathyandcompassion.Lettinggoofouranger,wewiIpermeatetheentireworIdwit}]an
26
MAINTAlNlNcTHECALM)CLEARMIND
awarenessimbuedwithconcern-unreserved,infi-
nite’andfree廿omhostiIityandiIIwiⅡ.
EncounteringsituationsthatarepotentiaIyupset-tingandthatcouldmakeusangry,weshouldnotgiveintoourdestructiveemotions.Ourhabitua>
recoursetothatangerhasresuItedintI]equarreIs,fights’andwarsthatareenguIfingourworIdtoday.lnsteadofmindIessIycuItivatinganger,recaIItbeSimiIeoftheSaw.
Ifwecankeeptrainingourmindstobesereneandtoempatbizewitbothers,wewiIgraduaIlyuncoverourwisdomandknowhowtobeofhelptoothersinanysituation.RemelnberthatuphoIdingacaIm,cIearmindisusuaIIyeasiertoaccompIisbwhenwearenotemotionaIyinvoIvedandwbenwedonothaveanytbingatstake.AsweaccompIishtbisinminor’everydayevents,wewiIlseet}]atitworks.
ThiswiIgiveustheconfidencetoapplythissameteac}]inginmoretryingsituations.Aswitheverythingworthwhi}e’thiswiIltaketimeandrequirea>otofpatience.Butwithtin]e’wewiIgraduaIydeveloptI]ismindofserenity,commiseration,andcompas-slon·
27
EVERYTHlNGWEDOMAT丁ERS
締VENGEANcE
Wereadinthesutrashow)oneyear,aconHictarosebetweentwomonks.ItwasareIativeIysmallevent
thattriggeredtheanimositybutitgradualIysplittbemandtheirfeIowmonksintotwomaingroups.A
smaIertbirdgroupwatchedwhatwasbappeningbutdidnottakesides.Membersofeachmaingroup
wereconvincedthattbeywererightandthattbeotbergroupwaswrong.Asthesituationworsened,thetwogroupsevenbegantopracticeseparateIy.
Growingincreasinglyconcernedwiththegroupconflict,someofthemonkswbodidnottakesideswenttotheBuddhaandtoIdhimwhatwashappen-
ing.Hespoketobothgroupsandencouragedtbemtoresumepracticingbarmonious}y’tonotbeat-tachedtotheirownVewpoints,andtotrytounderstandthoseofothers.Butthesituationcontin-
uedtodeteriorate
28
VENG匠ANcE
TheBuddhawasagainaskedtopIeasetrytorec-onciIethetwoopposinggroupsofmonks.HewenttotI]emonasteryandforasecondtimespokeoftbeneedforpeaceandunitywithintheBuddhistcom-munity.OnemonkstoodupandrequestedtheBuddhatopIeasereturntoI]ismeditation’saylngthatt}]eywouldresoIvet}]esituationtbemseIves.Oncemore,tbeBudd}]aaskedthemonkstostop
fightingandtoreturntoharmony.Tbesamemonkrepeatedwhathehadsaidand,insodoing,rejectedtheBuddha’sguidance
TbeBudd}]atbentoldthemonksaboutaseriesof
eventsthattookpIaceIongago.KingBrahmadataruIedaIargekingdomandcommandedastrongarmy.KingDigbiti,wI]oruIedasmaIIerIKingdom’heardthatBrahmadatawasabouttoinvadehisking-dom.KnowinghecouIdneverdefeatBra}]madata>sarmyandtbatmanyofhissoldierswouIdIosetheirIivesinafutiIebattIe,KingDighitifeltitwouldbebestifheandhisqueenfledSotheywentintobidinginanotI]ercity.AshorttimeIater,thequeengavebirthtoPrinceDighavu.WhentheprincewasoIder,KingDighitibegantofearwhatwouIdhappenifKingBral]madatafoundaIlthreeoftbem.Asa
29
EvERYrHlNGwEDOMAT丁ERs
result)arrangementsweremadefort}]eprincetoliveeIsewhere.
Oneday,thekingandqueenwererecognized,captured’andtakentobeexecutedBycbance,PrinceDigI]avuwasonhiswaytoseehisparents,whomhe}]adnotseeninaIongtimeHewasabouttorushtothemwhenbisfat}Iercriedout,“Don>t,my
dearDighavu,befar-sightedDon’tbenear-sigbtedPorvengeanceisnotsettIedthroughvengeance.Vengeanceissettledt}]roug}]non-vengeance.”4TheKingrepeatedbiswarningtwomoretimes,addingtbathewasnotderanged,andsaidthatthosewitbbeartwouldunderstandwhatbemeant.
NoneoftheviIagersknewwhoDighavuwasorwhatthekingwastalkingabout.Heedinghisfather’swarning,DighavumanagedtorestrainhimseIf.Hewatchedhisparentsbeingexecutedanddismem-bered.Thatnightbebougbtwineandgaveittotheguards,whosoonbecamedrunk.Hethenmadeapyre,gatberedhisparentsremains,pIacedthemontbepyre,andsetfiretoit.Afterpayingbisfina>respectstohisparents,hewentintotheforestto
+lbid
30
VENGEANc叵
mourntheirdeath
Awbilelater’aftercomingoutofhiding’Dighavumanagedtoobtainajobasanapprenticcatanele-phantstabIenexttothepaIace.Oneday>whenKingBrahmadata}]eardDighavusingingandpIayingtheIute,hewasmovedbythesoundandarrangedforDighavutoworkinhispaIace.ServingthekingandaIwaysactingtopIeasel]im,Dig}]avugradualIywontheking}strust.
Oneday,w}]iIeKingBrabmadatawasouthunting,Dighavu,whowasdrivingt}]ekinglschariot’de}iber-ateIydrovethecbariotawayfromtI]erestofthehuntingparty.NotIongafter,thekingsaidhewishedtotakeanapandsoonwenttosIeep,usingDighavu>slapforapiIIow.Dighavu’smomentofrevengehadcome.HetooI(outhissword,butsud-
denlyhisfatber’swordscamebacktohimandheputtheswordaway.Asecondtime,hedrewandthensheathedhissword
AfterDighavudrewhisswordforthethirdtime,
bisfather’swords-simpIeandgentle-}]ithome.TheytouchedDighavu’sheartthatwasfulIofhatredandconsumedbyadesireforvengeance.HisheartknewthetruthofhisfatI]er>swordsandunderstood
3I
EVERYTHINGWEDOMATTERS
theirimport.Heeding}]isfatherIswords,Dighavuawakenedatlasttothecompassionandwisdomextantintbatselfsamebeart·Hewasabletoputnot
onlybissworddownbuthishatredandbisdesireforvengeanceaswell
SuddenIy,thekingawokeingreata>arm.Heto>dDighavuthatI]edreamedthatPrinceDighavuwasabouttokiIbim!lnstinctiveIy,DigbavudrewhisswordyetagainandannouncedthathewasPrinceDigbavu.ThekingimmediateIybeggedDighavunottokiIhim.Withhiscompassionandwisdomover-cominghis}]atredanddesireforvengeance,Dig}]avuwasabletoputawayhissword.Tben,inturn,bebeggedfortbekingisforgiveness.Thekingandtbeprincesparedeachotber’slife’andeachvowednevertoharmtheother.TbeythenreturnedtothecastIe.
Backattbepalace,thekingaskedhisministerswbattbeywouIddoiftbeycouldfindPrinceDighavu.AfterhearingtheirbrutaIdescriptionsofwhattheywoulddo,thekingtoldthemwbathadjusttranspiredHethenturnedtoDighavuandaskedthemeaningofhisfatber)sIastwords.
DigbavuexpIainedthatdonotbe危r-s杪tedmeantoneshou>dnotholdontoawishforretalia-
32
VENcEANcE
tionDonotbeDear﹣s吵tedmeantoneshouIdnot
readilybreakone)sfriendshipwithanother.Addi-tionaIIy’i/Engeanceisno〔se〔t/edt/﹞rol唱bvcngeance
【∕engeanceiSsert/edt/﹞ro【唱/﹞non﹣vengeanceenabIed
DighavutoreaIizetbatif}]esoughtrevengefortI]edeathsofhisparentsbyldllingtbeking,theking’ssupporterswouldretaIiatebykiIing}]iInTI]enDighavu’ssupporterswouIdinturnIdlItheking’ssupporters.Thisiswhyvengeanceneverendsthroughvengeance.lnsparingeachother>sIives,botbthekingandtheprinceendedvengeanceby}ettinggoofit.
Dighavu’sfather’swordstoDigbavutonotbefar-sightedmeantnottoboIdontothewisI]forvenge-ance.IntbepreVoustaIk,weIearnedhowtbeBuddhahadtoIdthemonasticsonseveraIoccasions
thattheyshouIdaIwaystraintbemseIvesasfoIows:‘‘OurmindswiIIbeunaffectedandwewiIsaynoeviIwords.WewiIIremainsympatbetictothatpersonswelfare,withamindofgoodwill,andwit}]noinnerhate.WewiIlkeeppervadinghimwithanawarenessimbuedwithgoodwiIIand)beginningwithhim>wewiIkeeppervadingt}]eaII-encompassingworIdwithanawarenessimbuedwithgoodwiII-abundant,
33
EVERYTHINGWEDOMAT丁ERS
expansive’immeasurabIe,freefrombostility,freefromiIlwill”5Ifwegiveintoanger,ourmindwiIbeshakenandbemovedfromitsnaturaIyclear,tran-quilstate.Ifweboldontoourwishforvengeance’wewiI]arboreVIwordsaswelIasamindofhatred
andbitterness.ThenthismindwiIIhavenoroomfor
empathyorgoodwiIlIfanyonebadarighttofeelhatredandfear,
sureIyitwasKingDighiti.Yet,whenconfrontedwitbatruIyterri{yingsituation’bisoverridingtboughtwastoprotecthisson.Hedidnotcryoutforbissontosave}]imandhisqueen,orforDighavutosavehisownIifebyfIeeing’butinsteadspoketohissons}]eartandtoldhimnottocomeforwardHethen
warnedDighavunottohoIdontoresentment,nottoreadiIydestroyafriendship,andnottoseekrevenge.ThekinghadthepresenceofmindtoknowinaninstantjusttheprecisewordsthatwouIdstriketherightchordintheheartofbisson’evenwhenhehadnotseenhimforsomeyears.
lmaginetheIeveIofrestraintrequiredtobeabletospeakwiseIyoutofIoveandempathyinsteadof
,lbid
34
VENcEANcE
angerandterror.lmagine,witbeminentdangeraIIaround,howfocusedthemindbadtobe.lmaginethedignityittooktorelnaincaIm.Howmanyofustodayhaveevenafractionofsuchrestraintand
dignity?Howmuchdowepracticerestraintinourdailylives>Andhowoften>HowdignifiedareweinourdemeanorandbehaVor?
PictureinyourmindanimageoftheBuddha-an
awakenedbeing.WhatquaIitiesdoesthisimagebringtomind?Restraintanddignity.Patienceandcompassion.Contentmentandgreatease.ThesearethequalitiesweneedtouncoverwitI]inourselvesifweareto)Iikehim)awaken.
ButourIivestodayaresofrantic.Wehavesomucbtodo.Werushfromonetasktoanother.With
somuc}]todo’wemustbeimportantpeoplelltissoeasytobeseducedbycurrentideasofwhatasuc-cessfulpersonis.Wehaveseriouslystrayedfromourinnervirtues.WepracticeIittIerestraint.WeexhibitlittIedignity.Wearehurtingourselves.Andevenworse>wearecausinggreat}]armtoourchildren.Wearesettingt}]emonapathtbatwiIIIeadt}]emevenfartherawayfromtheirinnategoodnessandvirtues.
lnsteadofpassingonourbadhabitsofseIf-
35
EVERYrHlNGwEDOMAT丁ERS
indulgenceandinstantgratificationtoourchiIdren>weneedtoteachtbemwhatisimportantinlife-howtobecometru}ycontentedandcaringpeopIe.Contented,caringpeopIehavenoroomforcraVngorbatredintbeirhearts.Suchpeop}e}]avenoroomfortbougI]tsofreta>iationintheirminds.Sucbpeopleareworthyoftherespectandtrustofothers.Suchpeopleareateasewithlife.Andwhensadoreventerriblet}Iingshappen’theyarenotovercomebyfearorsorrow.TheyareabIetocontroltheirfearandtransformitintolove.Theyknowtbefutilityofdoingotherwise;theyknowtbegreatharmtheycandotothosetheylovemoretbanIifeitseIf.
Contentedandcaringpeop>eareabIetoconsidernotwhattheythemse>veswantbutwbatothersneedPlacingtboseneedsabovepersonaldesires,suchvirtuouspeopleareabIetothinkandreactwithrestraintanddignity.TheyareabletogivewiselytootherswbatwilItrulybenefitotbers.
IntheaccountofDighavu,}]isfatber,theking’gavebissontwowonderfulgifts:insightand>ifeitseIf.Throughhiswordsandbisactions,withdig-nityandrestraint,hewasabletosendhissonapowerfuImessagetbatenabledbimtoovercomethe
36
VENcEANcE
desireforrevenge.ThekingtaughtDighavuthatoneshouldnothoIdontobutshouId,instead,letgoofangerandbitterness.
PortunateIy,mostofusdonotfacesuchhorrificmoments.Yes,we}]aveargumentswithfami>ymem-bersandfriends,andweoftenfindourselveshaVngtointeractwithpeopIewedonotlike.Butasdis-agreeabIeastbeseoccurrencesare)tbeyarecertainIynotlifethreatening.Andyetwhenweencounterfrustratingortryingsituations,howmanyofusareabletoremaincaImortorespondfromwisdom?HowmanyofuswouId,instead,complaintoaIwhowouIdIistenorgrumbletoourseIves?Howoftenbaveourmindsbeenshakenfromt}]eircIear,tran-
quilstates>Howoftendoweuseevilwordsthatareharshorfalse?HowoftendowehoIdontoourangerprivatelyandthennurturetbatangerwithourthoughts?
AsDighavu!sfathersaid,donotboldontothewishforrevenge.WecanchoosetowrapourseIvesinourresentmentandbitternessand,insodoing’re>ectpeaceandbappiness-tberesultsofthistypeofreactioncanbevieweddailyontbeeveningnews.Or’wecanchoosetobroadenthescopeofourcom-
37
EVERYrHlNGWEDOMAT丁ERS
passionandwisbforanendtothesufferingofallbeings.Wecanchoosetocreatepeacewithinour-selves,andinthiswaybringpeacetoothers.
Next,intheaccounttheBuddbarelated,theking
toIdhissontonotbenear-sighted’whichmeanttonotreadilybreakafriendship.Theabout-to-be-executedkingwantedhissontounderstandthevaIueoffriendshipandtrust.Tobefriendothers,weneedtobavetrustinpeopleandbetrustworthyourselves.RealizingthatDighavuwasabouttokiⅡ
l]im’KingBrahmadatakneItdownandbeggedDighavutosparehislife.WecouldsaythatsinceDighavuwasabouttokiItheking,thiswasnotanactoftrustbutoneoffearanddesperation·
ButtI]enDighavurememberedhisfather’sadvicefor}]imtonotreadiIybreakafriendship.SuddenIyawareofthemeaningofthesewords,DighavuputawayhisswordThen,heaskedfortbeking,sfor-giveness.T}Iiswasanactofgreattrustonhispart.Hecompoundedthistrustbyreturningtotbeking,spalace,therebyputtinghisownIifeatevengreaterriskTbistimethekingreturnedtheprince’strustbytelIing}]isministerswbathad}]appenedandhandingbacktheconqueredIdngdomtoDighavu.Tofurther
38
VENGEANcE
deepenthebondbetweenthem)hegaveDighavuhisdaughterinmarriage.
lnourtrust,weneedtobesincere.ltwastbe
prince’ssinceritytI]atsomovedtheking.Toooften’whenwedosometI]ing,wedosowithbesitationanddoubt.ThisdoubtmayweIpreventusfromdoingwhatweknowtoberight.OrourmotivesfordoingsomethingmayweIIbeseIfishDig}]avu’swerenot.Hewantedtohonorhisfather>swordsandnotcarryhatredandbitternessinhisheart·Hiswisbtodoso
wassostrongthatbewaswiIIingtosacrificebisownIifetoletgoofhatredandvengeance.Thiswasnoteasyforhimtodo.HestruggIedwitbhimseIf,puIIingouthisswordthreetimestokiIIthesleepingkingButinhisheart,beknewtbetruthofhisfatber,s
words,andintI]eend,hewasabIeto}ayasidehiswishforrevenge.
Sooften,weactoutofseIf-interest,unwiIingeventosacrificeourpride’much}essourIives.lnourstruggIewithourconscience’weaIsohave
doubtsand,IikeDighavu,weaIsohesitate.TboughtsthatwearerightandthatweknowwhatwiIImakeus
happyandbringuswhatwedesirekeepbubblingupfrominsideus.UnlikeDig}]avu’inrealIyimportant
39
EVERYTHINGWEDOMAT丁ERS
matters’werepeatedlyfaIlshortofactingonwhatwesensetoberight.WedosonotbecausewearebadpeopIe.WedosobecausewearecarelessandbecausewebavegottenintothebabitofgiVngour-seIvesexcusestonotdowhatisrigbt.WetellourseIveswedeservetofeelthewaywedo.So,withhesitationanddoubt,wemaynotdowbatweknowwesbould.Andevenifwedowhatweknowtobe
right,thehesitationisstilIthere.Moreover,thishesitationwilIbeapparenttoothersaroundus.
Butifwecancomplete}yovercomethenegative,seIfishinclinationandwboIebeartedlydowhatwe
knowtoberight,oursinceritywiIIshinetbroughIfwearesincere-trulysincere-wewilltouchothers.Andifwetrustotherswitbsucbpalpablesincerity
thattbeyareabletofeeIit,thenweourselveswiIbedeemedtrustworthyandhonorabIe.
Dighavu)sfat}Ier’sIastwordstohimweretbatvengeancewasnotsettledthroughvengeancebutthroughnon-vengeance.Seekingrevengeneverendsbatredbut,instead,causesittogrow.Dighavuex-
plainedtbatifhehadsoughtrevengebykiIingtbeking’theking)ssupporterswouldinturnseekre-vcngebykiIIingbim.Thenhis0wnsupporterswould
40
VENGEANcE
retaIiatebythekiIingthoseoftheking.AndonandonandonthiscycleofkiIingwouldcontinue>f>however’tI]eprinceandthekingsparedeachother,s>ives,thehatredwouIdendtbenandthere.Andso
whenthathappened,thenandtherethe}]atreddiedOut.
Hatredisafiret}]atif}eftuncheckedwiIIcon-
sumeallt}]oseittouches.AddingfUeltoafireonlyincreasesit.NotsuppIyingthefueIwillcausethefiretoburnitseIfoutlfwekeepfueIingthefireofangerandhatredwithtboughtsofseIf-justificationandseIf-benefit,ofbitternessandresentment>wewi>I
neverIetgoofouranger.EventualIy’itwiIIconsumeanddestroyusall,forthosewhoaresurroundedbyfirewilIinevitabIybeburned.
Dighavu’sfatherhadenabledhisloveandconcernforhissontoovercomeanyangerorhatredhemight}]avefe|tforKingBrahmadataor}]issoIdiers.Dighavu’too’wasabletoIetgoofhisbatredfOraconquerorwhohadorderedthemurderanddis-
membermentofDighavu’sparentswbileheIookedonhelplessIy.We,ontheotherhand,havegreatdifficuItyIettinggoofangercausedbythosewbokeepusfromdoingwbatwewis}]todo’whoincon-
4l
EVERYTHlNGWEDOMAT丁ERS
venienceus,orwhosimpIyannoyus.WeholdontotbesIightsofothersanddreamofshowingthemhowcIeverweareatretaliating.
‘Don}t,mydearDighavu’befar-sighted.Don)tbenear-sightedPorvengeanceisnotsettledthroughvengeance.Vengeanceissettledthroughnon-vengeance.’>Donotwishforrevenge.Betrustworthy,anddonotreadiIybreaka廿iendship.Endhatred
andfindpeacebylettinggoofpainandbitterness.ThesefewwordsspokenbyDighavu’sfather,de-
spitetheirsimplicityandgentIeness,succeededintouchingabearttbathadbeenovercomewit}]sorrowandconsumedwithbatred,causingittoIetgoofthedesireforvengeanceandtherebyawakeningthecompassionandwisdomextantinthatselfsameheart.Tbisverywisdomandcompassionwaspre-ciselywhatDigbavuawakenedto.
AstheBuddhasaid,weshouIdtrainourselvesso
thatourmindsremainunaffectedbypIeasantoradverseconditionsandourspeecbisalwaysbenevo-Ient.OurmindssbouIdbewitbouthatredaswe
pervadetheuniversewithgoodwillthatisabundant’unreserved,andendIess.
42
T}-{EPolsoNsoPGREED,ANcER,ANDIGNoRANcE
神THEPolsoNsoFGREED)ANGER,ANDlGNoRANcE
OncewhentheBuddbawasatthe>etaGroveMon-
astery)beaskedthemonasticsbowtbeywou}dexplaint}]ethreepoisonsofgreed,anger,andigno-rancetomonkswhofoIIowedotberteacbings.TbemonasticsrepliedthattbeywishedtoexplaintootbersastheBuddbawouId>sowouIdhepleaseteachtbemhowtobestexplainthesenegativestatesofmindHerepIiedt}]atgreedarisesfromthinkingofp/easanrob>ectsandsituationsinamistakenway.Oncegreedhasarisen,thisthinkingofpIeasantthingswiIIcauseittointensify
Througbourownpersonalexperience,wecanseewhattheBuddhameant.Whenweseeanobjectorwatchothersen>oyinganactivitythatweviewaspIeasant’wewanttoowntI﹞eo坷ectortoundergoasimilare)叩erience.Wewanttopossessanewermodel
43
EvERYTHINGWEDOMATrERS
ofsomethingwealreadyown.Wewanttogotothesamevacationspotaco-workerVsited.WewanttoindulgeourseIvesbecausewefee>thatwedeserveitorperbapsbecausewewanttocheerourselvesupaftersomethingdisappointingbashappened·
Andsowewant-wecrave-thingsandexpen-ences.ButastheBuddhaexplained,craving}eadstosuffering’forcravinginexorablyIeadstomorecraVng.Unquenchable’itgrowsIikeanaddiction.Tbemorewebaveandthemoreweexperience,tbemorewewant.Ourever-increasinggreedresultsinourIivesbecomingmorestressfUIasourcravingforobjectsandexperiencesfarsurpassesourabiIitytoobtainthem.Andsowefalldeeperanddeeperintosuffering.
Whydoesallthishappen>IthappensbecausewemistakenlythinkthatpIeasantthings,betheymateria>ob>ectsorexperiences’wi>lmakeushappy.Buthappi-nessisamenta}stateHappinessisnotaqualityinherentinmateriaIpossessionsorexperiences.Whetberornotsomethingmakesushappydependsonwhatwetellourselves.AsShakespearewroteinHam-
/et,“Thereisnothingeithergoodorbad,butthinkingmakesitso.”Tbatis,itisourthinkingthatmakesus
happyorsad.WecanteIIourse>vesthattobehappywe
44
THEPolsoNsoPGREED,ANGER,ANDIGNoRANcE
needmorepleasanto坷ectsandsituationsOr》wecan
teIourseIvesthatwantingmoreineVtab}yleadstomorewantingandtbustomoresuffering
Next’theBuddhaexpIainedthatangerarisesfromtbinkingofunp/easantobjectsandsituationsinamistakenway.Onceangerarisesastheresultofsuchmistakentbinking’itincreases.
Again,ourpersonaIe〉叩erienceswiIIbearthisout.
Wbenweseeanob>ectoranoccurrencetbatweVew
asunpleasant,feeIingsofresentment’bitterness,andangercaneasilyarise.WewanttbeexperiencetostopWewanttoberidoftheundesirabIeobject.Wewanftbeannoyingpersontogoaway.lfonIytbesewouldbappen>thenwewouIdbehappy.
Butsucht}]inking>astheBuddbasaid,ismis-taken.>ustasthepresenceofob>ectsandexperiencesdoesnotnecessariIymakeushappy’neitherdoeStheirabsence.AttemptingtosatisfyouremotionaldesireswiIInotleadtohappinesslntruth,wantingtostopthatwbichisunpleasantonlyleadstomorewanting,moreemotionalreactions,more
turmoil-nothappiness.Notyetrealizingthis’wecontinuetobuymoreticketstogetbackonouremotionalroIercoasterofwanting’attainment’
45
EvERYrHlNGwEDOMATrERS
disappointment,andanger.WbatsbouIdwedoinsteadoffaIIingbackinto
thisnegativepattern>InaprevioustaIkinthisseries,welearnedoftheBuddhaurgingthemonasticstoholdthetbought“MymindwilIneverbeshaken.”Inotherwords’ourmindsshouIdremainstableand
focusedWesbouIdneitberfeelattachedtopleasantsensationsnorfeelaversetothosethatareunpIeas-ant.IfwecanaccompIishthis,wewiIlremaincontentwitbwhatwebaveandcalminanycircum-stanceinwhichwefindourseIves.Contentand
caIm,wewiIknowhowtoactwiseIy.OurangerwiIl
graduaIydiminish’and,eventualIy,ceasetoarise.TheBuddhaconcIudedbyexpIainingthatigno-
rancearisesfromwrongt}]oughts.Onceignorancehasarisen,thesewrongthougbtswiIcauseigno-rancetointensi{yUnderstandingthis’onewouldknowhowbesttoVewproperlybotbpIeasantandunp>easanthappenings.lfonewereabIetoactfromthisunderstanding,thengreedandangersbouIdnotarise.Andeveniftheydid,onewouldbeabletoe}iminatethegreedandovercomet}]eanger.IfoneIooksatIifeproperly,ignorancesbouldnotarise.ButifitshouId’onewouIdbeabIetoovercomeit.
46
THEPo<soNsoPGREED,ANGER,ANDIGNoRANcE
Here,theBuddhaspokeaboutwrongtboughts.WrongtboughtsareourpersonaIopinions,whicbariseinresponsetoexternaIsensorystimu>iRelyingonthissensoryinput,wethinkaboutwhatwehaveencounteredanddrawconcIusionsbasedonwhatwe
haveseen,heard,smeIled,tasted,andtouchedTben,
webegintolabeIsometbingsgoodandotbersbad,somepleasantandothersunpIeasantlnotherwords,webegintodiscriminate,seeingduaIityineverytbing
TbefundamentaIfIawinthisprocessisthereIi-anceonoursenses.WhatwefaiItoconsideristhe
facttbatourbreadthofexposureisminima>atbestandtbatoursensesmayweIlbefauIty.ConsidertheBuddMsaccountofagroupofmenbIindfrombirthtryIngtodescribeanelepbant.EachofthemenwastakentoadifferentpartoftheeIephant:itshead,anear,atusk’itstrunk,itsstomac}],afoot,itstail,andthetuftofitstaiI.TI]ebIindmeninturnsaidthat
theelepbantwaslikeapot,abasket,aplougbshare,apIow’astorehouse’apiIlar,apestIe,andabrusbTI]eInenthenbegantoarguewithoneanotherandevencametoblowsovert}]ematter.
ThesereasonabIebutlimitedanswerswerethe
resultoflmowingonIyapartoftbetruth’notthe
47
EvERYrINGWEDOMATrERS
whoIe·AndsadIy,liket}]oseblindmen,mostofusalsoencounteronIyapartofthetruthWe,too,cIingstubbornIytoourownVewpoints,convincedthatwe}]aveal}thefacts.AndtbinkingtbatwebavealltbefactsandfeeIingconfidentofourconcIusions,werejecttbeVewsofothers.Thus,ourignorancearisesfromourwrongthoug}]ts.T}]emanifestationofourignoranceisourattachmenttoourwrongtboughts’andthisinevitabIyintensifiesourignorance.
Onanotberday,amonkw}]ofoIowedotherteachingsaskedVenerableAnandawhatbappenstotbosewhogaveintothetbreepoisons.Anandarepliedthattbosewhogaveintogreed,anger,andignorancewilIthemselvesbecomevictimsofthoseselfsamepoisons.Thus,they}]armthemse>ves,not>ustothers,andmustfacethepainfuIoutcomesofwhattheybavedone.SincegreedwiIIIeadonetobaveimpurethoughtsandtoengageinfIawedbehav-ior,thosewhoridthemseIvesofgreeddonot
undergothesepainfuIoutcomes.Whenourmindsareimpure’ourtboughtsarise
fromgreed,anger,andignorance.Tbeya}soarisefromarrqgance’ourbeliefthatinsomewaywearesuperiortoothers.ButtbeBuddhaexpIainedtous
48
THEPo}soNsoPGREED)ANGER,ANDlGNoRANcE
t}]atweaIhavetbesametruenature.Sow}]iIeour
pastkarmasresuItinourbavingliveddifferent}ives,andtboseIivesmayappeartobebetterthanothers,ourcurrentIivesareonlyatinysnapshotofourinnumerabIeIifetimes.lnthisIifetime,wemaybe
smarterormorepriVIegedthanotherpeopIe.ButtheserolescouIdbereversedinournextIifetime.
SuddenIy)tbosew}]omwedeemedinferiort0uswi}Ibecomesuperior;ourarrogancewiIcomebacktohauntus.Asissaid’“PridegoethbeforethefaIl”
Ourt}]ougbtsmayaIsoarisefromdOubt.Porex-ampIe’wemaydoubtthatwebavet}IesametruenatureasaBuddha,andthusdoubtourabiIityto,Iikehim,awaken.WemaydoubttbatcausaIityfunctionsaIaroundusandwithinus,throughoutaIltimeand
space.WemaydoubttbatthemindoftheBuddhasandt}]emindofaI>beingsareaI}-perVasive-thatwearealIone.Pinally>ourthougbtsmayarisefromde/u-sion,ourbeliefinerroneousideas.
Duetoallthisgreed,anger,ignorance)arrogance,doubt,anddeIusion,ourmindsarefulIofwandering
anddiscriminatingthoughts.Wegetcaug}]tupinthoughtsofIikingordisliking’ofgoodorbad,offavorableorunfavorabIesituations.NoIonger
49
EVERYrHlNGwEDOMAT丁ERS
calm-noIongerpure-ourmindsareconstantlyaffectedbyourenVronment.
Inthisagitated,emotionaIstate’wemayormaynotactoutofgoodintentions.Butevenifweactoutofourgoodintentions,theywiIIoftenbackfirebecauseourIogicwasfaultytobeginwithSoweendupharmingothersandourselves.MistakingrightfOrwrongandwrongfOrright’wemakebaddecisionsandmustsuffertheoutcomesouractionshavewrought,notbecause
someonejudgestbistobeso,butbecausecausality-causeandeffect-isauniversaI’natura>Iaw.Ourgood
intentionsmaymitigatet}]eoutcomestosomedegree,butwewiIIstiIlhavetoundergowI]atwehavebroughtaboutthroughourimpurebehaVor.
Whenwel]aveovercomeourgreed,anger,andig-norance>wewiIInotcommitsuchoffensesbecausewe
wiIInoIongerbedeIuded;wewiIInolongermistakewrongfOrright.OurmindswiIIbecalmandcIear.
Havingletgoofattachments,arrogance’andseIf-ishness’wewiIlnolongeractfromdiscriminationstbatresu}tfromfauItyconcIusionsbasedonsensoryinput.lnstead,wewilIactfromourinherentwisdom.
AnandafurtberexpIainedtot}]emonktbattI]osewhogiveintogreeddonotunderstandwhatis
50
T}{EPoIsoNsoPGREED)ANGER,ANDlGNoRANcE
meantbybenefitingseIf,benefitingot}]ers,andbenefitingall
Again,wecanseefromourexperiencethatourcravingisusuaIIyofaseIfishnature:wewantsome-tbingeitberforourseIvesorforthosecIosetous.The
satisfactionofthiscravingisatemporarysense-induIgencethatbringsusshort->ivedbappiness.
TheonIywaytotruIybenefitourseIvesistoawaken-inotherwords,totranscendthecycIeofrebirth-wherebyweobtainlastingliberationandgenuinehappiness.UntilwefreeourseIvesfrom
rebirtb>wewiIInotbeIiberatedAsIongaswere-mainwithinthecycIeofrebirtb,weareboundbycraVngandignoranceandwiIlnotfindtrue>ibera-tionorhappiness.
Inbenefitingothers’wemovebeyondthoughtsofseIftothoseofotbers.Atthispoint’wewilIreaIizethatalIbeings,not>ustourselves,wishtoeIiminatesufferingandattainhappiness.WitbthisreaIization,wewillwanttohelpothersaccomplishtbis.WebeginbywishingthattboseweIoveandcareforwouIdattainhappiness.Thenwewishthesameforthosewe
donotknowand’graduaIy,forthosewedonotIike.U>timateIy,wewi>IdeveIopthewishfOraIbeingsto
5l
EvERYrHINGWEDOMAT丁ERs
befreefromsufferingandtoattainhappiness.Wbenwesbifttbefocusofourwishforbappiness
andIiberationawayfrom]ustourseIves’wewiIbegintothinkIessofourownbappiness.InsteadofIookingateverythinginase}f-centeredway>wewiItrans-formourt}]oughtsintothoseofcaringforot}]ers.Wewil>stopaskingwhatisinitforusandwiIIinsteadaskhowwecanbelpothers.
Theconceptsofbenefitingourselvesandbenefit-ingothersoccurataIowIeveIofrealization·Whenourunderstandingreachesahigherlevel,wewillrea}izethataIIbeingsareoneandthatthereisnoduaIitybetweense>fandother.TobenefitonebeingistobenefitaIlbeings.Therefore,tobenefitothersistobenefitoneseIf.ReaIizingthisinterconnectiVty
amongaIbeingswilIenabIeustorealizethatwedonotneedtoworryaboutself-benefitbecausewbenwehelpthewbole,weheIpourseIves.So,thereisnoneedtoworryabout<Ime.”
ThemorewecanwboIeheartedlyaspiretohelpa>lbeings,themoregoodnesswewillgenerate.ThisgoodnesswilIinturncreatefavorableconditionstbatwilIenab}eustobe>pothersevenmore.
PinaIy,AnandacautionedthatgreedbIindsone,
52
THEPolsoNsoPGREED,ANGER)ANDIGNoRANcE
blocksone’swisdom’increasesignorance,andthusobstructsawakening.
ltisourcraVngthatcausesoursuffering-becausecravingb}indsustoreaIityanddisturbsourpuremindLeavingourcaImandcIearstate,webecome
embroiledinacycleofwanting’obtaining,andtbenwantingevenmore.Themoreagitatedwebecome,theIessweareabIetoconcentrate,andthedeeperweburyourwisdominsideus.Notabletoreachour
wisdom,wefaIIpreytoignoranceanddelusionWebecomemoreaffIicted.Ourworriesincrease.
ButthisdoesnothavetohappenWecanbefreeofgreed’anger,andignorancet}]roug}]moralseIf-discipIine.WithmoralbebaVor,ourmindswiIIbemoresettIed’andwewiIlbeabIetoacbievemedita-
tiveconcentration.Ast}]ismeditativeconcentration
enabIesustogainmorecontroIoverourtboughts,andconsequentlyouremotions’wewiIIbegintotouchourinherentwisdom.Aswecontinuetoact
fromthatinherentwisdom,wewiIIgraduaIlyridourseIvesofgreed,overcomeanger’anduprootourignorance.OurmindswiIIremainc>earandcaImin
aIIsituations,andwewiIlgraduaIyIeavesufferingbehindandattainlastingIiberationandbappiness.
53
EVERYTHlNCWEDOMATTERS
鶉
GooDwlLL,CoMPAssloN,ANDEQuANlMITY
Onetime,whentheBuddhawasinKalama,be
spoketothepeop}ethereaboutthethreepoisonsofgreed,anger,andignorance·OnewhoisastudentoftheBuddhasandwhoisfreeofthethreepoisonswill
pervadealIdirectionsMwithanawarenessimbuedwithgoodwi〃:abundant,expansive,immeasurab﹜e》freefrom}]ostility,freefromillwill’’6
ThisstudentwiIIaIsokeeppervadingthesixdi-rectionsofnorth,south,east,west,above,and
below-everywbereandineveryrespectthrougboutthecosmos-withanawarenessimbuedwithcom-
passionandequanim/吼bothofwhicbare“abundant,expansive,immeasurabIe,freefrombosti>ity’freefromiIwill))7
6lbid
7lbid
54
GooDwlLL,coMPAssloN﹚ANDEQuAN【M】Tγ
Pirst,theBuddbaspoI(eofgoodwiII’orIoving-kindness,wbichisfeeIingandshowingconcern.ItisthewishthatalIbeingsbeweIlandsecure-thattheybehappy.WitbgoodwiII,wewiIIactpurelyandwitboutanypersonaIagendaorselfishmotives.WewiIlhappiIyforegoourpersonaIdesiresand,instead,focusontheneedsofothers.Listeningcarefu>IytothemwiIenab|eustounderstandwhattheyarefeeIingandthinking:theirwants,theirneeds,andtbeiraspirations.lfwearewrappedupinthoughtsofwhatwe’ourselves,havedoneorwishtodo)our
tbougbtswiIlbeofwhatwasorwhatmightbe-notofwbatis.lfwearewrappedupinthoughtsofself-benefitandego,ourthoughtswiIbeofourseIves,notofotherpeople.SoweneedtoletgoofthoughtsofseIf.Weneedtobroadenourmindstofocuson
others.Andtodothis’weneedamindand}]eartof
compasslon.
CompassionistheintentionandcapabiIitytoIessensufferingand,uItimateIy,totransformthissufferingWhenweadoptanawarenessimbuedwithcompassion,weseektoeaseothers}pain.Butinourwis}]toheIp’moreoftentbannot,wereactemotion-
aIyandendupgettingcarriedawaybyourfeeIings.
55
EVERYrHlNGWEDOMATrERS
AttimesweempathizesocompIeteIywithwhatsomeoneisgoingthroug}]thatwesubjectourse>vestot}]esamedistress.Soinsteadofonepersonsuf-fering’therearenowtwomiserabIepeopIe|
lnsteadofreactingemotionaI}y,weneedtoIearntotemperourcompassionwithwisdom.ThenwewiIlmowhowtobetterheIponeanother.WewiIIalsoreaIizethatanindividual>scircumstancesarethe
resuItofpastkarmas.Therefore,itmayweIlbenexttoimpossibIeforustoimproveanother)ssituation.ThisrealizationdoesnotmeanthatwesbouldstopcaringaboutotbersordismisstbeirdifficultiesasbeingtheirownfauIt.ltmeansweunderstandthatourwantingtoal}eviatetbeirsufferingmayinsteadbeofbenefittothemint}]efuture,inwayswecan-notforesee.
Sobecompassionate,butdonotfocusongettingimmediatepositiveresuIts.Donotgetwrappedupin
egoistictboughts,thinkingthatiT’canfixtheprob-}em.Wit}]outsucbexpectations’wewiIInotbedisappointedorsaddenedwhenourattemptstoheIpendinfaiIureor,worse,aggravatethesituation.WewiInotknowhowbesttoheIpifwefaiItotemperourcompassionwithwisdomlnotherwords,the
56
GooDwlLL,coMPAssIoN,ANDEQuAN>MITY
personwewanttoheIpmaynothavetherequisiteconditionsforustodoso.
WbenwestopfocusingonimmediateresuItsandinsteadfocuson>ustbeIpingothers>ourcompassionwiIuItimateIybenefitaIIbeings.Byplantingtheseedsofcompassion-tI]ewishforaIIbeingstobehappyandfreeofsuffering-wecanbeconfidentthatwehaveindeedhelpedothers.
IfwefeeIcompassionforonIycertainpeople’thenourcompassionisIimited,andthusourabiIitytoIessensufferinginthefuturewiIlikewisebeIimitedButwhenourcompassionforaIlbeingsisequalandunconditionaI,thenourcompassionwiIIbeimmeasurabIeandimpartialWhenweaccom-plishthis,wewiIIpervadealIdirectionswitbawarenessimbuedwitheqL/aD/mi卹
lntheWesternPureLandofAmitabhaBuddha,
thereareuncountabIeb0dhisattvas,beingswhoarededicatedtobeIpingaⅡothersendsuf『ering.WideIy
knowninthisworIdandoftendepictedstandingtoAmitabha’s}eftisAvaIokitesvara,orGuanyinBodhi-sattva.AvaIokitesvaraisoftentransIatedas“Great
CompassionBodhisattva”or“S}]ewhohearsthecriesoftheworId”
57
EVERYrHlNGWEDOMATTERs
Averylongtimeago,AvaIokitesvaravowedthatifsbeeverbecamedisheartenedinsavingsentient
beings,mayberbodyshatterintoatbousandpieces.Once,afterliberatingcountIessbeings廿omtheheII
realmsbyteachingthemtbeDharma,sheIookedbackdownintot}]eheIIrealms.Toberhorror,she
sawthatthebe>Irea>mswerequicklyfiIingupagainI
Inafleetingmomentofdespair>shefeltprofoundgrief.Andint}Iatmoment,inaccordancewithhervow,berbodysI]atteredintoathousandpieces.ShebeseecbedtheBuddbastoheIpandmanydid.LikeafaIIofsnowHakestheycame.OneofthoseBuddbaswasAmitabha.HeandtbeotberBuddI]asheIpedtore-formherbodyintoonet}]atbadat}]ousandarmsandhands,withaneyeofwisdomineachhandInthisway,shecou}dbetterheIpaIlsentientbeings.
WhetheryouviewthisasatrueaccountoraIeg-end’thereisaveryimportantlessonberethatcanbelpusinourpracticeofcompassion.Whenwefirstdevelopthebod}]imind-themindsetonhelpingaIIbeingsattainenlightenment,ourseIvesincluded-wewiIexperiencetimeswhenwearedisheartenedAtthispoint’webavetwochoices:goforwardorgiveup.Togoforward,weneedtoreestabIishourconfi-
58
GooDwlLL,coMPAssIoN,ANDEQuAN<MITY
dence.Wemaydothisundertheguidanceofagoodteacher,tbrougbthesupportofagoodspirituaIfriend,ortbroughothermeans.lfwedonotgoforward’wewillfaIIbackintoignoranceanddelu-sion
ItwiI]eIpusatthesedifficuIttimestoremember
thatWedonotgrowspiritualIyingoodtimes)wheneverythingisgoingourway.WegrowspirituaIIyandprogressontbepat}]ofawakeningintimesofadver-sityjustassteeIistemperedbyfire,ourresoIveisstrengthenedbyhardship
AvaIokitesvarawassI]atteredinafleetingmomentofdespair.ButthroughtI]estrengthofI]eraspirationto}]eIpaI}beings,sI]etouchedthebeartsofthosewhohadgonebeforeheronthepatbDuetohergreatvowandprofoundsincerity,shebadcreatedthecausesformanyBuddbasto}]eIpherwhenshewasmomentariIyoverwI]eImedbytI]eenormityofherchosentaskWetoowiIencounterobstacles.
Whenwedo’ouraspirationtobeIpaIlbeingswⅢenableustoreceivetheheIpweneedtomovebackontothepath
DuetothedepthofbervowtoheIp,Avalokites-vararegardedaIlbeingswithequanimity.Inthe
59
EvERYTHlNGwEDOMATrERs
abovestory,inadditiontotbe}]eIIreaIms,sheaIsowenttotheghost,animaI,buman,demi-god,andheavenIyreaImsteacbingalIthosewhobadtheaffinitytoIearn『romher.EachbeingwasequaⅡy
important,andsoshetaugbteachoneasbestshecouIdShedidnotdiscriminateandwasnotjudg-
mentalS}IetireIessIyandVgilantIylistenedforcriesforhelpandfoundtbebeingswhoweresuffering.ShetI]entaughtthemsotheywereabIetoadvanceonthepathtoawakening.
WithsimiIarequanimity,wetoowi}}viewevery-thingequallyandinabalancedway.OftenwhenwetrytoheIpothers,weactimpulsiveIyanderraticaIIy,notwiseIy.WerusbintoheIponedayandthenfeeIlikegivingupthenext.Withoutapure’caImmind,wecanloseourbalanceandfaIIfromgreatent}]usi-asmtomind-numbingdiscouragement.OnIywhenourmindsarecalmwiIIweknowbowtotrulybenefitothers.
TheBuddhatoIdanaccountofhowafathersaved
bischiIdren廿omaburning}﹞ouse.SomechiIdren
werepIayinginsideaverylarge’oldhouse.Theyweresoengrossedintheirp}aythattheydidnotreaIizetbehousewasonfire.TbeirfathercaIIedout
60
GooDwILL,coMPAss>oN,ANDEQuAN<M>TY
franticallyforthemtoIeavetbe}]ouse,butunableto
hearhim>theycontinuedpIaying.LuckiIy,}]e}]adtI]epresenceofmindtocaIIouttotbec}]iIdrentbattherewerenewIy-arrivedcartsoutsidethehouse,somethingthechiIdrenhadbeenIookingforwardto.Onhearingthatthecartsl]adarrived,tI]eyrushedoutoft}]ehousetoseetI]emand,insodoing,weresavedfromthefire
OnaverybasicIeveI,tbisaccountshowshowbyusingourcaIm’cIearmind,wecanmoreeffectiveIydeterminethebestwaytoheIpotbers.Byrunningintotbehouse,thefathervvouIdhaveperishedinthefirewithhischiIdren.Byremainingcalm,heactedfrombisinnatewisdomandsavedthem.
Inourpracticeofcompassionandequanimity,weaIsoneedpatience.PatienceisoneofthevirtuesthatbodhisattvaspracticetoperfectionAvaIoIKites-varaneededgreatpatiencetoteachaIthebeingsandthenevengreaterpatiencetocontinueheIpingthemaftertbatmomentofdespair.ThefatberneededpatiencetoboldhimseIfbackfromafoolish
act.ThinkingcaImIy,hefoundawaytosavehischiIdren.WetooneedpatiencetobecompassionateandtoregardaIwithequaIity.
6l
EVERYrHlNCWEDOMAT丁ERS
WeneedpatiencetobeIpusgetthroughemo-tionaIandphysicaIobstacleswhenwetrytobeIpotI]ersTherewillalwaysbeobstaclesJustbecausewearetryingtoheIpdoesnotguaranteethataIIobstacIeswiIfa>IawayandeverythingwiIbere-soIvedtooursatisfaction.Remember,wecannot
overcomethekarmaofothersandtbeensuingretri-
butions.Withoutpatience,wewiIbemiredinthequagIireofourowndisappointment.
Also,witboutpatience,wewilIgiveupwhencriticizedandobstructedbythosewbodonotunder-standwhatwearetryingtodoJustaswesincereIybelievethatwehavewiselyfoundthewaytobe>p,otberswiIikewisebecertaintbattbey,too,havetbe
rightsoIution.IfwearepreparedforthisanddonotalIowittodisturbourserenity,wewilInotbeshakenfromourpure,calmmind.
AsweencountercriticismandobstacIesthat
seemoverwbelming,wewiIneedpatience.Every-thingchanges--goodandbad>pleasantandunp}eas-ant.RemembertbatjustasgoodtimesdonotIastforever,badtimeswiIaIsochangeandimprove.
Althoughourcurrentconditionsmayseemover-wheImingIydistressing’eventhesedifficuItieswiⅡ
62
GooDw>LL,coMPAssIoN>ANDEQuANlM>TY
somedayendlfwecanmanagetohoIdontotI]isthought’wewiIindtbepatiencewithinustoperse-vere,tohoIdonuntiIourunfavorabIeconditions
begintoease.
ThisturnaroundwiItakepIacemorequickIyifwecanmanagetoletgoofthoug}]tsofourowndiscom-fortanddisappointment.Think,instead’ofhowtoendtbedistressofotbers.Thesoonertbeirdistress
ends,tbesoonerourswiIIend)forthepainofothersisourpainasweIlWeareaIone,aIIinterconnectedwithoneanother.
Donotgetsidetrackedbythinkingtbatthecon-cernso{anotheraretriviaI’fortothatpersonthoseconcernsareaIIconsumingandveryimportant.HowwefeeIaboutthevalidityoftheirconcernsisunim-portant.WeshouIdputpersonaI>udgmentsasideandinsteadfocusontryingtoaIIeviatetheirdistressandunhappiness,w}]ichtothemisveryreal
Howcanothersbehappy>lnthesamewaythatwebecomehappy:byIeavingnegativeemotionsbehindlfwecansbowothershowtobe>essen-
grossedintheiremotionaIreactions,wewi>Ibelpthembegintoreactmore廿omreasoning.lfwecan
heIpthemseethattheunderlyingcausesofunhap-
63
EVERY『HlNCWEDOMAⅥ﹃ERS
pinessareattachmentandaversion,wewi>lhave}]eIpedendsomeonespain.Bylettinggoofcravlngandaversion’onewiIIrealizethatthecauseofbap-
pinessisgoodwiI’compassion’andequanimity.Therearesometbingsinlifethatwecanchange.
ItisourresponsibilitytotrytoaIterthemfortbebetter.Butsometimes,wewiIlnotbeabletoeffect
anychangelfwecanmove廿omourpersonalsenseofsorroworregretovernotbeingabletohelpdi-rect}y,thegentlehappinesst}]atarisesfromourwisbto}]eIpwil}stiIbringreIieftoothers.
BehappyheIping.Andbecontentknowingtbatsometimesa>Iwecandoistowishforotherstobe
happyaswell.
64
AppREclATloN
繚AppREclATloN
lnthesutras,weoftenhearofgratitude.Theprac-ticeofgratitudeisveryimportantinBuddhism.Butsooften’weforgetaboutfeeIinggratefUlWhenthingsgoourwayandwereceivewhatwedesire’we
congratuIateourselvesanda}ItooeasilysIipintoarrogance.WeforgetaboutaItbosewhohave
heIpedusgettowbereweare,aIIowingustoen>oywbatwehave.Whenwedonotreceivewhatwe
desire’webIameot}]ersIWeforgetthatwhatwereceiveinIifeisduetoourowncausesandcondi-
tions>ourownmeritsorIackofmerits.Butarroganceandblamingothersarebot}]afHictionsand,thus’areobstacIestoourprogressonthepathtoawakening.
lfinstead,wearegratefuIforaIlthehe}pwehavereceivedfromothers,inourhappiness,wewiIIinturnwanttosharewhatwehavewithothers.Wben
Buddhistsshare)theydedicatetheirmerits-the
65
EVERYrHlNGwEDOMAT丁ERS
goodnesstbeycreateeveryday-tofourbenefactors·ThesefouraretheTh<ee>eweIs’ourparents’our
teachers,andaIIbeings.Wementiont}]esefourinourDedicationofMerit’whicbbegins“Maytbemeritsandvirtuesaccruedfromtbisworkadornthe
BuddhaIsPureLand’<andIrepaythePourKind-nessesabove.”
TbeTbree>ewelsaretbeBuddha,theDharma,andtheSangha.TbeyarecaIedjewelsbecausetheyareofimmeasurabIevalue.AIIBuddhasstriveto
teachusuniversaItruthsthatwiIIenableusto
awaken-touncoverthetruenaturewithineachof
usandescapesufferingandattainhappiness.Tbeirdeterminationto}]elpusasweIastheirpatienceinteachingusisinfinite.Wbileourloveforothersistransitory,theBuddhas’loveforaIIbeingsisendless.OurIoveisconditionaIanddiscriminatory,buttheBuddbas)IoveisunconditionalandheldequaIIyfor
aIlbeings.BuddhasheIpusbyteachingustheprincipIesof
reaIity,principIessuchascausaIity;theimperma-nenceofal}conditionedphenomena;t}]enon-existenceofapermanent,independentself;andtbeinterconnectednessofeverytbingthatexistslnother
66
ApPREcIATloN
words’theyteachustheuniversaI’eternaIIawsof
tbecosmos-t}]eDharma.Whenwetrulycompre-hendtheseteachings’wewiIthenbeabIeto
eIiminateourmistakenviewsand,instead’haverightviewsandcorrectunderstandingWhenwedonotbavesuchunderstanding,wewillcontinuetowanderaimIessIytbroughoutcountIessIifetimes,immersedinourignoranceanddeIusion
WeimproveourunderstandingandpracticetbeteacbingswiththesupportoftheSangha’thecom-munityofthosewbopracticetheteachings.WithtbeheIpofgoodfriendsonthepathwestrivetoattainpurityofmindandtoIiveIivesofbarmony.Thepuremindisthemindthathasnowanderingthoughtsanddiscriminations>thasnoworries’noattach-
ments,nothougbtsoflikeordisIikeTolive}ivesof
harmonyistobegentIeandcaringinourthoughtsandbehavior.
WeexpressourgratitudetotheThree>eweIsbyendeavoringtopracticeastbeBuddhashavetaughtus.How?Bybeingcontentwit}]thecircumstances
wefindourselvesinBy{isteningtowhattl]eotherpersonissaying’insteadofbeingpre-occupiedwithourownseIf-interest.Byempathizingwiththepain
67
EVERYTHINGWEDOMAT丁ERS
anddisappointmentintheIivesofthoseweencoun-ter.U}timateIy,weexpressourgratitudebyawakeningtocorrectVewsandunderstanding,at-tainingpurityofmind,andliVnginharmonywitha}Ibeings.lnthisway,wewiIlbegintorepayourim-mensedebttotbeThree>ewelsforaIltbeirpatience
andhelp.Second,weshouIdbegratefultoourparents.
Manyofusareorhavebeenfortunateenoughtohave>oVngparentswhotriedtheirverybestforus.Otbers,unfortunateIy,haveorhadparentswhowerelessthanidealorevenabusive.AsBuddhists,we
believethatwearedrawntoourparentsbecauseofkarmicconnections.Afterdeathandbeforeournext
birth,wearepIungedintodarknessandrawemo-tionslnthatoverw}]eImingconfusion’wearepuIedtoourparentsasiftheywereatinybeaconoflightpiercingthatdarkness.
Therearefourreasons,karmicIinks’thatweare
drawntoandborntoourparents.Whenthelinkisstronger,peopIewiIIbecomeclosefamiIymembers’parentsandcbildren.WhentheIinkisweakerthepeoplewiIbecomemoredistantre>ativesorfriends.
Thefirstreasonistorepaykindness.lnpastlife-
68
AppREc<ATl0N
times,theyhadagoodandhappyrelationship.Com-ingnowtorepaykindness,thechiIdrenareveryfi>ialTheyareweIIbehavedwbenyoungandIovingwhengrown,andaffectionateIytendtotbeparents>needsandwishes.
Tbesecondreasonistoexactrevenge.ThecI-drenarekarmicdebtorsfrompastlifetimes.Often,whengrown,theywiIcausethefamiIiesruin.
ThethirdreasonistocoIectadebt.ThechiId
maycausetbeparentendIessworryandpainbybeingdisobedientordemanding.TheymayfaIIiIIfrequentIyorhaveanongoingmedica}conditionandneedmuchattentionandcarefromtheparent.T}]edegreeofthedebtcoIIecteddependsonhowInucbtheparentsowetbechildren.
Thefourthreasonistorepayadebt.TbecbildrenowedtheparentsinpastIifetimes.Whent}]edebtis
great,tbechiIdrenwiIIIookaftertheirparentsveryattentiveIy.IfthedebtissmaII,thechiIdrenwilItakecareoftheirparentsjustenoughtoensurethattheparentsIacknothing.ButthereisnorespectfOrtheparents-thechiIdrenonlytakecareoftheparents’physicalneeds.
Regardlessofthereasonweareborntoourpar-
69
EVERYrHINCwEDOMATIERs
entsandregardIessoftheirtreatmentofus,westilIoweourparentsanimmensedebtofgratitude.EvenifourparentsdidnothingeIseforus>andmostpar-entsdonotfaIintothiscategory’attheveryleasttheyprovideduswithtbephysicaIopportunitytobeborn.Porninemonths’ourmotherscarriedandnur-
turedusuntiIwereachedt}]etimeofbirthThey
thenunderwentmanyhoursofpaintobringussafelyintot}]isworId.Formanyofus,ourparentsIookedafterusforyears>sacrificingt}]eirpersonalcomfortsowemighthavebetter}ivesthantbeirs.
Butifourparentsdidnotcareforandnurtureus,andifa>ItbeydidwastogiveusourbodyandthusourIife)westiIcannotrepayourdebtofgratitudetotbem.Withoutthem,wewouldnotbeberetoday
striVngtoIearnhowtobemorecompassionate,aItruisticbeings.
Sowhateverthereasonswewereborntoourpar-
ents)whateverthecircumstanceswegrewupin)
howeverwefeeIaboutourparents’ourdebttothemisimmeasurable.
OncewefeeIappreciationforourcurrentparents)wenextneedtobroadenourmindsandheartsln
theBra/>ma/\/etSutIH)theBuddhasaidweshould
70
AppREc!ATloN
alwaysbearinmindthat“aImaIebeingshavebeenmyfather,alIfemaIebeingshavebeenmymother.”GraduaIly,ourappreciationsbouldbefeltforaⅡ
beingstbroug}]outaI}timeandspace.lfourparentsofthisIifetimearenolongera}ive,
wecanstiI}trytorepayourdebttothembycaringforaIothersasourparentsbywantingthemtobehappyandIoVngthemasift}]eywereourownpar-ents.AppreciateaIIothersfortheopportunitiestheyprovideforyoutogrow.HelpaIIbeingstofee>cber-ishedandsafeinyourpresence.Saythankyouateveryopportunity.
lfwearedeepIyappreciativeofourpresentpar-entsforthisopportunitytoIearnandgrow,anddeepIyappreciativeofeveryoneofourpastparents’wewiI}beabIetofeeIgratitudetowardsaIIbeings.
Third,weshouIdbegratefu|toourteachers,thosewhohavegonebeforeusonthepathtoawak-ening.UntiIwereachabigherIeveIofawakening’wewiIIcontinuetoactoutofignoranceanddeIusion,mistakingrightforwrongandwrongforright.lfwearefortunateenoughtohaveagoodteacher,heorshewi>lbeab}etoguideusalongthepathAgoodteacherwilIunderstandwhoweareandwhatweare
7l
EvERYrHlNGWEDOMATrERS
capableof.ThiswiIIenableourteacberstoguideuswisely.LiketbeBuddhas’theywillnotgiveuponuswhenwefaiItodoaIIthatweshouId.
Buttofindourgoodteacber,weneedtberightconditions.lftheconditionsbavenotyetmatured,
wecoulddrivepastthestreeteverydaywheretheteacherwasandnotknowheorshewasthere.On
theotberband,whentheconditionsareright,we
wilInaturallymeetourteacher.ltissaid,(<Whentbestudentisready,theteacberwilIappear/>Inotberwords,whenconditionsareright,itwillhappen.
OnedaywhenlwastogiveaIectureatalibraryinLawrence,Kansas,amanwbowasreturningsome
bookssawtheposterformytaIkAmazed,hewentuptooneoftheorganizersandsaidthathehadwantedtotakethethreerefugesbutdidnotknowanymonastics.AftertbetaIk’athisrequest’lservedasthewitnessinbisceremonyoftakingtherefuges.HewasverymovedanddeeplygratefulHiscondi-tionstoformaIlyfoIlowtbeBuddbistpat}]badmaturedHe}]adneverexpectedtowalkintotbatlibraryandfindaBuddbistnun|Inthesamemanner,wbenourconditionsareright,wewiImeetourteacher.
72
AppREc>ATIoN
lfwehavenotyetfoundourteacher,weneedtopIanttbecausestodoso.HeIpingandcaringforothers,studyingandpracticingourchosenBuddhistmethod,andhaVngthewishtobenefitaIIbeingswiIlaIlhelptoplantgoodseeds’whichwiImatureintogoodconditions.
WewiInstinctiveIyknowwbenwehavefoundourteacher.TbisreaIizationwiIoccurinourpra]nawisdom,ourintuitivewisdomthatisaIreadydeepwithinus.lfwearefortunateenoughtofindourteacher’wewiIbeabIetoIearnquickIyfrom}]imorher.WewiIIhaveconfidenceinandbappi>yfoIIowwhatbeorsheteaches.
Ifwearenotyetfortunateenoughtohavefoundourteacher,wecanusethesutras-tbeteachingsoftheBuddhas-asourteacher.WerespectfuIIycaIISakyamuniBuddhaour“originalteacher/)MOriginaI”meansthatwithinourcurrentage,SakyamuniBud-dhaisourhistorica>Buddha.HeisbynomeanstbefirstandonIyBuddha’astherehavebeeninfiniteBuddbasbeforehimandtberewiIIbeinfinite
Buddhasinthefuture.Theteachingsinthesutras日owedfromthetruenatureofShakyamuniBuddba.Thistruenatureisthesametruenatureofall
73
EVERYTHlNGWEDOMAT丁ERS
Buddhas,ofaIIbeings.Suchteacbingsaretimeless.Bypracticingwhatwehavebeentaugbt’weshow
gratitudetoourteachers.Whatdowepractice?Weneedto}etgoofgreedandcraving:weonlyneedenoughmoneytobesafeandhealthy,andtomeetourresponsibilities.Letgoofangerandfrustration:wedonotbavetoreactoutofournegativehabitsbyshoutingatourchiIdrenorthepersonwhoisnotdoingwhatwewish.Letgoofignoranceanddelu-sion:rememberthattbepersonnexttoyouwantsonIywbatyouwant-tobehappyandfreeofworry.
Pourth’weshouIdI]aveappreciationforandbegratefultoaIIbeings.EveryoneandeverytbingisinterconnectedNothingexistsonitsownWhenwewereyoung,ourfamiIysupportedusandourfriendslookedafterus.Aswegrewup,wewenttoschoolsbuiltbythecommunitieswe}ivedin.Thenasnow,ourcountryprotectedusthroughthearmedforcesandemergencyservIcespersonnelLivinginacoun-trvwiththefreedomtochooseourfaithtradition-」
ourstandardforethicaIiVng-weareabIetonotjustmerelysurvivebuttogrowspirituallyandemo-tionaIIy.
Thisbookthatyouarereadingortherecording
74
APpREcIAT!oN
thatyouareIisteningtocameaboutthrougbthehardworkofmanypeop}e.Manyoft}]esepeoplewereinturnsupportedbyotherpeopIe’perhapsfinanciaIIy,perhapsemotionaIIy,whowereinturnsupportedbytheeffortsofcountIessotbers.Tbisinterconnectivitygoesonandon.UnderstandingtbatwedonotIivesoleIyonourown》t﹜﹞atnomanisanisland’wewiⅡ
begintodeveIopasenseofgratitudetoalItbeinfi-nitebeingswI]oheIpustolivebetter,moremeaningfullives.
Butwbatoft}]osewho}]aveharmedus>Dowe
needtobegratefuItothemtoo?ldeaIIy,wesbouldaIsobegratefuItothosewbo
}]avebarmedus’notjustthosewe}ikeandwhocare
forus.Remember,wereapwhatwesow.OurlivestodayaretheresuItsofourpastkarmasoftbougbts,words’andactions.ThereisnooneeIsetobIame
whenweexperienceunpIeasantcircumstances.ThosewhoI]aveharmedusaresimpIybringingustheconsequencesofourpastkarmas.WecandoaswehaveaIwaysdone;compIainandbecomeangry.Orwecanchoosetounderstandwhatisbappeningandacceptthatwehaveakarmicdebttorepay.GraduaIy’wewiIlevenbeabIetofeeIgratefuIto
75
EVERYrHINGWEDOMATTERS
thosewboharmus.Thosewboharmusprovideuswithanopportunitytorepayadebtthatwebadincurred.
76
FouRAssuRANcEs
繃PouRAssuRANcEs
Onetime’whentheBuddhawasinKalama,he
spoketotbepeopIethereaboutthepoisonsofgreed,anger,andignorance.HeexpIainedthatonewhoisastudentoftheBuddhas’andwhoisfreeofthethree
poisonsandwbopervadeseverythingandeverybeingthroughoutthecosmoswithbound>essloving-kindness’compassion,appreciation>andequanimitywiIlbefreefromgreedandhostility,andwiIIthusbepure.ThisstudentwiIgainfOurassurancesintbisIifetime.
ToappreciatefuIywbattheBuddhatoldthepeopIeofKaIama,weneedtoknowtherequirementsforapersontoreceivethefourassurances.TbeBuddhasaidt}lefirstrequirementwastoeliminategreed,anger’andignorance.EIiminatingthesetbreepoisonswasdiscussedintbethirdtalkinthisseries.
ThesecondrequirementwastolearnbowtoIive
77
EVERYTHlNGWEDOMAT丁ERS
astheBuddhahadtaught.HisstudentsshouIdliveIivesofgoodwiIIandsI]owIoving-kindnesstoaIIbeings.TheysI]ouIdregardaIIbeingsandconditions
withequanimity>andneitherfeelpuIledbywhattheywantnorbeaversetowhattheydislike.lntbisway’theirthougbtstowardotherswou>dbeimbuedwithloVng-kindness,compassion’appreciation,andequanlmlty.
Suchpeoplefee}deepconcernandsympathyfOraIbeingsbecausetheyrealizetbataIIbeingswisbtobefreeoffearandsuffering.MostpeopIedonotknowhowtoeliminatefearandsufferingbecause
theydonotknowwhatcausesthem.Thecauseofbotbtheirfearandsufferingiscraving.Therefore,toeliminatefearandsufferingweneedtoeIiminatecraVng.WhencraVngiseIiminated,truebappinesswilIarise.
TruehappinessisnothappinessasweusualIythinkofit.AIIbeingswishfortruehappiness,butfewknowwhatitis,IetaIonehowtoachieveit.
OrdinaryhappinessistbatwhichiscausedbycraVng’justasfearandsufferingarecausedbycraVngTruehappinessariseswhencravingnoIongerexistsltistimeIessandarisesspontaneousIy
78
PouRAssuRANcEs
fromourtruenature.ltisthehappinessofawakenedbeings.
CauseandeffectpermeateourIives.TI]ereisnoescapingthisuniversaIIaw.Whenaperson}]asdonesomethingwrong,therewiIIberetributionnoworlater.NoonecaneIudethisretributioneventhoughtheymayseemtobedoingsonow.
Understandingthis,wesbouldnotbeconcernedaboutthebehaviorofothersbecausewehavenowayofcontroIingotbers.We]ustneedtofocusonourownbebavior.WecanonIyhopetocontroIourselves.Andinsodoing>byfoIIowingtheteachings’wewiIIeIiminatetbepoisonsofgreed’anger,andignorance
TbosewhoeliminatetbethreepoisonsandwhofoIowtbeteachingshavegreatcompassionforthosewhoarestiIsuffering.Empat}]izingwithtbedistressandunhappinessofothers,theyVewaIbeingswithlimitlessandimpartiaIIoving-kindness.TbeywishtohelpaIIbeings,notjustthosetheyIikeorapproveof,findIastinghappinessandIiberationAndwiththiswishtobeIpaIbeings,theywiIlcometounderstandthattosuccessfuIyaidotherstheyneedtouseskiIfulmeansbecauseeveryonehasdifferent
79
EVERYrHlNGWEDOMATTERs
abilitiesandconditions.Somepeoplemaywishto
beartheteachings.Somewi>IbestbeheIpedbybeingshowngoodexampIes>whiIeotbers>ustneedunderstandingandakindword
AwakenedbeingswiIVewaIbeingsnonjudgmentaIIyandwilIinteractwithtbemunconditionaIy.We,ontheotherhand,continualIy]udgeotbersandusuaIIyfindthemIackingWefoolishIyhaveexpectationsofotbersandthussetourseIvesupfordisappointment.WewouIdbemucbhappierwithoutanyexpectations.
MostofusarenotunconditionaIinwhatwedo;
wesetconditionsorhaveexpectations.Mostoftbetime’wearenotevenawarethatwearedoingthis.
PorexampIe,perbapswewilIbe>pot}]ersaslongastheyconformtoourwisbes.Butiftheyfailtoperformasweexpectthemto’wemayfeeldisap-pointed.OrperhapswewiIhelpsomeoneaslongaswefinditconvenienttodoso.ButwbenbeIping
requiresustoreaIlygooutofourway,weloseinterest.
PortunateIy,“thosewhopracticetheteachings”donotjudgeothers.TheyhavenohiddenagendasIadenwitbconditions.ThougbtsofseIf-interestdonot
80
PouRAssuRANcEs
arise.TbeybaveIetgoofattachmentsasweIas
aversions.ThoughtsofIikeanddislikewiIInotarise.Tboughtsthattheyarebeinginconveniencedortakenadvantageofdonotarise.AndevenwhenitrequiresmoretimeandefforttbantheyhadpIannedon,theyareabIetoremainenthusiasticaboutbe>pingothers.
TheBuddhasaida“nobIedisciple”whoisfreeoftI]ethreepoisonsandwbokeepspervadingeverytbingandeverybeinginthecosmoswitb
Ioving-kindness,boundIesscompasslon’appreciation,andequanimitywiIIreceivefourassurances.
Thefirstassuranceisifthereisrebirthand
retributions{romgoodoriIIkarmas,t}]ent}]rougb}]isgoodkarmas,hewiIIbaveagoodrebirthThesecondassuranceisifrebirthdoesnotexist,hewilIbe
happyintbisIifetime,ashewiIIfeeIneitbergreedorangernortheirattendantsuffering.
Thethirdassuranceisifapersonw}]ocommitsbadkarmassufferstherelatedretributions,thenobIe
disciplewiInotsufferbecausehewiIInevergiverisetobadthoug}]ts,utterbadwords,orcommitanybadactions.Thefourtbassuranceisifapersonwho
8l
EVERYTHlNGWEDOMATTERS
commitsbadkarmasdoesnotsufferthereIated
retributions,thentbenobIediscipleispurifiedanyway·
Thefirstassuranceisbasedontheexistenceof
rebirthandcausality.Ifonecommitswrongdoing,thenonewiIIhaveabadrebirthlfonedoesgood
deeds,onewilIhaveagoodrebirthltisbecauseofthispremisethatmanypeoplestrivetoIiveamora},seIfless’andcaringlife.Wea}Iwis}]toendoursufferingandtofindhappiness.Butanawakenedbeing,whohaseIiminatedthethreepoisonsandw}]oisthougbtfulandcaring’goesonestepfurtheI-hewishestobeIpotberseIiminatesufferingandattainhappinessasweIl
ltisdifficuIttobeatrulycompassionateperson.
lttakesmany,manyIifetimestobecomesuchaper-son.Believingintberealityofkarmaandrebirth,weunderstandt}]atimmoralityandseIfishnesswiIeadustomiserabIerebirths,renderingusunabIetoheIpourseIvesorothers.Wehavea>readywastedmoreIifetimesthanwecancount.PaiIingtopracticetheBuddha’steachings’wewiIIwastemanymore.T}]eonlywaytotrulyheIppeopIeistocreateandaccumulategoodfortune.GoodfortuneincIudesa
82
FouRAssuRANcEs
safeplacetolive’enoug}]materiaIresources,skiIIs,wisdom,time,andgood}]eaIthThesearetheconditionsfoundinagoodrebirthButon>ybyusingourgoodconditionstobenefitotherscanwecontinuetogeneratemoregoodconditionsforfutureuselfweseIfishlyusethegoodnesswehavecreatedtomakeourownIivesmorepleasurabIeandneglecttheneedsofothers,wewiIIexhaustthatgoodnessandsubjectourseIvestonegativesituationsandsuffering.
lnthesecondassurance,theBuddhapostuIatedascenariocontrarytoI]isexperience-onewberethereisnorebirthandnokarmicretribution.HedidtI]is
sotbatthosewI]oweredoubtfUIcouldstiIbenefit
fromhisteachings.HeshowedtI]atevenwithinsucbascenario,one
whoremainsfreeofgreed,anger,andtheirresultantsufferingwiIIbetruIybappy|
Today)thisassuranceisespeciaIIyheIpfuIaspeopleaskiftheyhavetoaccepttheexistenceofrebirthbeforetheycanbenefit廿omthepractice.As
theBuddhashowed,theydonotbavetoacceptrebirthinordertoreaptbebenefits.Thosewhoarefreeofgreed,anger,andtbeirensuingsufferinghave
83
EVERYrHlNGwEDOMAT丁ERS
amindofIoVng-kindness,compassion,appreciation’
andequanimityinthislifetimeTbeynoIongerexperiencegreed’noIongercravetheemotionaIhighfromacquiringtbatwhichisnew-tbeysimpIyappreciatewbattheyalreadyhave.Cravinganditsshadow’disappointment’aree}iminatedaspeopIebecomecontentedwiththeirsituation.Thisistrue
happiness.WecanonlyimaginehowwonderfuIitwouldbe
toneveragaincravesensationsandexperiences-toappreciatewhatweaIreadyhave.
AndimagineneveragainfeelingangryorunsettIedbutaIwaysfeeIingcalmandpeacefu|instead.Suchapersonwou}dsurelya}waysbehappyandbeatease,andtbusaIwaysbewelcomedwhereverheorshegoes.Withoutcravingandwithoutangertherewillbenosuffering->ust}]appiness,a}ifetimeofhappiness.Andallthiscanhappenbereandnow,becauseevenifonedoesnotbeIieveinrebirthonewiIIsti}lbenefitifonelivesa
lifefreeofcraving,animosity’andunhappiness.Thethirdassuranceisifapersonwbocommits
badkarmassufferstherelatedretributions,thenobIe
disciplewiInotsufferbecausehehasnobad
84
PouRAssuRANcEs
thougI]ts,speech,oractions.Wbi>et}]osewhocommitwrongdoingswiIIsuffert}]ereIatedeffects’onewholivesmoraIIywiInotsufferbecausetbispersonpreventsbadthoughts>speech,andactionsfromoccurringInsucbaIife,therewiIbenoresuItantsuffering廿omhavingburtanotherwith
harmfuIspeechoractions.SucbapersonwiI]avenoreasontofeeIremorse.HewiIbefreefrom
worryingabouthowtoundowbathadbeensaidor
doneoutofcareIessnessandignorance.Whatarebadthoughts)speechandactions>Bad
tboug}]tsarisefromgreed,anger,ignorance’arrogance’doubt,andwrongVews.Theybarmothersandus.WhenwefaiItogetwhatwewant,webecomeangry.CravingandangerarisefromourignoranceandfromourIackofunderstanding.ArroganceanddoubtaIsostemfromignorance.Wrongviewscompoundourignorance:noton}ydowenotunderstand,weaIsoholdmistakenideasascorrect|
Badspeechthatwhichisnotcorrect,honest,and
beneficiaI,l]armsothersandusinseveraIways.Palsespeech,bycontainingmisinformation,isdeceptiveandIeadspeopIeastray.Harshspeechdestroysour
85
EvERYrHlNGwEDOMATTERS
peaceofmindandthatofeveryonearoundus.DiVsivespeechseparatespeopIeandfosterstheseedsofconfIict.EnticingspeechcajolespeopIetodowhattheyotherwisemightnotdo.
Whatarebadactions?TheBuddbagaveustbree
preceptsofnokilling,nosteaIing,andnosexualmisconduct.KiIingisdestroymganotherbeing’slife,beit}]umanoranimalSteaIingistakingtbatwhichisnotfreeIygiventous.Sexua},orsensual,induIgenceisthetemporaryseekingofpIeasantsensationsatthecostofourpure’calmmind.
Onewho}ivesIifeastaugbtbytheBuddhadoesnotl]avebadtboughts,usebadspeec}],orcommitbadactions.Thus,thisperson’s>ifeisfreeofsuffering.SuchapersonwilIknowonIycontentmentandpeaceofmindashisorhermindremainsinacIear’tranquiIstate,freeofagitationandfear.
TheBuddba}sfourthassuranceisifapersonwhocommitsbadkarmasdoesnotsuffertbereIated
retributions,thenthenoblediscipleispurifiedanywaybecausehenoIongerhasanybadthoughts,speech,oractions.
PeaceofmindcomestothepersonwhoIives
morally.HaVngapuremind’t}]ispersondoesnot
86
FouRAssuRANcEs
barborbadthoughts,speakbadwords,orcommitbaddeeds.Tbispersonspuremindhasnowanderingtboug}]tsordiscriminations.lthasno
attachmentsoraversionsandnocravingorhatredT}]ispuremindistbecaIm,cIearmindthatisno>ongerpuIedthiswayandthatbywhatitencounters.ltistbesereneandnaturaIstateofaII
beings.TheBuddhaprovidedfourscenariostoheIp
individuaIsIearnbowtoeIiminatetl]atw}]ic}]is
negativeand}]armfuIandtoembracethatw}]ichispositiveandvaIuabIe.Leadingone!sIifeinaccordancewiththeBuddha’steachings,onewiIII]aveatranquilandstablemindPureinmind,onewillaIsobepureinbodyasweI,forthemindistI]eforerunnerofone’sactions.OnewI]otI]usacbievesa
puremindandbodywiIlen>oythefourkindsofassurances·
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EVERYTHINCWEDOMAT丁ERS
嚇TRANsPoRMINGCREEDANDANGER
刀﹚eDes仃uc㎡vcEmotionsofGreedandAnger
Asbumanbeings,wearesubjecttomanynegativehabits,tbemostseriousanddetrimentaIofwbichare
greedandanger.Thesestemfromouremotionalat-tac}]mentstotheconceptof}]avinganindiVdua>andpermanentse>f,andtoour>ackofunderstandingaboutourtruepIaceintheuniverseandourrelation-shipswithalIthosewboinhabittbeuniversewithus.
Greed,orcraVng,arisesfromthemistakenideathatwecanobtainandhoIdontopossessions,toideas,andeventootherpeople.Cravingarisesfromselfishness’fromthemisconceptionthatourbodiesarewhoweare.Butifwetrytopinpointwhere‘T’actualIyexistsinourbodies’wecannotdoso.“I”cannotbefoundintheheart,inthehead,orany-
wheree}seinthebody.EverybodyissimpIyacombinationofdifferent
88
TRANsFoRMlNcCREEDANDANcER
parts;twoarms,twoIegs,manydifferentorgansin-cludingthebrainandtheheart-butnoneofthemis“l.>)Notyetunderstandingthis,wenotonIydoevery-thingwecantoprotectthisbody,butweaIsogotolengthstoprotectourpossessionsasweIlWeevenbeIieveintheneedtodefendourideas,feeIingthreatenedwheneversomeonedisagreeswithus.
TbereaIityistbatthisbodywiIIonIyexistforashorttimeandtbatourpossessionswiIlbeoursforanevenbriefertime’fOrwewi}ItakenothingwitbusattheendofthisIifeWeknowthisrealityal>tooweI’butwestiIItrytoholdondearIytowhateverwehave.
Ifyoufeelthatthisdoesnotapplytoyou,pIeasethinkofoneofyourmosttreasuredpossessions.Now’imaginegivingawaythattreasuredpossessionHowwouldyoufeelPlfyouareIikemostpeop>e,youwiIIfinditisverydiscomfortingtothinkofno}ongerbavingsuchavaIuedpossession.
Thisisaformofcraving’aswedesiretokeepthethingsthatwebaveandaIsoacquireadditionalornewpossessions.WeconVnceourselvesthatsuch
possessions,evenintbeformofpeopleandideas’canmakeushappy.
Butafterwehaveacquiredsomethingneworob-
89
EVERY『HlNGWEDOMAT丁ERS
tainedmoreofsomethingweaIreadyhave’wesoof-tenfindourseIveswishingforanotbernewob>ectorperhapsfOrmuchmoreofwhatwejustobtainedThisis’unfortunately,bumannature.Evenyoungchildrendemonstratethisastbeydowhateverisnecessary,forexampIe,toconVncetheadultwiththemtobuyanewtoy.Later,ofteninamatterofbours’thechiIdIosesinterestandwantsanothernewpIaything.
Wedotbesamething;ourtoysarejustIargerandmoreexpensive.ButtheprincipIeistbesame:OIdoryoung,wearerarelysatisfiedandare’instead,oftendisappointedandtI]us,oftenunhappy.
WewiIIneverfindIastingandgenuinehappiness
througbpossessionsbutwiI,instead,remainforeverdiscontentedNotyetreaIizingthis,westilIfeeItbatitisperfectIynaturaItowantmoreandtoaccuInu-Iatemore.Weareevenenviousofothersandmavbe
secretlybopetoimpressotberswitbwhatwehave.Thisfault-riddenideaof“moreisgood”isbuoyed
upbyanadvertisingindustryconstantlyteIIingusthatbypurchasingwbattheyareseIling,wewiIfindtheanswertoourprayers:happiness,Iove,youth,security-tbelistisendIess.Peelingtbatwedonotbaveenoughbappiness,Iove,youtb,andsecurity,we
90
TRANs}可oRMINGGREEDANDANGER
buyintotheirenticingpitchesinthebeIiefthattheirproductorserVcewiIIaIIeviateournaggingsenseofdiscontent.
CIingingtotheideathatthesourceofhappinessliesoutsideourseIves,webecomeattacI]edtothings,pIaces’andevenideas.WeignoretbereaIitythatnotI]ingremainswithusforever:possessionsarelostorbecomeunimportant,peopIeIeaveusorweleavetbem,pIacesareleftbe}]ind,ideaschange.Sucl]at-tachmentsarewbywearestiIivingIivesofunhap-piness:becausewecIingtothings’toideas,toIife.Wedesire-wewant-alIofthese.
lnourdesiretopossess,weevenwishtopossessotberpeopIe.WewantotherstorespectusandtoIoveus.WewantotherstoonIytl]inkofus)toalwayscomebacktous)toforeverbewit}]us.ThisisafOrm
o『cravingandama】orattac﹜﹞ment﹚whichisdue
IargeIytonotyetreaIizingt}]atweareaIimperma-nent:WeaIchangefrolnsecondtosecondNoneofusremainsthesame.NoonecanforeverboIdonto
whatwenowhave.
OurIivesarebriefTimeseemstotickbvso』
sIowIywbenwearemiserabIe.Butwbenweare
bappy,t}]atmomentinourlivesfeelsveryshort.AI-
9l
EVERYrHlNGWEDOMATTERS
bertEinstein,whiIetryIngtoexplainthetbeoryofrelatiVty,putitintosimpIewordstI]atmostofuscanunderstand:lfweputourhandonahotstoveforafewseconds,itwiIIfeellikeeternity.Butifyouareamansittingnexttoanattractivewoman,tenmin-
utescanfeeIlikeseconds.Everythingisrelative.Butevenasbriefasour>ivesare,nothingwillre-
mainwithusforever.TbepersonwithusnowwillnotaIwaysbewithus.Thisissopainfulforusbe-causewebecomeattached,inthiscase,topeoplewhomwedonotwanttolose.W}]entheyaregone,wewiIlmisst}]emaswecontinuetothinkofthem
andthepIeasanttimeswebadtogether.But>forgoodorforbad,wecannotkeepanypersonwithus.
AsBuddhists,webelievethatwehavebeenre-
borninnumerabIetimes.lnmanyoft}]oselifetimes,wehavecareddeeplyforotherslnfuturelifetimes)thiswiIhappenagainasourattachmentspullusbaclKintothoserelationshipslifetimeafterlifetime.Theseattachmentsmaybeforplaces,forthings,forideasorpeople’andthistimearoundtbeymayspreadoveranentirelifetime,perhapsourcurrentone.OrtheymaycomerushingtogetherinourfinaImoments,overwhelmingus.
92
TRANsPoRMINGGREEDANDANGER
Wbenwearedying’wecanbeIeadintomanydi-rectionsbyourtboughts.ThesefinaIthoughtsaresocrucialbecausetheyIeadustoournextlifetime.lhave)ondifferentoccasions’spokenwitbnurses)fami>ymembers,andfriendswhowerewit}]peopIewhoweredying.OnesuchpersontoIdmeofwhathadbappenedtoafriendofhers.
Afewyearsago)anothernunandlwerespeakingweeklytoasmaIIgroupof廿iends.Thefirsttimewemetwitht}]em,we>earnedofafriendoftheirswI]o
wasveryiIlHertimewasspentbetween}]ospitaIandhome.WhenshewasintheI]ospitaI,thefriendswouldtaIktoheraboutpracticingBuddhismandtry-ingtobeabetterperson,butshewouldexp>ainthatshedidnothavetbeenergyrigI]tthenandwouIdpracticewhenshereturnedhome.WbentheyvisitedherathomeaftersheIeftthehospitalandagaindis-cussedBudd}]ismandurgedhertobeakinder>moreforgivingandhonestperson)shewouIdsaytbatsbewasheaIthiernowandwouldgetaroundtosuchthingsIater.
Aswecontinuedtomeetwithtbegroup,welearnedthatinthepastwhenthefriendswouldgooutsbopping’tbeonewbowasnowsickwouldin-
93
EVER\THlNGwEDOMATrERs
variabIysaythatsI]ebadforgottenhermoneyandwouldthenasktoborrowsomefromtheothers.It
wasalsoahabito『I﹞erstoforgettorepaywhatshe
badborrowed.ThefriendswereunderstandabIyup-
setaboutthisbuttheyaIsoknewthatt}]eirfriendstiIlneededsupportandencouragementtoacceptandbenefitfromBuddba)steachings.
Oneday,whenthewomanwasintbehospitalagain,oneofthe仕iendsvisitedher.Asshewaslying
there,shebegantoteIherVsitoraboutatimewhenshebadIoanedanotherpersonsomemoneyand>ew-e}ry.AssbewasbitterIyandangriIycompIainingtbatthispersonhadfaiIedtoreturntI]ejeweIry,thewomansuddenIydiedT}]efriendwhohadbeenwitbhertoldustbatthewoman’sfacewascontortedwitb
angerwhenshediedAndwitbinthirtyminutes’herfaceturnedaverydarkgray.
Whatwearefeelinginourfina>momentswil>IeadustoournextIifetime.lfwearecaImasweare
dying,tbatcaImnesswiIIIeadustoournextIifetime.l{weareveryangry,thenangerwiIeadusintothenextlifetime.WemaynotbeabIetoprovewherethiswomanwasreborn,butherappearancerightaf-tershediedwasdireindeedSbediedthiswaybe-
94
TRANsPo∣{MINcCRl王DANDANGEl{
causeofangerandcravingSbewasnotthinI(ingofthekindnessofthefriend
wboI]adcometovisither’orofthetI]oughtfu>nessofaItheotberfriendswhoreguIarlyvisitedbereverytimesheenteredt}]ehospitaI-aIthosewbowantedtoheIpherbecomeabetterperson.Sbewasnotthinkingofanyofthat.Norwasshethinkingoft}]enursesanddoctorswl]oweretryingtobeIpherandtoeaseherpain.SbewastbinkingofhermissingjeweIryandshewasinduIginginI]eranger.AsBud-dbists>wearetaug}]tthatangerwiIIIeadonetoberebornintheI]eIIreaImsandtbatgreedwiIeadonetobereborninthehungryghostrealm.
T}]ehungryghostreaImisareaImwberebeingshaveinsatiabledesires.Theyareconstantlyhungryandt}]irstv.T}]eirstomachsareimmense,buttbeir
throatsaretinyand’so’theyareunabIetosatisfytbeirhungerandthirst,unab}etoquenchtbeirde-sires.NotwitbstandingwbetheronebeIievesthattheheIandhungryghostreaImsareinotl]erdimensionsorwhethertI]eyexistnowinthisworId,weareledto
thembecauseofourangerandcraving.OurgreedandcraVngtieustounI]appinessand
leadustosomuchI]armfuIbehavior.Becauseofcrav-
95
EVERYrH<NGWEDOMATTERS
ing,webecomeangryasotberstakeorhavesomethingwewant.GreedcanaIsobethereintheactofgivingshouIdwecontinuetothinkabouttheo坷ectwehave
givenaway,becauseourmindstilIcIingstoit.GreedisoneofourmostsevereprobIems,but
thereisawaytocounteractourgreed.ltisthefirstofthesixperfectionsthatBodhisattvas’whoareawaIKenedbeings,practice.
刀﹞eGMngo/OnebSe胚andPossess/ons
TocounteractourcraVng,wecanpracticegener-
osity.Thinkagainofgivingawaythattreasuredpos-session.Doyouthinkthatyoumightmissitandwishtbatyou}]adnotgivenitaway?ldea}ly,wbenwegivesomethingtoothers,wewanttodosowitb-outalengthyanaIysis,incIudingsuchthoughtsastowbetherornotweIikethereceiversofthegiftor
whethertbeymayormaynotdeservegettingit.Uponseeingsomebodyneedinganobjectthatwehave,wecansimplyoffertbeob>ecttot}]eperson
GenuinegenerosityistospontaneousIyandun-conditionaIyofferwhatwehavewhenwebelievethatitwiI>maketberecipient}]appy.Wedosowith-
96
TRANsPoRMINcCREEDANDANGER
outhavingsecondorremorsefu>thoughts·Aftersuchgiving,westrivetoIetgoofthethoughtthatwebadgivenandtbatoftheobjectgiven
Whenwepracticegenerosity,wecanstartoutwitbsomethingt}]atisnotafavoriteitem,andfromthatwecontinuegivingWe}iveinanaffIuentworIdandmanyofushavemorethanweneedWeonlyneedamodestamountofclothestokeepuscom-fortableandtoprotectusfromincIementweather.WeonIyneedareasonab>esizehome.WecanIive
veryheaIthiIyonsimpIe>w}]olesomefoods.WereaIydonotneedalot.Insteadofclingingtoeveryitemthatwehave,wecanpracticegenerosity.
InitiaIy)ifyoufindgenerositydifficult’startbygivingsomethingthatyoubavenotusedforawhiIe,
sayayearortwo.Doingso,mostpeopIewi>lreaIizetheydonothaveanyregretsorfeeIasenseofIoss.Onthecontrary,mostofuswillinsteadfeeIgoodbecausewehaveheIpedanotherpersonWebavegivenawayanarticleofnotmuchusetousand,in
doingso’heIpedsomeoneeIse.
Eventually,wewiIunconditionaIyandspontane-ouslyofferthethingsthatwedouseandtreasurewhenwefeeltheotherpersonneedsitmoret}]anwe
97
EVERYTHlNCWEDOMAT丁ERS
do.Afterwards,ifwebappentothinkabouttheob-ject’wewilIstiIIfeeIhappyandgIadthatwehadgivenittoanother.
EveniftherecipientsusetheitemforonIvashorttime’wewiIIgraduaIIyacceptthatwebavepracticedgenuinegenerositvandhadmadeanofferingofbap-piness.PromtbisgiVngwecanbecontentedAndeveniftheyneveruseitagainorpassittoanother’wecanremainbappyknowingthatwehavebeguntoreduceourcIinging,thatweareonetinystepclosertoseveringalIofourattacbments,onetinystepcIosertoawa>(eningtotbeinnategoodnesswithineachofus.
WbataboutthosewboareunabIetogiveposses-
sionsbecausetheyhaveverylittIe?Portbosewbomayjusthaveenoughtoprovidefood’sbe}ter,andthebasicnecessitiesfort}]eirfamiIies,whatcanthey
doi{thereisnothingextratogivetoothers?Nothav-ingexcessmateria>resourcesdoesnotprecIudeusfromgiving,forwecanaIsogiveofourabi}itiesandtime.AIformsofgivingalIowustocounteractourcraVng-thisisjustanotherwaytodoso.Howmanytimeshassomebodyaskedusfor}]eIptodosoIne-tbing>Andhowmanytimeshaveweexcusedour-
98
TRANs『oRMINGGREED/﹨NDANcER
seIvesbysayingtI]atwewereverytiredbut,inreaI-ity>wejustwantedtostay}]omeandrelax)ormaybewatcI]teIevision?
AndwbatifwehadbeIpedPHowmanyofushadtbought’“lwonderhowsoonlcanleave.ThisworI(
isverydifficuItandwbenlamfinaⅡyfinisl〕ed﹚『m
goingtobeexbaustedandwon’t}]avetimeformy-seIf.IwisIhadstayedI]ome.
,)
ThisisaformofgreedThisisthinkingthatthisbody--ourbody-isimportant’t}]atkeepingourbodycomfortabIeisimportant,perbapsmoreimpor-tantthanheIpingsomeoneeIse.
Tocounteractthiskindofgreed,wecanpracticegenerosity.WeaIprobablyknowexceIIentexampIesofpeopIewI]odothis’peoplewhomweadmireandwhomwewisbwewereIike.Uponseeingthatsomebodyneedsassistance,tbesepeopIeautomati-caIyhelptheotberpersonlt]ustseemssonaturaIfOrt}]emtodoso-aneffortIessact.
Whenwespendsometimetothinkaboutit,we
wiIreaIizethiskindpersonwasprobabIyevenmoretiredthanwewere,butwasabIetodosomuchmore
thanwedid’orwantedto,andseemingIywitboutgettingtiredordisgruntIedTheyIookedhappydoing
99
EvERYrHlNGwEDOMATTERs
exactlywhattheyweredoing’whichwashelpingsomeonee>se.Thisisgenuinegenerosity.
We,too,wiIbeovercomingourgreedwhenwecanhelpothersspontaneousIylfwepersevere,tbedaywiIlarrivewbenwewiIbeabletohe>ppeop>ewithoutwaitingtobeasked’wbenwewiIIjustdosowithoutanyprompting.ThispracticetakestimetodeveIop,butgraduaIywewiIimprove.
Wecana>sopracticegivingwhenuponseeingsomebodywboisupset,wewaIkupandsimplysmi}eatthemorsayafewthoughtfulwords.Doingso’weinstinctiveIyprovidethemwithwhattbeyneedtofeeIbetter.AnditmigbtbeatamomentwbenweourseIves’veryhonestIy,mightnot}]avefeltlikesmiIingorbeinginsigbtful)andperhapsevenfeltlikeweweretheonesneedingasmileorkindwordButfrankly,I]eIpingotherswiIIbemorebeneficialthanbeingheIped-a}ways.
Whenweareabletogiveinthisway-wbenwe
IearntogiveascaringandgenerouspeopIegive-wewiInolongerfeeItired.Andevenifwefee>tiredwhenwebeginhelping,afterawhilewewilIfindthatgiVngmakesusfeeImoreaIert,happy,anden-ergetic.WewiInoIongerbeworriedbywhathad
l00
TRANsFoRM>NGGREEDANDANGER
beentroubIingusbefore.Byconcentratingonhelp-ingothers,wewiIlnolongerbeupsetbynegativefeelingsthatseemtobeconstantIybombardingus.TbisistberesuItofsincereIygivingtoothers.
ⅧeGMngof咒acbing
WecanaIsogivebyteaching.WemaynothavemanyobjectstogiveButmostpeopIearegoodatdoingthingsthatothersarenot,ormayImowthingstbatothersdonotknow.Wecanimparttoot}]erswhateverskillsandknowIedgewehave.WedonotneedtohaveexceptionaIskiIsorspecialknowIedge.We>ustteacbotberswhowishtoIearnsothattheytoowiIacquiretboseskiIsorunderstanding.
Whenweseesomeonewhoisinneed,perhaps’offoodorotherbasicnecessities,wecanfirstgivethemwhattheyneedtomeettheirimmediateneeds’
butthenwecangoastepfurtberbyfindingwaystoteachtbemwhatt}]eyneedtoknowtobecomeseIf-sufficient.Thisway>theycanaIsocareforthosethey>oveandareresponsib>efor.
Inourteaching’bowever,weshou}dnotwithhold
anyinformation,butcontinueteachingaIthatwe
l0l
EVERYTHlNGWEDOMATTERS
know,asIongasthepersonwisbestoIearn.lf,duetoourseIfishness,wedecidetonotteachtheotI]er
persontothebestofourabilitybysbaringalIthatweknow,orperhapsduetoseIf-interest,wedecidetbatwehavedoneenougbandthattheotberpersoncanfigureouttI]eresthimseIfthenwearenotsincereIyteac}]ingSincerityistbekey.WemaynotknowaIot,butaslongasweknowsomethingtbatothersdonot,thenweshouIdopenlyandhonestIyshareourskilIsandknowledgewiththem.
EvenifwedonothavepossessionsorknowIedgetogive,wecanstiIbekind.WecanstiIlberespectfuItoothers.WecanstiIlbeconsiderateofaIIbeingsaroundus.WecanbeIpotberstofee}safearoundus.
乃eGiⅦ】gof凡ar/essness
AnotherwaywecangiveistoreIievetheworriesandfearsofot}]ers.AfriendtoIdmeofanincident
thathadoccurredinberhome.AcaringwomanwithanexceIIentsenseofhumor’shedoesdrawtheIine
atsometbings.UponwaIkingintoherbatbroom,shesawalargepythononthefloor.HavinggoodrefIexes’shedrewtheIineandfirmIycIosedt}]edoor.Know-
l02
TRANsFoRMINcCREEDANDANcER
ingshewasnotatrisk’berimmediatethoughtwasfor}]ereIderlycatthatcouIdnoIongermovequickIy.
>enny’whoisBuddbistbypractice’caIIedtoberbusband,Rob,whoisBuddhistatbeart.RobIooked
inthephonebookandlocatedasnakecatcher.However’beforethesnakecatcherwasaIIowedto
IeavethepremiseswitI]I]iscatchRobthoughtfUIIyqueriedtl]egentIeman:WastbesnakeokayPHowwou}ditbereIeasedandwhere?WouIditbesafeor
wouIditbesubjecttoanyriskpTbesnakecatcherpatientlyexpIainedthathewouIdtal(eitaconsider-abledistanceawaybeforehewouIdreIeaseitina
saferandI]orenaturaIenvironment.Mytwocaringfriendswatchedwhi>etI]esnakecatchercarefuIycheckedthepython)tbenassuredtbemthatitbadnotsufferedanyfromitscaptureandtbatitwou}dbefineinasaferbabitat.
HowmanyofuswouIdhavetakenthetime)madetheeffOrt,andgonetotI]eexpenset}]atwasinvolvedincatchingandsavingthesnakePTbiswasacaseofthegivingofsafetyandofcaringfOrthewelfareofothers>evenwbenthe“other”isasix-footpytbon.T}IisisanidealexampIeofhe}pingotherbeingsfeeIsafearoundusbecausetbisofferingoffearlessness
}03
EvERYTHlNGWEDOMATrERS
andsafetywasnotgiventoonIyonebeing-thecat-butaIsotoaIbeingsinvoIved,incIudingthesnake.
EverytboughtwehaveisinstantIyfeltbyaIlotb-ersthroughouttheuniverse,forweareaIone-weareal}inter-reIated.Wejustdonotyetrealizethisbecausewehavenotexperiencedtbisoneness.IntbeaboveexampIeofthesnake,thetboughtwastoprotectoneIifewit}]outharmingtbeotber·Thatthougbt,ofcompassionandIoving-kindness,wasfe}tbyallbeingswhethertheywereinthebousewiththesnakeorontheothersideoftheuniverse.
ManypeoplewhofindthemseIvesinthissitua-tionprobablywould}]avethought,“Toprotectmycat,lwilIkiIItbesnake.”But>ennyandRob}s
tbougbtsdidnotcomefromattacbmenttotbeircatorfromtbedesiretoprotectwhatwastheirs.Rather,tbeirth0ughtsarosespontaneouslyfromtherever-ence}IeldequallyforalIformsoflifeandtheirwishtoprovidesecurityandsafety.
Whenwe,too,begintogivewitbcompassionandunderstanding,wewillgraduallyfeelasenseofcon-tentmentandhappinesslntime,wewiIbeab}eto}ookatatreasuredpossessionwitboutfeeIingat-tacbedtoitandthink,•‘lknowwhowouldreaIIy>ike
l04
TRANsFoRMlNGGREEDANDANGER
tbis.”And,intime,asourgivingbecomesmorenatu-ra>,wewi>Ifindt}]at,moreandmore,ourspontane-ousgivingisaccompaniedbyfewertboughtsofwhatwebavejustdone
L/v巳sofHappinessand凸eedbm
Buddhistteachingscanbesubsumedintothreephrases:
AvoidalItbatisbad,
EmbraceaIItbatisgood,PuriM]emind
ToIiveIivesofhappinessandfreedom,weneedto“eradicateaIItbatisbad.”WeneedtocurtaiI-
andeventuallyeIiminate╴ourcraⅥng,desires’and
attacbmentsbecausetbeyIeadthewaytosomanyofournegativeemotionsandbadhabits.WewiIex-
periencelifetimesuponlifetimesofunbappinessifweallowthemtomakeuscIingtopossessions,peo-ple,etc.
Asweworkto“embraceaIIthatisgood,”agoodplacetostartistbeeradicationofourgreedthrough
l05
EVERYrHlNGWEDOMATTERS
givingandgenerosity.WewiIfeelthebappinessfromgivingsomethingtoanother.GraduaIy,wewiIIfindourseIvesthinkingIessoftheeIationwefee>af-terI]avingdonesomet}]ingforanot}]er.EventuaIy,wewiII>ustfindourseIvesofferingspontaneousIyandnolongereventhinkingaboutwhatwehavedone.WewiIlfind,instead,thatwenaturaIymaintaina
quietandserenestateofhappiness.AsweIetgoofattacIm]ents,atsomepointwewilI
nolongerbecomeupsetbutwiIIremaincaImandcontentwbenweencounterthingsnotworkingoutaswebope.ThisideaIresponsewiIhappeninfre-quentIyatfirst,butgraduaIywewiIIreactthiswaymoreoften.ConverseIywbenthingsdogot}]ewaywewant,wewiIagainremainca>mandcontentin-steadofproudordesirousinwantingthep>easant-nesstocontinue.ThemoreweIetgoofselfishnessandattacbments,themorewewiIIremaincalmand
contentregard>essofthecircumstancelnthisway,wewiIbelearninghowto“Purifytbemind”
ManyofuswiIIfindthatwecangraduaIlymanagenotbecomingupsetatbadoccurrences.Butnotwantingthegoodtimestocontinuecanbemoredif-ficuItbecauseitseemsharmIess.Whatiswrongwitb
l06
TI{/\NsPoRMlNcCREED/\NDANcER
wantingtomorrowtobeasgoodastoday?WhiIetI]isthinkingdoesnotharmothers,itcaninadvertentIy}]armusforweareattac}]ingorcIingingtogoodtimes.ThisisstiIIaformofgreed.
WhatweareaimingatistoreInaincaImandcon-tent-tobeunattached-ataIItimes.Yes,thisisex-
tremeIydifficuItatfirstandmayweIIseemimpossi-bIe.ButwitI]entbusiasmande{{ort’verygraduaIy,wewiIindtl]atwhethertbingsdonotgoourwayoronthoseunusuaItimeswhent}]eydo,wewiIlremaincalmandcontenteitherway.
Sooftenitseemsthatotl]erpeop}ewanttodosometbingdifferentIyfromtl]ewaywewanttodoit.Whenotberswanttogoonewayandwewanttogoanotber,thisistbeveItimetbatweneedtobenot
attachedtoourwayofdoingthings.Iftbeirprefer-enceisnotmoraIIywrongbut>ustanotherwayofdoingsomet}]ing,trytogoaIongwithit.BecomingupsetandmakingeveryoneuncomfortabIewiIInotbeIpanyone.Tryandremembertwocontrastingoc-casions,onethathadyoufumingandanotherinwhichyouwereextremeIyI]appy.WhichfeeIsbet-ter?DonotgiveintotheoIdnegativehabits:PindamorereasonabIewayofreacting.
l07
EVERYTHlNCWEDOMAT丁ERS
Acost-free,painless’andinstantaneouswayofre-actingistosmi>e.Evenifthereisnoonearound,wecansmile.lnitia>>ywhenwetrytodothis,wewiIlfeelsomewbatembarrassedshouIdsomebodywalk
intot}]eroomandfindussittingtherejustsmilingtoourselves.Theymay}ooksomewhatconcernedatfirst,butaswesitthere,smi>ing,theywillvery
quicklyfeellikesmiIingtoo.Sosmileandbehappy;otherswilIfeeIit.
Peelingthehappinessofothersisfarsuperiortopickinguponotherpeople’sgreedandseIfishness.WedonotfeeIcomfortab>ewithpeoplewboseemtoradiatesucbnegativefeelings.Alternatively,whenwearewithotherswboaregenerousandaIwaystbinkingofothers,wefeeIhappyjustbeingnearthem.
Aswepracticegenerosityandstarttoeradicateourgreed,otherswiIInotice.Theymaynotsayany-thing’buttheywiInotice.AndtheywiIseethatinsinceregiVng,boththeonewhogivesandtbeonewhoreceivesbenefit.Thisisbowwecanteachoth-
erswitboutsayIngawordbutbysettingexampIes.IfsomeoneteIsustogivebutt}IeythemseIvesdo
notgive’wewiIlnotvaIuewhattbeysay.Ont}Ie
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TRANsPoRMINcGREEDANDANGER
otherhand,ifweseesomebodywhoseemstonothavemuch,butconstantIygivesthingsaway-forexampIe’somebodywboonIybasalittlebitoffood,butwbosays,“Here,havetbis”-thisistbepersontoIearnfrom.
Greedisveryug}yltleadstomanynegativeemo-tions.Itleadsustoendlesslivesofunhappinessbe-causewetrytoseIfisbIyprotectourselves,ourpos-sessions,ourideas>andourknowledge;andbecausewetbinkourpossessions,ideas,andknowledgearerealandwiImakeushappy.Butourideas,posses-sions,craving,desires,andattac}]mentswiIInot
bringhappiness.
GenerositywiIbringhappiness.MorethanIikeIy,wearenotyetabIetopracticet}]elevelofgenerositytbatwewishButwecanstiIIbeginwhereweare:Wecanteachothers.SureIy,eachofuscansmileatsomebodyeIse.Manyofusbavethingsthatwecangivetoothers,skiIsthatcanbeusedtobenefitoth-
ers)ortimethatcanbeusedtoheIpothers.Indoingso)wewilIfeeIhappyandwewiIlbeginto
feeI廿ee.WewilIevenbegintofeeIIighterbecause
ourattachmentswiIIstarttodropawayfTomus.ButifwedonoteIiminateoratleastreduceourgreed,crav-
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EVERYrHlNGWEDOMATrERS
ing’andattachments,wewiIIfalIpreytoanemotiontbatmostofusbavecometodread-anger.
刀﹚eSeedsofADger
Angerariseswhengreedisunrestrained;whenwedonotgetwhatwewant,becauseothersrejectourideasorobtainwhatwehadwantedforourseIves;or
whenwhatwehaveistakenfromus,orthosewe
loveare}osttous.ThewaystbatcraVng,desire,andattachmentscanoverw}]eImusand,then,leadusto
angerareendless.Thepaingenerated,asaconse-quence,isinfinite.
Angerisoneofourgreatestproblems.ltarisesbe-fOreweevenreaIizewbatisbappening.Somebodysayssomethingand,inaHasb,weareangry.ItistooIatetotrytocontro}theanger:lthasaIreadyignitedWbenthishappenswecantrytothinkaboutwhywehave
becomeangry,wherethisangerrealIycame廿om.ltdidnotstartwiththisincident)nordiditstart
yesterday,lastweek’orIastyear.AsBuddI]ists,webelievethatitstartedmany,manylifetimesagolnthepast,oneofussaidsomethingtotheother.Wedidnotmeantohurttheotherone’sfeeIings;wejust
ll0
TR/\NsPoRMlNcCREEDANDANcER
didnotpayattentiontowbatwewereabouttosay.SowespokecareIessIyanddidnotrealizetbatsome-tbinginwbatwehadsaidhurttheotberperson.
Butdeepwithintheonewehadupset,t}]einci-dentwasregisteredinthatpartofaIIofusthatcoursesthrougbeacbIifetime.Whenwenextmet,maybeinournextIifetimeormaybeafterabundredlifetimes,tbatot}]erpersonunconsciouslyremem-beredtbepainofwhathadl]appened.Tbistime,hesaidsometbingtousandthistimetherewas]usta
bintofresentment.Afterthat’t}]eincidentagainwithdrewintobothofoursubconsciousnesses.
Wecontinuetopasstbeangerbackandfortheachtimeweencounteroneanother.Eachtime,ourmu-
tuaIangerbecomesstronger.Eachtime,asweactonthatanger,our『eeIingsintensified.EventuaⅡy,ver﹣
baI}ylashingoutattheotherwiInotbeenough:OneofuswiIIstriketI]eotber.ButstiIIitdoesnotend
Meetingagain,wewiIlgetintoafight.Meetingyetagain’fightingwiIlnotbeenoughasourneedtoseekretaIiation-tohurttbeother-wilIhaveinten-
sifiedintoanintensefury.OurdesireforrevengewiI>IeadustoaninevitabiIity:OneofuswiIdIItheotber.Buteventl]isisnottheend,forpersonaIanger
llI
EVERYrHINCWEDOMATTERS
anddesireforretaliationisnotconfinedtoindividu-
aIs.lndiVdualangerIeadstoterritoriaI)et}mic,andreligiousconflicts.Conflictsleadtowar’wartoan-nihiIation.
Al>oftbisanger,pain,andsufferingcameaboutbecauseofoneunnoticedthougbt,onecareIesswordWedidnotmeantohurttheotherperson;wejustwerenotpaylngattentiontowhatweweresay-ing-thisishowangerandhatredbegin.
Sothenexttimeangerisbeingpassedbackandfortb,aswebecomemoreembroiIedinit,remember
tbatwearenotinnocentvictimsintheIatestspateofrage.Webotbhaveparticipatedinthisexchange,onewhic}]hasgoneonforIongerthanwecanimag-ine;theotherpersonisnottheonlyoneatfau}t.Withtbisrealizationcomestbethoughtthatwecaneit}Iercontinuefue}ingtheangeroroneofuscanchoosetostopwhatisbappeningbyconsciousIyIet-tinggooftheanger.
Whenwebecomeangry,nothingpositiveisac-complished’notbingisresolved,nothingata>I.lfwerespondinanger)thatangerwilIgrowmoretena-cious’morefrightening.ButrespondingwithIogicwhiletheotberpersonisangrymaynotheIptodif-
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TRANsPoRMlNGCREEDANDANcER
fusetbeangereither.Logicis,veryoften)thelastthinganangryperson
wishestobear、Wehavebeenthereourselvesjust
tryandremembertbeIasttimeyouwereangry.HowwouIdyouhavereactediftbeotherpersontoIdyoutoca>mdownPItisveryraretbatapersoncansaytous<‘PIease,donotbeangry”withanyrealeffect,es-pecialIywhenwearepracticaIIyfuming.
Sowbereisthisangerthatissodifficulttore-strainstemmingfrom>Theangeriscomingfromwithinus,notfromtheotberperson.Wearemakingourse|vesangrybyaIIowingtheotherpersonto“pusbourbuttons))andtoinfuriateus-wearedoingittoourselves.
Beingcognizantofthis,wecanchoose’instead,toletgooftheanger.MaybewecanchoosenottosayanythingeIserightaway.Maybewecancounttotenortakedeepbreaths.Maybe’insteadofreplyingan-griIytothem)wecansimpIysay(<Amituofo.”Maybewecansaynotbing,orifnothingelseseemstowork,wecanquietlywithdraw.
Usua}Iy’intbisway,theotherpersonsangerwilldiedownmorequicklybecausewearenotrespond-ingtothem.Lateron’wecantrytalkingtothem·We
ll3
EvERYrHlNGWEDOMATTERS
couldaskwhatwedidtoupsetthemandpossibIyapoIogizeforhavingdoneso.Often)aIItheotherper-sonneedstobearis<Tmsorry”;thismaybeenough
tocontrol,reduce’ordiffusetbeangerontheirpart.Angermakesusmiserable,guiIty,andupset,as
wecannotsIeeporconcentrate.MorethanIikeIy,theotherpersonfeeIsequaIlyunhappy,upset’andunsettIedOutofcompassionfortheotherperson,weshoulddowhatwecantotryandreducethisan-
ger,totrytoresoIvewhatisgoingonbetweenuslfwecannotdoso,ifwecannotfindawaytoeradi-cate╴tostop-whatishappening,wemigbttryto
avoidt}]epersonforawhi>eoravoidt}]ecircum-stancet}]atseemstotriggerthebostiIity.
AIso’wecanthinkaboutwbathappenedinthisinstance-whatwedidthatcontributedtotheother
personasweIIasourselvesbecomingangry-╴and,
then,wecanresolvehowtoactmorejudiciouslyinthefuture.
AH﹜Dit/esandE〉m〕㎡es
PromaIourpastIifetimes,t}]epeop}eween-counteredaremorethanwecancount·Someof
ll斗
TRANs}可oRMlNcGREEDANDANcER
thesereIationshipsbadbeengoodones,whileothers)unfortunateIy)hadbeenbadones.Sometimes,whenweencounterpeopIewehadknownbefore’we“rec-ognize)’them.MostofushavehadtheoccasionaI
experiencewhereuponmeetingsomeone’wefeltIikeweweremeetinganoIdfriend.lnasense,wewere.WefeItIikewecouIdI]avesatdownandtalkedfor
hours,andmaybewedidWheneverwearewitbsucI]an“oIdfriend,”wefee>bappyandreIaxedThisisagoodaffinity,anaturaI)positiveconnectionwithanotherperson
ConverseIy,weaIprobabIyhaveaIsohadtheex-perienceofmeetingsomeoneandinstantIyfeelinganimmediatedisIikefortbatperson.T}]eindividualdidnotsayanythingoffensive’perhapsonlysaid“HeIlo,”butwestiIIfe>tastrongdisIike.Wheneverween-counterour“oIdantagonist’”wefeeluncomfortabIeandtense.Tbeseareenmities,ornegativeaffinitiesfromourpast.
Whenweencountersomeonewithwhomwehave
anegativeaffinity’wecanremindourse>vesthat,verypossib}y’weareirritatinghimjustasheisirri-tatingus.Wbyhaveweendedupinthissituation>Karma.Karmais}iteraIyan“action.’>Ourtboughts,
ll5
EvERYrHINGwEDoMATTERS
speech,andpbysicaIbehaviorplantcauses.Every-thingthathappensinourIivestodayisalmosten-tireIytheresu>tofthecausesweplantedinourpastIifetimes.VerylittleofwhatishappeningtousnowistheresultofwhatwedidearIierinthiscurrent
lifetime.
SincethecauseswereaIreadycreated,thereis
nothingwecandotochangethem.Wecan,bow-ever,controltheconditionsthatallowthecausesto
deveIoparesult.ForexampIe,aseedisacausethatneedstherightconditionstogrow:goodsoil,ade-quatewater,andplentyofsunshine.Whentheseconditionsarepresent,theseedcangrow.Butwecankeeptheseedfrommaturingbywit}]holdingthenecessaryconditions.Withoutsoil,water,andsunlight’tbeseedcannotgrow╴╴thecausecannot
mature-becausethenecessaryconditionsareab-sent.Tberefore’ifwecannotdiffusetheangerby
lettingitgo,wecantrytocontroltbeconditions.ThereisanaccountofaBuddbistwbohadat-
tainedacertainlevelofinsightduetobisyearsofcultivation.HaVngsomeabiIitytoforeseewbatwouIdhappeninthefuture,heknewthatinacer-taincityinCbina,anindividuaIwouldkilIhimbe-
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TRANsPoRMlNcGREEDANDANGER
causehehadkiIledthatpersoninapreviouslife-time.Knowingthis,heaIsounderstoodtbatalt}]ougbhe}]adattainedsomeachievementinhispractice,hewasnotyetattheIeveIwhereuponbeingkiIedhewouIdnotfeeIangerwhentl]ishappenedThus’hewouIdnotbeabIetocontroIhisemotionstoavoid
creatingmorenegativekarma.
However,bynotgoingtothatparticuIarcity,hecouIdcontroItheconditionslnthisway,hewasabIetofUrthercontinuehispracticewithsincerityanddiIi-genceWhenI]ehadreachedtheIeveIwberehe
wouldnolongergiveintoanger’bewenttothatpar-ticuIarcityinChina.HemetthepersonandhewaskilledButsince}]ecouIdcontro>hisemotions,he
wasabIetostoptheangerandI]atredattbatpoint.Hemanagedtopracticetoapointwherehecou}d
controltheconditions-ararefeatindeed.Hedid
thisnotjustforhimselfbutfortheotherpersonasweII,becausebeunderstoodthatifhegaverisetoangerthenhewould’inturn,killtheotherpersoninafuturelifetime.
HisactionsrequiredmuchmoreseIf-discipIinethanmostofuspossess.ButwecanstiIworkatcontroIingconditionsonamoremodestleve>.lf
ll7
EvERYrHlNGWEDOMATTERs
somebodyconstantlyirritatesusandaIofoureffOrtstoresoIvethesituationhavefaiIed,wecanwithdraw
temporarilyandgoworkonreducingouranger,wit}]agoaIofe>iminatingit·lnthisway,wecanbegintocontroIconditions.
i∕﹜∕γ】oMakesUSADgIy〉
WecanaIsoremindourseIvesthatotherpeop>e
donotmakeusangry-weourseIvesdo.WbenweencounteradifficuItsituation,wehaveachoiceof
howtoreact.WecancareIesslyfaIlintoourusuaIbabitoflosingourtemper,orwecanreactwisely.ItisentireIyuptous.
Wbydowesoeasi>ybecomeangry?Wedosobe-causeweareattachedtose>f-importance,ourVewofwboweare,totheconceptof“l.”Whenourconceptof{T’isthreatened,‘T,veryoftenstrilKesoutinanger.
Agoodexamp}eofthisisthetypicaIreactiontocriticism.Wehavemanyfau>ts’butwegeneraIIydonotappreciateotherspointingthemouttous.RegardIess’othersveryoftencriticizeus,justasweareoftencriti-calofothers.Whensomebodypointsoutafault,tI]ey,likeus’usuaIlydosoclumsiIy’andconsequentIy,our
>l8
TRANsPoRMINGGREEDANDANcER
feelingsarehurt.PewpeopleareabletocorrectusorcriticizeuswithoutusreactingnegativeIy.
Weresponddefensive|ywithresentment’guiIt,embarrassment,orascoreofotherreactions.We
mayweIknowwehavedonesometbingwrong)butwedonotappreciateotherspointingitouttous.Weresentcritiquesbecausewefeelthatothersareinno
positiontocriticizeus:SureIy,theymusthave,some-timeinthepast,donewhatwejustdidandmadethe
samemistakeasus.OrwemayfinditdifficuIttoapologize-nomatterl]owguiltywefeeI-andsowereactwithangerortrytoignorethesituation.
ltisverydifficuIttoacceptotbers>criticismofus,anditist}]erarepersonwI]owouldfinditeasytosay,MYouareabsoIute}yrightlapoIogizeandwiIInotdoitagain’lSucbhumiIitycoupledwitI]strengthofcharacterisusua}}ynotreadiIyfoundinmostofus.MoreIikeIy’wewiIIactdefensivelyorworse.Wemay>inturn,criticizetheotherpersonSo’>etusthinkbeforewereact.
TberearetwopossibiIitiesoccurringwI]eneverwereceivecriticism.ThefirstpossibiIityis’yes,wedidorsaidsometbingwrong.lfweareunab}etodeaIwitbthisreaIityrightaway’perbapswecanretreatby
ll9
EvERYTHINCwEDOMATrERS
ourseIvesorwithafriend.HopefuIly)onourownorwithourfriendisheIpγwecanfigureouthownotto
makethemistakeagain.Maybewecantrytobemoreawareofhowothersarereactingtous,or
maybewecantItot}]inkmorebeforewespeakoract.W}]ateverwedecidetodo,wemustcarryoutwitbdetermination.
lnsteadofbeingangryorfeeIingguiItyorbecom-ingembarrassed,wecantrytobegratefulAfteralI,itisnottheywbohaddonesometbingwrong-itwasus-sobecomingdefensiveandgettingupsetisrat}]erfUti>e.Moreimportantly,wemustrealizethatwehavebeenprovidedanopportunitytoimproveandtobeabetterpersoninthefuture.Porthisweshouldbeappreciative’notangry.ThisisthebestresponsewhenwemakeamistakeandsomeoneisheIpfuIenoughtobringittoourattention.
Thesecondpossibilityisforsomeonetocriticizeusevenifwehavedonenothingwrong.Beingac-
cusedofdoingsomethingwhenwehavenotisevenmoreIikeIytoinvokeanger.AsquicIKIyaspossible,weneedtogetoverourindignation.Whethertheotherpersonhonestlythoughtwedidsomethingwrong’misunderstoodwhathappened)ormaybeex-
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TRANs【司oRMINGGREEDANDANcER
aggeratedthecircumstancesisnott}]eissue
WecantrytocaImIycleartbingsup’butwhetherornotwesucceed>again,wehaveachoiceastobow
torespond.Knowingthatangerresolvesnothing,ifwecannothelptheotherpersontounderstandourposition’wecanatIeasttrytoIetgoofouranger.Awareofourmistake>wecantrynottocommititinthefutureandIetgoofwI]atbashappened.WedonotneedtoconstantIygoovertheincidentorfeeIsorryforourse>vest}]atsomeoneisgivingusadiffi-cuIttime.SimpIyforgetaboutit╴Ietitgo.
lftheycriticizeusandwediddowhattheysaidwedid’t}]eybavepointedoutoneofourshortcom-ings’andwenowImowwhatweneedtocorrectin
thefuture.Buti{theybavemisjudgedusandcriti-cizedusforsomethingwehavenotdone’thenwemusthavedonesomethingintbepastthatbroughttbiscriticismabout-perhapswehadunfairlycriti-cizedanother,andourkarmahas’caughtupwithus.
lfwedonotgetupset,tbenwemaybeabletore-payonekarmicdebt』fso’thepersonbasjust
beIpedusandbas,actualIy,doneusafavorlfwecanacceptthesituationandnotgetangry,becomedefensiveorirritated,orfeeIanythingnegative,then
l2l
EVERYTHINGWEDOMAT丁ERS
thispersonhashelpedustorepayakarmicdebt,ofwhichwebaveanunimaginabIeamount.Howcanwebecomeangrywithsomeonewhohashe}pedus?
WhenafriendbeIpsus,weappreciatetheirthoughtfulness:WhendoesareasonabIepersoneverrespondwithanger>Never.Eveniftbisfriendwasnotdoingsomethingoutofkindness,tbeyarestiIIhelpingus,stiIIdoingusafavor-sometbingwecantrytoappreciate﹀
Yes,itisextremeIydifficulttoviewthesituationthisway,butgraduaIIydeveIopingtheabilitytoIookatlife’siniquitiesfromtbisperspectivewiIIbeIpustobecomecaImerandmorecontented.Bycriticizing
usunfairIy)thosedoingsohaveactuaIydoneusakindness.Ifsomebodyhasdonesomethingtbought-fuIforus,howcanwebecomeangryP
If’inthefaceofourtryingtoreasonwitbourcrit-ics-andwithadeepdeterminationnottogiveinto
anger-theycontinuetocriticizeus,thereisnoneedtorespondinkindor,even,indefense.lfwerespondbydefendingourseIves,weknowwhatwiIhappen.Theysaysomething,tbenwewiIsaysomething.TbeywiIIsay,“Yes,youdid”WewilIsay,“No,ldidn’t·”“Yes’youdid.”‘‘No,ldidn!t.})Thisgoeson
l22
TRANs『oRMlNGCR匪DANDANcER
andon>witbbothofusbecoIning>ouderandangner.Neitheroneofusisaccomplishinganytbing,otI]ertbanpIantingmoreseedsforcriticism,un}]appiness,andangerinthefuture.TheotberpersonmaynotreaIizewhatisgoingon’butwedobecausewebavesomeunderstandingofkarmaandcausaIity.
Everythingarises廿omthemind.WhatwesayanddonowwiIIdeterminewbatI]appensinourfuture.lfweargue,wepIanttbeseedsforacrimonyinourfU-ture.Ifweareconsiderate,weplanttbeseedsforthoughtfUlnessinourfuture.lfweappreciatethefactthatthispersonhashe>pedustorepayakarmicdebt,and,consequentIy,reactwithkindnessbydecidingtohaveanyangerstophereandnow,thenwehavep}antedtheseedsforunderstandinginourfUture.
WhenwestartpIantingmoreseedsofconsidera-tionandseIessconcernfortbeweIfareofothers,wewiI】creategoodconditionsinourfuture﹚asweⅡascontributetoabetterfutureforothers.Wecan
startdoingthisbyreaIizingthatasmucI]asapersonirritatesusnow’ifwedonotstoptheescaIationofanger,itwiIonIygetworse:Thepersonwhoisirri-tatingusnowwiIIkeepdoingsoevenmoreinthefuture.AndtheresuItwiIbetwopersonsgetting
l23
EvERYrHINGWEDOMAT丁ERs
frustratedandangry,notjustone-notjustyou.PorhissakeasweIlasourown,weneedtostoptbisugly
exchangeofanger.ldeaIly’wewiIInoIongerworryabouthowwefeeI
butbefocusedonhowtheotherpersonfeels,onhowtofreethem廿ompainandunhappiness.Atthis
point’wewiIIbeactinginaccordancewithourtruenature.AndthegoodnessthatwecreatewilIbeim-measurable,evenenoughtopositiveIyinfIuenceourcurrentlifetime.
DecidingtoCbange
Liao色nb凡urLessonsistherecordedaccountof
LiaofanYuan>agovernmentofficialwholivedinChinaalmostfivehundredyearsago.Asayoungman’hewastoIdexactIyhowbislifewouIdunfoId,andformanyyears,everythinghappenedexact>yashehadbeentoIdHebecameconvincedthatsincea
person}slifewaspredestined,tberewasnoneedtotrytodoanything:Wbatwassupposedtohappenwould.AsaresuIt,hebegantoaim}essIycoasttbroughIife.
Afterdoingsoformanyyears,hemetanaccom-
l24
TRANs﹜司oRMINcGREEDANDANcER
pIishedZenmasterwhoexplainedtoLiaofanhowhecouIdchangewl]atwasdestinedtohappenifhecouIdcorrecthisfauIts,changeI]isselfishbehavior,thinkonlyofbenefitingothers>andcreategoodness.Doingeverythingthemastertold}]imtodo>LiaofancreatedsomuchgoodnessinbisIifethat}]ewasab}etochangehisfuture.
PreVouslyitwassaidtbataImosteverythingtbat}]appensintbisIifetimeistheresuItofourtl]ougbts>speech’andp}]ysicaIbehaviorfrompastIifetimes.ItisextremeIydifficuIttochangewhatisdestinedtohappeninonescurrentIifetime,butthatiswbatLiaofandidHeadmittedtothemasterthatoneof
hisworsttraitswasbisbadtemper,wbicheasilyin-fIamedhimwithangerattheIeastprovocation’andwhicI]madehimcritical,impatient,undiscipIinedYetwithaIIoftheseaswelIasmanyotbersI]ortcom-ings,LiaofandeveIopednew,positivewaysofreact-ingtosituationsandotberpeopIe.Inthisway,hecompletelychangedhislife.
Hewasdestinedtodieattheageoffifty-three,butheIiveduntilseventy-four.HewasdestinednottohavechiIdrenatatimewbenhavingsonstocarryont}]efamiIynameandbringinghonortoonesancestors
l25
EVERYTHlNGWEDOMATTERS
wasextremelyimportant’butheandhiswife}]adtwosons.Hewasnotdestinedtohaveagood>ob>butheretiredasarespectedgovernmentofficial
LiaofanIivedfivecenturiesagoinCbina.HowcanwereIatetoamanwboissofarremoved廿om
today>sworId>WecanbecausewhatLiaofanIearnedwasauniversaItruthtI]atisnotboundbytime,geog-
raphy,Ianguage,orculturaImores:Wereapw}]atwesow.-HeIearnedthataIhisproblems-poverty’chi}dlessness,hisunfuIfiIlingcareer-werealItheresu>tsofwhathehaddonepreviousIy.Andhisbadtemperlayatt}]eI]eartof}]isprobIems.Somanythingswouldsethimoff,notunIiketoday,whenitseemsthateverythingweencounter}]asthepotentialforangeringus.
We,IikeLiaofan,candecidehowwewiIreactin
tI﹞efuturetoaIlthose廿ustratingandinfuriating
situationsweencounter.Wemightdecidetocontro}
ourtempersbypromisingourseIvesthatwewiⅡ
catchtheangerbeforeitgetsoutofhand,butthisisveIdifficulttodoforwewiIIhavetocatchouran-
gerbeforeiterupts.AnotberwaytocontroIangeristounderstand
causality:Webecomeangrybecauseofpast
l26
TI{∕﹨Ns『oRMINGGREEDANDANcEl{
thoughts,speecb’andactions.Duetopresentthougbts’speechandactions’ifwedonotmodifyourbehaviornow,wewilIsufferevenmorefromour
tempersinthefuture.TbisunderstandingwiIen-abIeustobetterovercomeouranger.
Thebestway,bowever,istohaveachangeofheart.Whenwedoso’wewiIIhaveaIreadybeguntounderstandhowburtfUlandresentfuIcriticismfeeIs,
andbowuncon]fortabIeandupsettingangerfee}s.WewiIla}sounderstandhowhurt’resentfuI’andup-settheotberpersonfeeIs.EventuaIy)empat}]izingwitbtheirpainandthepainofsomanybeingswl]osufferfromt﹜﹞econsequencesofanger,ourangerwiⅡdissoIveandnotevenarise.
OvercomingourangerbywatchingourthoughtsisverydifficuIt:Wehavetobeawareofeachincident
tbatirritatesussowecancatchtheangerbeforeiterupts.Overcomingtbeangerbyunderstandingcau-saIityisalsodifficuItbecausewehavetoconstantIyremindourselvesofwhatisactuaIlygoingon.
Overcomingandtransformingangeranddamag-ing,negativeemotionsisbestaccompIishedbynoIonger}]avingroomfortheminourhearts.LeavenopIaceforthoughtsofretaliation,ego,ordefen-
l27
EvERYTHlNGwEDOMATrERs
siveness;onIyaIIowunseIfishthoughtsofbe>pingotherstogrow.
Wecandothisineverythingwedoinour>ives.ThetriggersforangerareencounteredconstantIy:whiIedriving)atwork,athomeorsc}]ool’whenwearewithotherpeopleoraIone.Buteverythingde-pendsonhowwereact.WecangiveintotbeangerorwecanreaIizethatifsomebody}]assaidsome-thingunkind,insteadoflashingback,wecanover-comeandtransformtherisingangerbychoosingtoreactwiselyandkindIy.BydoingthiswecanplanttbeseedsforaIIthegoodthingsthatwewanttobap-peninourIives.
Reflectwitbin.Tbinkabouthowwefeelwbenwe
becomeangry.Contrastthiswithbowwefeelwhenwearecalmandcontent.T}]inkabouttbequietstate
ofserenity.Wbicbdoweprefer?TbeangerortbeserenityPltisentireIyuptousbowwewiIfeelinthefuture.ltisentire}yuptouswhatothersarounduswilIexperienceinthefuture.Itisentirelyuptouswhatourworldandotherpeop>eintbisworld,andotherbeingsthroughouttheuniversewiIlexperience.ltal>startsfromwitbinus.Serenityand]oystart
fromdeepwithinus,growtoincIudethosearound
l28
TRANsPoRMINcGREEDANDANcER
us,andthenswelItoincIudeaIthosewemeet.Ul-
timateIy,ourserenityandjoywiIlreacbeverybeingthroughouttheuniverse.
AIIthiscanhappenifwejusttransformourangerandcravingbyil}uminatingourmisunderstandingwiththelightofwisdom.PerhapswewerenottaugI]t,orifwewere’wedonotunderstandordonot
beIieve.Whateverthecause,wedonottrulyunder-standlfwedid,wewouIdnotbehaveaswedo.We
wouldnotcarelessIysaythingsthathurtotbers.Wewouldnotcease>essIybewantingmoreorconstantlybegivingintoanger.WewouldnotcontinuaIIybemakingthesamemistakesoverandover,Iifetimeafterlifetime·
WhenwereadorhearthatourtI]oughtsandac-tionswiIII]aveconsequencesthatwewiIIhavetobearinthefuture’manyofusconcurandnodinagreement.Whilewearereadingorlistening,webe-lieveandaccept.But’howIongwiI>werememberandhowweIwiIIweunderstandafterthebookis
cIosedorthespeakerhasceasedspeaking?WedonottrulyunderstandWehavebeentold’
butwecannotremember,wecannotdo,andwecannotchange.SoeasiIywefaIIbackintothosecom-
l29
EvERYrHlNGWEDOMAT丁ERs
fortablebadhabitsofdesireandattachment,selfish-
nessandanger.Wetry:Wewanttodowhatisgood.WesincereIydonotwanttoburtanotherperson,putourse>vesfirstattheexpenseofotbers)orbecon-sumedagainbyouranger.Butastimepasses,wesIipbackintoforgetting
Maybe,inthisageofalmostinstantcommunica-tion’wehavebecomedesensitizedtowrongdoings.
W}]at}sa}ittlebitmoreangerPAIittlebitmorehatePAlittIebitmoregossip>AIittIebitmorefaIsehood?AfteraI,everyoneisdoingit-steaIing,coveting,>y-ing.PeopIeargue,“Surely’tbelawofcauseandeffectdoesnotappIytolittIeindiscretions.,>ButitdoesltisauniversaIIaw,whichmeansitappIiesl00percent-
notjust60percentor80percent-oft}Ietimelnourdesensitization,weconvenientlyrationalizethatcer-
tainwrongactionsareokaytodo’tbatonIycertainwrongactionsaretruIywrong.SowedeviseourownIittleIawofcauseandeffect.Andweendupwith
knowing-≡butnothlI}yunderstanding.OuroIdhabitsbIindustorememberingtbeprin-
cipIeofcauseandeffect.Maybe’ifwecanbere-mindedrightaway,or]ustbeforewedoanyt}Iingwrong’t}]atawrongfulactionisfortbcoming,maybe
B0
TRANsPoRMINcCREEDANDANcER
wecanstopouroldbadbabitslfonIywecan’just
aswbenwebitourfingers(thecause)wefeeIpain(theeffect)’feeltheconsequencesrigbtaway)maybewewillstopaIIourwrongdoings.Thefearofinstantrepercussions-inthiscase)instantthrobbingpaininthefinger-wiI>sureIystopfurtbercauses.AIas’mosttimeswedonothavesuchinstantreminders.
Andsoweslipbackagainandagain,furtherandfur-tber,toknowingbutnotfu>lyunderstanding.
ApersonwhotrulyunderstandsreaIizestbatcon-
stantIywantingmoreispointIess’becauseweonIyneedwbatwecanreasonab>yusewhetheritisfood’clothing,aplacetolive’orothernecessities,andtbat
wewi}Inotfindhappinessinwantingandobtaining[(
more.”Thiswisepersonfindscontentmentintheappreciationofwhatwehave.
Apersonwboisawareknowstl]attheyfeelmuchbetterwbentbeyarecaImandundisturbedthan
whentheyareangryandagitated.ThiswisepersonunderstandsthefutilityanddangerofangerandchoosestoIetgoofit.
ThereaIityisthattl]ewisdomisaIreadywithinusasiscontentmentandserenity.Craving,anger,andunawarenessarenotourtrueessence,ratherde-
l3l
EVERYTHINGWEDOMAT丁ERS
structivebabitsthatwehavepickedup.Altboughwe
haveyettobecomesincerelyaccompIishedinaIt}]epracticesofgenerosityandgoodness’eachofuscanworktoaccomplishthisgoa}.
Bytbinkingofbenefitingothersinsteadofour-seIves’byIettinggoofourangerinsteadofal>owingittogrowandfester’byilluminatingthedarknessofunawarenesswiththecIearlightofunderstanding,wewilltransformourselvesfromwithin,fromour
heartandmind.Wecancarrythisdeterminationwithus.Wecanbroadenthatthoughtunti}itisourguidingthought.Andthenoneday,wetoowiⅡawakentoourperfectcompassion>gentleness’andbappiness.
B2
W<THOuRTHoucHTsWECREATETHEWoRLD
蠻﹨CLlMATECHANGE:WlTHOuRTHouGHTs
WECREATETHEWoRLD
Donobarm.
Dowhatisgood.Puri句themind
Ifyoucannotpurifythemind’tbendonobarmanddowhatisgood
Ifyoucannotdowhatisgood,atthevery>east,donoharm.
EverythingismanifestedbythemindandaIteredbytheconsciousnesslnotherwords)withourthoughtswecreatetheworIdAsBuddbists,welearnthatour
greedresuItsinfIoods.Angrythoughtsresu}tinfires,andignorantthoughtsaretbecauseofdisastersin-volvingwindThisiscausaIity:everycausewiIhavearesuIt.Aswecontinuous}ycravemorepower,moremateria>goodsandexperiences,andwefaiItoobtain
l33
EVERYrHlNGwEDOMAT丁ERs
whatwedesire,theresuIts-IikenaturaIdisasters
andenVronmentaIdegradation-Iikewiseintensi{yWhenweIookaround’considerwhatwesee;pro-
|ongeddrougbt;morefrequenttornadoes;recording-breakingfloods,hurricanes,andwiIdfires·Thesearetheresultsoftbethreepoisonsofgreed’anger,andignorance.TheterribletruthwearefacingintheworIdtodayistI]atweareunableevento“Donobarm.”Wearepoisedattbebrinkofwor>dwideenV-ronmentalcolIapseand}]aveverylikelyalreadyreachedour“tippingpoint.’>ThisistbepointatwhichwehavegonetoofarandarenoIongerabIetopuIbackfromthepIungeintotbeabyss.Theques-tionbecomesMHowdeepistheabyss?”Andthen,“Howdidwegettothispoint?”
ThemorepowerandweaIt}]politiciansandcom-panieswanttohaveandthemorecomfortindiVdu-aIsseektoenjoy,themorewewiIharmtheenV-ronmentandeveryperson,animaI,andpIantwhostruggletoexistinthatenVronment.Wearenowexperiencingtheresult:cIimatechange.ThisnowIoomingworIdwidedisasterhasarisenfromaveryreaIcause-craving
Weconsumemore,tbinkingaI}t}]ethingswe
B4
WITHOuRTHouGHTsWECREATETHEWoRLD
cravewiIImakeushappy.ButinreaIitywearede-pIetingournonrenewabIeresourcesandexhaustingourplanet.Toxicwasteseepsintotheeartbandworksitswayintoourriversandoceans,contaminat-
ingeveryt}]ingittoucI]es.Ourimportedgoodsandexoticfoodsaretransportedaroundthewor>donsbips,pIanes’andtruckstbatspewtoxicfumesandpumptonsofcarbondioxideintotheatmosphere.Therigbtsoftbepoortohavecleanwater,arabIeland,andasafepIacetoraisetheirchiIdrenarecompleteIydisregardedinthenameofprofit.Ascor-porationsbecomeIargerandIarger,theirpreoccupa-tionwitl]thebottomIinesmakesthemforgetthatthose“purcbasingunits”arereaIpeopIe’strugg>ingtoliveontbisplanet.OneagribusinessfundmanagergleefuIysaidrecentIy<<Higherfoodpricesareinevi-tableaIovertheworld;we’reinasweetspot.”
T}]emorewebuyandtheIessmindfuIywelive,tbemorewedestroywhatisnaturaIandpure.lnitsplace,weIeavedevastation.TragicaIy’wearecom-mittingunimaginab}eharm.BecauseofourgreedandwishforcontroI,wearecomingprecariousIycIosetodestroyingourworIdasweknowit.
IsthereawaytostopthisreckIessbebavior-a
l35
EVERYTHlNCWEDOMATrERs
waytobehaveresponsib>yandstopclimatechange?IstherestiIItime?Wedonotknowtheanswerto
thesequestions.Butweneedtodoeverythingwithinourpowertotry.
Evenifeveryoneelsedoesnotdowhatisright,lalonewill
EvenifeveryoneeIseisdoingwrong,IaIonewiInot.
IeResu/[;C/ima[eCbange
IcecapsandglaciersmeIted.TheworId!smostfa-mouscitiesunderwater·One-thirdofthepIanetturnedtodesert;theotbertwo-thirdsfilledwith
peopIestrugglingforenoughfoodandwatertosur-vive.Isthistobeourfuture?
OurworIdisspiraIingoutofcontrolandyetwestiIlhave>eadersfailingtotakeactionongIobalwarming.NewscastersandjournaIistsreportonbowthestockmarketbouncedbackaftersomeminor
profittakingandwhatt}]e>atesttidbitsfromHOlly-woodare.Peopjecomplainaboutt}]epriceofgaso-
B6
WITHOuRTHoucHTsWECRE/VETHEWoRLD
IineastheygetbackintotheirSUVanddriveoff’
aIone.ParentsshaketheirbeadsandworryabouthowclimatechangewiIaffecttheircbiIdren’tbenboardtheplanetogovisittheirchiIdrenandgrand-childrenbecausetheyIovethem.
OnMarchll’2007’theSundayTfmes’ama>ornewspaperintbeUnitedKingdom,detailedtheearth-cbangingscenariosdegreebydegreethatwouldIikeIyoccuringIoba>warming.Tl]earticlewasanintervlewwitbMarkLynas,theauthorofSrxDe-grees;OⅡr几﹝ureonaHOr〔erP/aDetandreferenced
researcI]bytheHadIeyCentreforCIimateCbangeintheUnitedKingdom.Basedontensofthousandsofpagesofscientificresearch’SixDegreesprovidesasuccinctana}ysisofwhattheworldcouldIookIike
aftergloba>warming:
(‘Atonedegreeofwarming,theArcticisice-freeforhaIftheyear,theSouthAtIantic-typicaIyvoidofhurricanes-experiencescoastalhurri-canes’andinthewesternU.S.severedroughtsarepIaguingresidents.
l37
EVERYrHlNGWEDOMATTERS
TwoDegreesofWarming:PoIarbearsstruggIetosurvIveasgIaciersincreasingIymeltaway.GlaciersinGreenIandbegintodisappear,wbiIecoraIreefsarevanishing.
ThreeDegreesofWarming:TheAmazonrain
forestisdryingoutandElNifio}sintenseweatherpattembecomesthenorm.Europere-peatedlyexperiencessearingsummerheatthathasrarelyhappenedbefore.
PourDegreesofWarming:Oceanscouldrise’takingovercoastaIcities.ThedisappearanceofgIaciersmaydeprivemanyoffreshwater.NorthernCanada}sagricu}turecouldboomandaScandinavianbeachcouIdbethenexttourism
botspot.ApartofAntarcticacouldcoIapse>causingwatertoriseevenfurther.
PiveDegreesofWarming:UninhabitablezonescouIdspread,snowpackandaquifersfeedingbigcitiescouIddryup,andcIimaterefugeescouIdruninthemiIions.HumanciviIization
couldbegintobreakdownwiththisdrasticof
l38
WlTHOuRTHoucHTsWECREATETHEWoRLD
cI]angestotI]ecIimateThepoorwouIdIikelysuffertbemost.
SixDegreesofWarming:T}]eoceanscouIdbemarinewasteIands,thedesertscouIdmarch
acrosscontinents,andnaturaIdisasterscould
becomecommonevents.Theworld)sgreatcitiescouIdbef>oodedandabandoned.TbiscouIdbe
.”)I
<tbedoomsdayscenarlo.
刀﹞eChL/se;US
Forthepastl50years,wewereslowlydrawninbycheap>accessibIeenergy.ltbecameinevitabIethattheenvironmentaIcostsofpoIutionandresourcedepIetion,notbornebyconsumers,wouIdfaIlonothers.lntime,asheaIthcareproblemsarose,tbesecostswerebornebytaxpayerswbowerenotquitesureexactIywheretbeirtaxdoIIarswent.ButasIongast}]esystemseemedtobeworking’fewpeopIewereincIinedtoaskquestions.PeriodicaIlyastorywouId
Ibttp://channelnationaIgeograpbic.com/c}]annel/sixdegrees/
l39
EvERYrHlNGwEDOMAT丁ERS
beonthenews-thedepIorabIeconditionsminersIaboredunder’increasingcancerrates,inequalityissues-butpeopIedidnotconnectthedots·Mostwereengrossedwit}]thecommercialsaftert}]enewsanddreamingofwhattobuynext.
Howdidtheygettotbispoint?Asconsumers,af-terWorIdWarI,Americansbecamecaugbtupinthegovernmentpromoteddreamofowningahouseinthesuburbs.Therewasseeminglyendlessland’
governmentprogramsand}oansfOrthesoldiersre-turninghome,andIotsofcheapoiItopowerthedream.SoAmericansinrecordnumbersbeganmov-
ingtothenewsuburbs.DaddroveintotbecitytoworkwhiIeMomstayedhomeandIookedafterthechildren.ltseemedidyIlic.
ButsomewbereaIongtheway,thedreamofsub-urbiabecamecompIicatedPeoplegotcaugbtupinthetragicaIymistakenideathatpossessionsandex-perienceswouldmakethemhappy.Themessagetheykepthearingwas“moreisbetter.”GraduaIly’thehousesbecamelargerandfamiliesfoundthem-seIvesseparatedasgrownchildren,nowwiththeirowndreamsofanidyIIiclife,IefthometoworkinotberpIaces.
l40
WITHOuRTHouGHTsWECRE八TETHEWoRLD
WithouttI]egrandparentsaroundtobelpcareforthechildren>Momneededtogeta>obtohelppayforchiIdcare.DadfoundheneededtoworklongerhourstobeabIetoaffordaIIthegoodthingstheywantedfortheirchiIdren.Shortontime’tbeparentsturnedtothenewelectronicheIp.Disbwashers,was}]ingmachines’andvacuumcleanersweresoondeemedhousehoIdnecessities.Thenumberof(must
have’>electronicappIiancesincreasedasmoreprod-uctscametomarket.
ButwithplannedobsoIescencecarefuIycaIcu-Iatedtoincreasecorporateprofits’thecarsandaIItbeothermoderngadgetryneededtobefrequentlyrepIacedSincetherewassomucbIandandsomanygarbagedumps’thenolongerwantedgoodsweresimplythrownaway.PIastic,polystyreneandotherpetroleumby-productsthatwouIdtakecenturiesto
breakdownendedupatdumpsites.Toxinsbegantoleacl]intotbesoiIandgroundwater.ButitwasokaybecausetherewassomucIand
AstheIistofmodernconveniencesgrew’time-honoredhouseholdskiIIsweredeemedold-fas}]ioned
andunnecessaryinthemodernworId.TheVctorygardensthatwereama>orsourceoffoodduringthe
l4l
EvERYrHlNGwEDOMATTERS
wargavewayto>awnsandflowerbeds.Therewasno
needtocookanymorebecausetberewereTVdin-nersandpreparedfoodsthatcouldbequicklybeatedupbyaMomnowverytiredfromworkingalldayattheofficeorfactory.TherewasnoneedtopersonaIIypreservefoodsanymorebecausetherewereIotsofcannedandfrozenfoodinthesupermarket.
DadforgottheskiIlshehad>earnedfromhisfa-therbecauseitwasnoweasiertohirepeopIetodowhatneededtobedone.Plus,hebadaItl]osetime-
saVngpowertoolsandcouldbuyready-madeitemsattbestore.People,hookedontbeeIectronicmar-velstodotheirwork’becameincreasing>ydependentonaIlthecheapenergythatpoweredtheirIifestyIes.
Today’noneofthishaschanged.WeseepeoplebuyingIargerhousestostoreaItbenewelectronicgear’Thechildren’seeingMomandDadbuyingmore,wanttheirownteIevisionsandcomputersjust
likeaIltheirfriends}]ave.Pamiliesmightgathertoeatdinneratthesametime,buteveryoneheatsuptheirownfoodinthemicrowave.Afterthrowing
awaythemicrowavabIecontainers,tossingthepizzacartoninthetrash)andputtingthecut}eryinthedishwasher,parentsandcbiIdrengototbeirown
l42
WIT{-{OuRTHoucHTsWECREATETHEWoRLD
rooms.Theytl]enimmersethemseIvesintI]eir}]ome
entertainmentcentersorpIaygamesontI]eircom-putersuntiIitistimetogotosIeep.Theninthemorning,it>stimetogetupandbeginalloveragain.
Andsowe}]avetheAmericandreamtoday’adreamthatmanypeopIearoundtI]eworIdwantto}]ave.ButthisisadreamgoneterribIywrong.
E/ep力an㎡ntheLjvingRoom
FromdeepwitbineachpersonwhobeginstograsptheenormityofcIimatechangeandgIobaIwarming,aprofoundsenseofgrief﹂andfear-beginstoarise.
Humanity’sdreamofprosperityisnowbecominganightmareWearenowIearningwhatthefutureofourworIdwiIIbelikeAndwiththisreaIization
comesanother:thatsix-degreesfuture}]asa>readybegunAnditisevenmoreborrificthanwehadfeared
ClimatechangehasbeencaIIedthe(<eIephantintheliVngroom.>’Thinkofitasalarge,unruIyguestwhodoeswbateveritwis}]estodo.ButcIimate
changeisnottheonIyeIephant.PeakingoiI>natural
l43
EVERYrHINGWEDOMA丁TERS
gas,coaIanduraniumreservesareanotherfour.
Thentbereisaquiferdepletionandabumanpopu>a-tionthesizeofwhichtheearthcannotsustain.It
takessomuchIandandwatertofeedonehuman
andwehaveonIyafiniteamountoft}Ieseresourcesinourworld.OnceweexceedtbatnaturaIcarrylngcapacity,thereisnoIongerenoughfoodandwaterforeveryone.
Ourcurrentwor}dsituationistbatweareattbe
brinkofanenergycrisistbatbeganwithgIobaIoiIreservespeaking·TbeU.S·EnergyInformationAd-ministrationreportedin2007thatthepeakoccurredinMay2005.2ltismoredifficuIttogaugenaturalgasreservesbutitisgeneraIIyacceptedthattbeybaveeithera>sopeakedorarecIosetodoingso.CoaIanduraniumareexpectedtopeakaround2020andbefore2050,respectiveIy.Oil,naturaIgas,coaI,ura-nium,andhydroeIectriccurrentIyprovide93percentoftheglobaIenergysupply.Tberemaining7percentismainIyhydropowerfollowedbybiomasswithafractionprovidedbyrenewabIesIikesolarandwindpower.
zUS.EnergyInfOrmationAdministration’“EIectricPowerAn-nuaIfor2006Report,”reIeasedOctober22,2007
l44
WITHOuRTHouGHTsWECREATETHEWoRLD
PeakresourcesmeanswehavereachedthepointintimewhenthemaximumproductionrateoftberesourcebasbeenreachedOncepastthepeak,thesenaturaIresourceswilIbecomeincreasingIydif-ficuItandcostIytoextractandprocess.Astbepricesrise’eachofuswiIIreachourpersonalpeak’thepointwhereourIifeisimpactednegativeIybytbehighcostbrougbtaboutbyever-increasingcompeti-tionfortberemainingoil
AIso>wearemovingcIosertothepointatwbicbtheextractionandproductioncostsoutweightbeen-ergyobtainedWecanseetheIogicinthiswitbourfoodltwouIdmakenosensetoexpendonehundredcaIoriestoeatfoodthatwilIonlyprovidetencaloriesofenergy.
lnadditiontoextraction)productionanddistribu-tioncosts,therearethehiddencostsIikepolIution,aquiferdepIetion,soiIdegradation,andhumanhea}thissues.T}]esecostsarenotcaIculatedinthe
priceatthepumpw}]enwefiIlupourcarsoratthestorew}]enwebuyaboxofimportedchocoIateen-casedinIayersofpIasticpackagingThecostsarebeingbornebytaxpayersandthosewhowereforcedofftbeIandbygovernmentsandinternationa>con-
l45
EVERYrHINGWEDOMATTERS
glomerateswhoarefocusedonprofitnotonclimatec}]angeort}]esufferingofl]umans.T}]esemiIionsofeconomicrefugeshavenochoicebuttomoveintocitieswberetheycannotfindworkorraisethesub-sistencecropsthatusedtofeedtheirfamilies.Thecostsarebornebyt}]ecbildrenwbomustbreathe
polIutedair,drinkcontaminatedwater,andIivein
squalidconditions-chiIdrenwhohavenofuturefortbeywilInotbeabletomakealiVngorfarmtbeIand.NorwiIItheybetaughtbythosewhodispos-sessedthemhowtodoprovidefortheirownfamiIiesinthefuture.
UnderstandingwhatpeaAoi/means,whathap-penswbenwereachit)
TbeUnitedStates,theIargestoilconsumer,reacbedtbepeakofitsdomesticoilreservesinthel970s.Now,whentheUnitedStatesisrelyingmoreheavilyonimportedoil,lndiaandC}]inaarea>sobe-comingmajoroiIimporters.Thisishappeningatthesametimet}]atdomesticdemandisincreasingwithintheoilexportingcountries.SocountriesIikeVene-zuelaandSaudiArabianeedtosuppIytheincreasingneedsoftheirowncitizensasweIastbeirforeigncuston]ers.
l46
WITHOuRTHoucHTsWECREATETHEWoRLD
AsthegapbetweensuppIyanddemandincreases,
thepriceperbarreIwillcontinuetobitnewhigbs.TbisisaIreadyhappeninglnthefal>of2004abarreIofoi}}]it$50>ustthreeandahalfyearsIater’onMarchl2’2008’oiIit$l09.72.AIreadywearesee-ingpeopIeinthedeveIopedworIdhavingtodecidew}]ethertospendmoneyonI]eatingoiIoronfood,agonizingdecisionsthoseinthedeveIopingwor>dbavefacedforyears.WhatdopeopIecboose?TheyarechoosingtobuyheatingoiIbecauseittakeslongerforchiIdrentostarvetodeathtbanitdoesorthemtofreezetodeath.
Evenifwe}]avereac}]edthemaximumofgIobaIproduction’don’twestiI]aveaIot>eft>SureIywehavepIentyoftimetocomeupwithanothersolutiontotbeincreasingenergydemands>
No>wedonotbavetimebecausetI]eeaseand
costofextractionfortheremainingreservesareverydifferentfromt}]eaIreadyextractedoiIbotbinquaI-ityandeaseofextractionAlso)newso>utionstakea
}ongtimetodevelopAsreservesdwindleandbe-comemoredifficuIt,andthusexpensive,toextract’thequaIitygradeoftheoiIaIsodecreasesasdoestheenergyoutputperbarrelHigheroiIpricesreHectthe
l47
EvERYrHlNGWEDOMAT丁ERS
additionalproductionexpense.Wbataboutotherenergy-producingmateriaIsIike
tarsands?TarsandsareactuaIybituminoussandsthatareanaturaImixtureofsand,water,andbitu-
menTheIargestreservesareintbeoilsandsinCanadaandthetarsandsinVenezueIa,withsmaller
reservesintheUnitedStates,Russia,andtbeMid-
dIeEast.TheseoiIsandsarenotVscousIikeoil,thus
theymustbemined.Thisprocesstakesmuc}]waterandIargeamountsofenergytoextractandprocess.Thisheavycrudeoilisinturnexpensivetoprocessintogasoline,dieselfuel)andotherproducts.
Currently,thegovernmentofAlberta,Canada}]asapprovedtheextractionoftbepetroIeumfromtbesandseventhoughenVronmentalistsaythiscompIexprocesswiIcreateanenVronmentaInig}]tmareandthusbastengIobaIclimatechange.Theoilcompa-nieskeepexpIoitingour廿agilepIanetjusttoprolong
tbecomfortoftheweaIthywhodonotwanttogive
upt}]eirpersonalcomfortandconsumptive}ifestyles.Whataboutnaturalgas>TheUnitedStatesisnow
anetimporterofnaturaIgas.NorthAmericandis-coveriesbavebeenonagenera>decIinesincetheearlyl980s.EuropeaIsobitthehighofitsnaturaI
l48
WITHOuRTHouG}﹣﹛TsWECR巴ATETHEWoRLD
gasdiscoveriesaboutthesametime.Dr.AIiSamsamBakhtiari,formersenioradvisertotheNationaIIra-
nianOiICompanyinTebran’reportedtotheAustra-lianSenatein2006tbatnaturaIgaswouIdpeakworIdwideabout2008or2009.Healsofeltthat
Russiabadalreadypeaked,wbichinturndirectIyaffectedEuropeanimports.
UnlikeoiI’whichcanbeeasilytransportedintankers,gasbastobeusedonsite,ortransportedthroughpipeIinesorinspeciaItankers.SomovingitaroundismoreprobIematicthanoil
WhataboutcoaIPTheWorIdCoaInstitutehas
beensayingformanyyearsthatthereareenoughcoa>reservestoIastforanotherl50years.ButtheEnergyWatchGroup,workingwitbmorerecentIyupdatedreservenumbersandfactoringinthein-creasingrateofextractionduetoincreasingdeInand’}]ascaIcuIatedt}]atthecoaIpeakwiIIoccursome-wherebetween2020and2030China,the>argestconsumerofcoaIispredictedtopeaksooner.
EnvironmentaIy,coaIisevenmoredamagingthanoiIornaturalgas,asweIIasbeingfarIessefficient.TheUnitesStateshastheworId>slargestcoaIre-serves’butwhathasbeenextractedisthehigher
l49
EvERYrHINGwEDOMATTERS
gradeanthracitecoaI,withabigberenergydensitytbantheIowergradelignitecoalbyafactoroffiveorsix.Now,muchoftberemainingcoaIreservesare
lignitenotanthracite.SowbiIecoalproductionisincreasingintbeUnitedStatesbecauseoftheIowerqualityoflignite>tbeenergyoutputderivedfromthiscoalpeakedaroundl999.ConsequentIy>theUnitedStatesisnowanetcoaIimporter.
Whataboutnewtechnologies>SureIypeopIeareworkingonasoIution.Won,tsomethingbeinventedthatwilIproVdeforourfutureenergyneedsPYes,wearenowseeingdevelopmentsintecImoIogiesIikesolarandwindbutthesecurrentlyprovidejustafractionofonepercentofourcurrentenergysuppIy.ltwiI|taketimetoincreasebothdemandandsupply.
RichardHeinberg,authorandpeakoileducator’hassaidthatitwouIdtakefifteenyearsforpeopIetograduaIyreplacetheircurrentpetroIeum-poweredvehic}es.SothereisnoquicktransitionevenwhenwedeveIopothertechnoIogies.Also,tbesetechnolo-gieshavetheirownenVronmentaIimpactassolarvo>taicarrays,windmil>s’andtheothernecessaryequipmentneedtobeproducedandshippedTbenwefacetheVnotinmybackyard’)syndromeEvery-
l50
W<THOuRTHouGHTsWECREATETHEWoRLD
onewantsthenewteclmologyinplace,buttbeydonotwanttobavetolookatit.
Also,forthesizeofwbatwearetalkingabout,weneedanationa}andeveninternationalenergydistri-butioninfrastructure.WedonothaveamagicfUeIthatwecansimplyplugintoexistingdistributionsys-tems.ltwiIltakenationaIandregionalgovernmentactiontobuiIdanewenergygrid.ThiswiIenabIeindiVdualsandcompaniesw}]oproducemoreenergythantheyrequiretobesharedwitbothers.
BeforeanewtechnoIogycanbeproducedandused,nationaIgovernmentsneedtodostudiesofthetechnoIogy.PoIiticiansneedtopoItheirconstitu-ents’listentospecialinterestgroups,andvotelfabiIispassed,fundingneedstobefound,andfinaIlybuildingneedstobedone.Then,aswegetclosertoreaIproduction’wehaveacbicken-and-eggprobIem.BeforecompanieswiIcommittoparticipatinginthisnewdistributionsystem,tl]eywiIwanttoseecus-tomersreadytousethenewformofenergy.Butbe-forecustomersinstaIlthecommercia>andresidentia>
systemstousetbenewtechnoIogy’theywillwanttobesurethecompanieswiIIsuppIythenewformofenergy.Sowhichcomesfirst-supp}yordemand?
l5l
EvERYrHlNGWEDOMATTERS
Tbecbickenortheegg>
Aswithanynewtechnology,priceswillbebightobeginwithAsproductionmethodsimproveandmorepeop}epurchasetheitem’theperunitcostwillgraduallybereducedandthustbenewtechnologywillbecomemoreaffordab>etoalargernumberofpeople.Butevenwithlowercosts,manypeoplewillwanttowaitfortheoIdtecbnologytowearoutbe-forereplacingitwiththenew.
Hurd/esroOv巴rcome
WebavetoVewthewboIepicture.Climatechange,peakenergy,aquiferdepletion’soildegradation,andoverpopulation-everything-isinterrelated.Inna-ture,ifyoutinkerwithoneaspect’alltheotbersarealsoimpacted.Wecannotignoreanyoftheseother“elepbants,>’fortodosowillputatriskwbatevergoodwemightdoregardingtheothers.
IfwearegoingtohaveanypositiveinHuenceonclimatechangeandpeakenergy,wehavetorecog-nizetheseothereventua}crisesaswellandincorpo-
ratesolutionsforal}ofthemaswequicklyadaptto
l52
WlTHOuRTHouGHTsWECREATETHEWoRLD
ournewreality.AstheBuddhasaid,everythingisinterconnected;nothingexistsonitsown.
Cqgni㎡ved/ssonance
Wbenfacedwithinformationthatisdrasticallydifferentfromwhatonebelievestobetrue,t}Ieten-
sionhastoberesoIvedtbroughchoosingeitberthefamiliarbeliefortheproposednewone.Mostpeoplewillgowiththebelieftbeyarefamiliarwith
WhenpeopIe’hearingaboutglobaIwarmingandpeakoiI,IookaroundandseethateverytbinglooksnormalandfeeIthattheirlivesarenotthatmuch
affected’theytendtodismissthenewperspective.Yes’tbepriceofgasandfoodbasincreasedbutsureIythat>sjustduetoincreaseddemandandcorpo-ratepricegouging.Yes,theweatherisunusualbut
thatisnormalYes’theiceismeItinginGreenland,theArctic,andinhigb-mountaingIaciersbutthatcouldjustbeatemporaryoccurrence
Itislikeputtingafroginanuncoveredpotofwa-ter,placingthepotonthestove,andturninguptheheat.Becausetbetemperatureincreaseisgradual,thefrogkeepsadaptingtotheincreasingheatuntilitistoolate,andthefrogisboiledtodeath.
l53
EVERYTHlNGWEDOMATTERS
Econom/cDecl/neandC/tizenPanic
Whengovernmentsseetheirfinancialmarketsfallingandimminenteconomicdownturn>t}]eywillwanttogiveintocorporatespecialinterestsandpan-ickedvoters.Shortsightedleaderswi}ldoastbeyhavedoneforseveraldecades:lookforthequickfix.
TbeywiIIdivertmoneyfromlong-rangeplanstocombatglobalwarmingandspenditonsbort-termeconomicinjectionsofcapitalintotbeeconomy.ButappeasingimmediatedemandstostopthepainwiⅡ
onlyinsureevenmoreterriblepaininthefuture.
助ecia/hreres〔Cm叩s
TberearespeciaIinterestgroupswhohavefundedorganizationsspecificaIlysetuptoconVncepeopletbatclimatechangeisahoax.TbroughoutbistorybusinesshasbadcIosetiestothoseinpowerandto-
dayisnodifferent.Tberearecompaniesandindi-vidualswhoarecaughtupintheircraVngforpowerandwealthToonlookers>itseemsamazingthat
thesecorporategiantsandgovernmentofficialsseemtobecompIeteIydisconnectedfromreality·TheirchiIdrenandgrandchiIdrenwiIIbavetoIiveintbe
l54
W【THOuRTHouG日TsWECREATETHEWoRLD
wor>dtheycreate.Wbatoneartharetheythinking>Wbatevertheirreasons>thesespecialinterestgroupsmakeitdifficultforpeopletoIearntbetrutbaboutglobalwarminganddenythemtbetimetomakenecessarychanges.
【∕【∕﹜〕a〔ChI】Cov巴rnmen店Do〉
SomethingscanonlybedoneonanationaIorIoca>
governmentlevelForexampIe,toensureequityandtoslowdowndepIetion’rationingsystemsforre-sourceslikegasoIine,heatingoiI,andnaturalgaswilIneedtobeinstituted.Newenergypo>iciesandinter-nationa>treatiesasweI>aslargeinfrastructurestomoveenergymoreefficient>yneedtobedoneatthenationaIandinternationaI}eveI.NewtecbnologiesneedtobesharedwitbdeveIopingcountries.WeaIsoneednationa>farmpoIiciesthatwi>lencourageback-yardgardensandsmallfarms.Largefarmswillneedtogrowmorevariedfoodinasustainableway.
WeneedmoreHexibIebuiIdingcodesandfinan-cialincentivesforpropertyownersandrenterswhoinsta>ltheefficientnew-energysystems>improvethe
l55
EvERYrHINGwEDOMAT丁ERS
insulationintheirhomesandbusinesses,andincor-
poratewaystoreducetheirenergyconsumption.LocaIcommunitiesneedtofocusonfoodavail-
abilityandconservationmeasures.Porexample,intbeUnitedKingdomandAustralia,transitiontownsarepIanningtomoveawayfromreIianceonexistingenergysourcesintorenewables.Theyare}ookingathowtosupportmoreefficientwaysofmanufactur-ing,providemorepubIictransportation,usemoreefficientwaystoheatandcool,andprovidemoresecurefoodsuppliesthataremuchclosertohome.
l/IatCbnlbdMdua/SDo>
IfwelivejustforourownsatisfactionandHawedperceptionofhappiness,wewilIhavelittIereasontomaketbesacrificestbatwemustmakeforhumanity
andaIlbeingstoallowthemtosurviveintbefuture.Ouron>yconcernwilIbefor(<me>>and(‘mine,’>mean-ingourimmediatefamiIyandclosefriends.Asre-sourcesbecomeincreasinglyscarce,andthusin-creasingIycostIy,wewilIbecomeevenmoreself-centeredandselfish.Themoretbefearsetsin,the
l56
WlTHOuRTHoucHTsWECREATETHEWoRLD
morese>f-centeredwiIwebecome.UnIessour
depthofunderstandingisprofoundanddeep-rooted’wewillbeovercomebyourfearandwewillfigbttosurv1ve,atanycost.
TbosewhotruIyunderstandcausalityknowtbeimportanceofeverythought,word,andaction.OureverydecisionwiIlhaveconsequences.Wbeneverwetakemoretbanourfairshare’wearetakingfroman-otherbeingTbesufferingwecauseotherswiIcomebacktous.
WewiIlpaytheterribIecostforourindulgence.AsGeorgeMonbiotwroteinHeat:HbwtoSrOp
t/jeP/anetBuming,“…theconnectionbetweencauseandeffectseemssoimprobabIe.ByturningontheIigbts,fiIIingtbekettIe,takingthechildrentoscboo},driVngtotheshops,wearecondemningpeo-pIetodeathWeneverchoosetodothis.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.Butitisnotenoughforus.WeareIockedintobehaviorweseemunabletochange.ItisasifwearewearingbIindersasweforgeabeaddeterminedtobaveoneIastfinalorgyofself-induIgence.
Webavegrownsousedtoourcomfortsthatthethoughtofhavingtowasbourclotbesbyhand’ofwalkingmore,ofgrOwingandthencooking-fromsCratch!-ourownfoodseemsIikeareturntothe
darkages.OurexpectationsbavefaroutruntbeabiI-ityofourfinitep}anet’sresourcestosupplybutweseemunwillingorunabIetoa匈usttothisreality
Thetrutbistbatwehaveunthinkinglymade
manywastefuldecisionsregardingeIectricityproduc-tion,transportation,andbousing.GeorgeMonbiotcalculatedthattbedevelopedworldneedstocutcarbonemissionsby90percent.UsingtbeUnitedKingdomasanexampIe’heshowsbowtbisisnotimpossible.Notknowingwhetberwewillbeabletomakeadifferencebycuttingback’westilIneedtotry.
l58
WITHOuRTHoucHTsWECREATETI-lEWol{LD
CbangingPerceptions
M<M>uchofwhatisrequired…issimplycomingtotermswitbthenotiont}]ataradicalchangeinyourwayofIifeisnottbesaInethingastbeendoftheworIdlthinkmanypeop>etendtoassociatethetwo-wehavealwaysbeenwealt}]yandcomfortabIeand>uckyhereinthewest’andthelossofsomeor
aIoftbosetbingsseemsIikeadisasterofunimagin-abIepropoTtionsBut{tdoesn>tI]avetobe-thafsawayofthinkingwecancboosetodiscard,recogniz-ingt}]att}]osewboIiveIesscomfortabIelivesoften
vaIuethemequaIy.’)4
Re/oca/fza㎡on
lntheUnitedStates,foodtraveIsanaverageofl500miIestoreachtheconsumer.Onaverage,su-permarketskeeponlyathree-daysuppIyoffOodinstockSmalI,IocaIyownedstoreshavegoneoutofbusiness,unabIetocompetewitbtheWaImartsoftheworldWithgIobalization,manufacturingjobshaveIeftthedeveIopedcountriesandgoneoverseas
斗Anonymouscomment’Casaubon’sBook,﹙﹙HaIIowingtheDe-scent’”bttp://casaubonsbookbIogspot.com/2007/l2/baIowing-descent.btml,accessedDecember27Ih,2007
l59
EVERYrHlNGWEDOMATTERS
wherelaborischeap,oftenbecauseworkersdonotreceivehealtborotherbenefits.Inmanycountries,
smal>farmershavegoneoutofbusiness’unabletocompetewitbgovernment-subsidizedagribusiness.
Asenergypricescontinuetoc}imb,tbedistribu-tionoffoodoverlongdistanceswillbreakdownTherewilIbenoguaranteetbatwhenwegotothesupermarkett}]erewillbeenoug}]foodforeveryone.ThesolutionisreIoca|izationNotonIyisitaneco-nomicsolution’thisisalsoalifestylesolution.Agri-
businessmaybegoodforthecompaniesbutitisnotgoodforconsumers.Poodtransportedl500miIesIosesmucbofitsnutrition.Butfoodthatwaspicked
yesterdayandboughttodayatthelocalfarmersmar-ketisnutritiousandsomuchbettertasting.Organi-
caIlygrownandsustainablyraised,itisgoodfortbeconsumer,thefarmer,andtheenVronment.
EnergyaIsoneedstobeprovidedonalocalbasis.Movingenergyoverlongdistancesrequiresmanyresources·PeakenergymeanswewillhavemuchIessaccesstothefueIswethoughtwouldlastfor-ever,oratleastaslongaswewantthem.Butasre-sourcesdwindle,wewillneedtofocusourlives
mucbclosertohome.Soon,ourpersona>spbereof
l60
WlTHOuRTl-{oucHTsWECREATETHEWoRLD
existencewillbeverysmallifwearetocombat
globaIwarmingbyreducingcarbonemissions.TbefIeetingconceptoft}]eglobalviIIagewi>>becomeamemoryasournewprioritybecomesenergyconser-vation.Long-rangetravelandcbeapenergywil>soonbeathingofthepast.
TbeupsideistbatwewiI>bui}dcommunityaswegettoknowourneighbors’dobusinesswitbIocaIpeople)andgrowmuchofourownfoodtoprovidefoodsecurity.Weonlyhavetothinkbacktotheim-agesofthepeopleinNewOrleansafterhurricaneKatrinatoknowthatweneedtodependonourselvesandourcommunity.
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㎡onsareofLfbred;加aAeMyorSe〔apartfbrMyuse’con﹣
secmre/toreSpeαgreat加venera﹝e.7twasa
newa㎡mosrencoumgingideatome﹣thatonebdiminiSbmentscou/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
alterfutureeventstbathavebeenputintomotionbysomanypeopIeforsoIong.Butweneedtodoevery-tbingwepossibIycantotry.Wehearsooftenaboutintention.OurintentioninhaIowingourdiminish-mentsofglobalwarmingandenergydepletionistoacceptresponsibilityforwhat}iesinourfuture.AsSharonAstyk,apeakoileducator,wroteonberblog
l62
W}THOuRTHoucHTsWECREATETHEWoRLD
℃asaubon﹚sBook/’5ll【W】ecancometorecognizethatsometimes>thepointisnotwbet}IerwecanaIterevents’buthowwefacethem.Wecanfindmeaning,evenwhenwecannotchangetbings,inourabilitytoshapethemeaningoftbings-todorig}]t,evenwbentherightthingisnotenough)tofaceevenveryhardtimeswitbcourageandhonor,eventhougbitwon’tmakethehardtimesgoawaytodoso.”
Wecanfigbtandrailagainsttbethingsinlifethatfeelsounfair.Wecanslipintopretendingtheydonotexist.Wecangiveupindespair.Orwecanturnaroundtofacetbathorrorandworktounderstand
wbyitissoterri吋ingWecanlearntofaceitwith
honorandthus’manageourfear.Whatwearenowfacingaretheconsequencesof
ourownpastactionsanddecisions.InitiaIy,wewereunawareofwhatwashappening)butnowweknow.WebavebeenusingupournaturaIresourcesandnowtheyarerunningout.Webaveexportedoursty}eofIivingthroughmoVes’teIeVsion’andotbermedia.NowpeopIearoundthewor>dwanttoIiveIikeAmericansdo.ButtherealityistbatAmericans
5lbid
l63
EvERYrHINGWEDOMATTERS
canno}onger}iveasAmericanshavelived.TheIongertboseofuswboenjoytheprivilegesofwealthdelaymakingthenecessarycbanges,t}]eharderitwiIlbeforallofustofacethemIater.
Previously,wedidnotthinkofwbatweweredo-ing.Nowwehavecomeupagainsttherealityofouractions.Wecanpostponewhatneedstobedoneorjustmaketokeneffortsatmakingsomechanges.Butifwefailtomakethebigchanges-life-a>teringchanges-ourchildrenandgrandchildrenwilIbeforcedtoinbabitaworldterrib>ydifferentfromtheonewebavebeensopriVIegedtoen>oy.
IfwecanhalIowourdiminisbments,wewiIlfind
somebenefits-astrongersenseofcommunityandfamily’tbeknowledgethatwetriedtodot}]erightthingwhenwereaIizedthatwehaddonesomeoftheworst·
TbeBuddhataughtaboutimpermanence,howeverythingiscontinuouslycbanging.Eachofushaschanged廿omwhowewerejustaminuteago.Somecellsbavedied,othershavereplacedthem.Theseareminorchanges,notevennoticeable.WestilIfunc-tionaswedidaminuteagoeventhoughwehavechanged.
l64
WITHOuRTHoucHTsWECREATETHEWoRLD
ButcIimatechangePNomorecheapoi!and,eventuaIy,nooilatanyprice?Notenoughnaturalgas〉Notenoughwater?Theseareterri觔ngWben
wecomeface-to-facewithtbeclIangestbatwefeelareoverwheImingandmorethanwecanhandIe,weinitiallyreactfromourfear.Wesayitcannotpossi-blybetrue.Wesaythosewhosufferfrominade-quateresourcesandnaturaIdisasterssufferdueto
theirkarma.OrweIookforwaystodisprovewhatpeoplearesayingOrwecboosetodonotbingasweabruptlyshutthedoorinthemessenger!sface.
AsacommenterwroteonAstyk)sblog“IthinkcognitivedissonancehasmuchtodowithourcoIIec-
tivedeniaIofresponsibility.We’reunwiIlingtosacri-ficeastandardoflivingthatcannotbesustainedwitboutexp>oitingothers.Soinsteadofchanging,wefindwaystominimizethetruthandbIameourVc-timsfortbeirtroubIes.Peopleshutoutclear’rationalargumentsthatdon>tfitwiththeirworIdviewand
self-concept.OurseIf-esteemistotal>ywrappedupwithconsumption.WehavebeentoldsincewewerechildrenthatbaVngIotsofstuffiswhatmakesus<winners>inIife·Wedon,twanttogiveanythingup-itwouldbegivingupapartofourselvesthatwe’ve
l65
E\/ERYTHINCWEDOMATTERS
workedhardtocreateandnourish.That}swhypeo-
plegetsocompletelydefensiveandpissedoffwhenyoubringupthissubject-youremessingwiththeirseIf-esteemandsenseofself-worth.llmnotjust
pointingthefingeratotherslaIsopleadguilty.”6SothereisaIotgoingoninpeopIe’sreactionsto
wordslikegIoba>warmingandresourcedep>etion.ThereactionsrevoIvearoundcbange.Weusuallydonotlikeit.TheBuddhataughtthatchangeperme-ateslife.Thatjustasourmindsarecontinuously
changing’pbenomenaareaIsocontinuouslycbang-ing.EverythingismanifestedbythemindandaI-teredbytheconsciousnessandtbus,withourthougbtswecbangetheworIdAndyet,westiIbe-Iievethatwecankeeplivingaswehavebeendoing.Wedoubt,debate,anddeny.Butdoubting,debating’anddenyingwiIlnotheIpusfixthisnew’廿ighteningwor>dofours.
NorwiIIwhatwehavebeentoldtodoforthepast
sixtyyears-goshopping-solvethisprobIem.WebelievebuyingthingswewiIImakeus}]appy.Butstudiessbowpeoplewerehappierinthel950s.Yes
6Ibid
l66
W}THOuRTHoucHTsWECREATETHEWoRLD
theyhadless-lessstu{fButtheyhadtimefortheirchiIdren,theyworkedfewerhours,andtheyfeItmoresecure>twassafeforchiIdrentowalkto
schoolPeoplecouIdIeavetheirdoorsunIockedBut
then,weweretoIdtobuymore,thatbydoingsowewouldbereaI}yhappy.
WebaveseentheresuItsoflookingforbappinessinconsuming.ltdoesnotwork.Tl]isishardIynewssincetbeBuddhataugbtover2500yearsagothathappinessdoesnotIieinnewthingsorexperiences.Happinessistobefoundwithinourselves,itIiesin
w}]atweteIIourseIves.Happinessisamentalstate,notaphysicaIstate
TbeearIierwereaIizehappinessdoesnot>ieinconsumption’theearlierwewiIIreaIizewecannot
consumeourseIvesoutofwhatisnow}]appeningItisgoingtotakemorethanchangingIigbtbuIbsandcarry1ngreusableclotbshoppingbags.TheseareofcourseanexceIIentstart,butthatisaII-abeginning
WeneedtomakechangesinourIives,ineveryaspectofourIives.WhatweteIIourseIvesabout
thosechangeswiIdeterminehowwefeeI.Wecanmakethechanges,orwecandoubt,debate,anddeny.WecancompIain,orwecanhal>owtbose
l67
EvERYrHlNGwEDOMATTERS
cbangesbybonoringthemandacceptresponsibilityforwbatwebavedone.Wecan>earntolivewitbthe
changes’understandingthatdoingsois,asAstyksays’<‘notanun>ustcruelty,butsimplywbatisaskedofus,ourshareoftheburden.>)
Peakoil)waterdepletion,andcIimatechangearesomeofthemostdestructiveconditionsthatcould
happentosocietyandthispIanetweliveon.Buttheyarewhatwehavecreated.Verysimply,t}Ieyarecauseandeffect.lnitiaIly)weactedoutofignorance.Atsomelevel,weknewtherewasonlysomuchoilandnaturalgas,butwefiguredsomecleverpersonwouldcomea>ongandfIthingsforus.Tbeywouldfindanewformofenergyorinventabettertecbnol-ogy.Itwasnotanythingweneededtobeconcernedabout.
IgnoranceisoneoftbethreepoisonstheBuddbasooftenwarnedabout.TheothertwopoisonsP
Greedandanger.Indeed,withourthoughtswecre-atetheworIdSonotonlyfromtbeeverydaystand-point’but廿omthekarmicstandpoint’webavecre﹣atedandarecurrentlycreatingtbeworldwewilIbeIivingin.TheenVronmentalchangeswearenOwbe-ginningtoexperiencearenotanun]ustpunisbment
l68
WITHOuRTHouGHTsWECREATETHEWoRLD
inHictedonus.Wehavereckless>yexploitedourplanetandnowwewillbepayingforouractions.Howwillwe>usti{\/whatwehavedonewhenourchildrenandgrandchildreninherittheworIdfromus>Whentheyrealizehowwehavelived,theywillwonderwhatwewerethinking.WhydidwenotchangewbenweIearnedoftheimmensebarmweweredoing>HowcouldwehavecaredsoIittIe?Portheworld’schildren?Porourown?
Itisuptoustofaceourdiminishmentsnow,whenwestiIIhaveachoice.Todosowbenweare
fOrcedtowou}dbeirresponsible,andIargelyfutile.NowatIeast,westiIIhavesometimetochangetbewaywedothings.
AndthisiswherethehaIIowingcomesin,fortherearebenefitstobehadifwejustrecognizeandhonorthem.Wewi>lhavemoretimewithfamilyandneighbors,benefit廿omheaItbierlifestyIes,Iearn
moreaboutourseIves,andmaybe,justmaybe,helpsavethefutureforourchildrenandourplanet.
Lifeinforty’twenty,eventenyearswiIlbeverydifferent廿omwhatitisnow.Weneedtocometo﹣
getberandIearnwhattodo>bothonacommunityleveIandasresponsibleindividuals.Weliveinauni-
l69
EVERYrHlNGWEDOMATrERs
versethatadherestotheIawofcauseandconse-
quence.Theconsequencesarenotwitbinourcon-trol.Butourcurrentkarmas,ourcurrentactions,are.
HonoringandrespectingresourcedepletionandcIi-matechangearewithinourcontrolandabiIity
Weneedtodoeverythingwithinourpowertoha|-lowthesediminishments’fortheyareours.
l70
Maythemeritsandvirtues
accruedfromtbiswork
adorntbeBuddha>sPureLand)
repaythePourKindnessesabove,
andrelievetbesufferingsofthose
intheThreePathsbeIow.
Maythosewhoseeorhearoftbis
bringforththeBodhimind,
andattheendofthislife,
beborntogether
intheLandofUltimateBliss·
WaystoReachUsht已met
www.abuddbistperspective.orgwwwamtbweborg
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