Everything We Do Matters
-
Upload
road-to-enlightenment -
Category
Documents
-
view
231 -
download
1
description
Transcript of Everything We Do Matters
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·
87
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
l08
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-
l09
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-
ll2
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-
ll6
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-
l20
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
AuS<mIa/5I/AmitabhaBuddhistAssociationofNSW
T:2-9643-7588F:2-9643-7599
AmitabhaBuddhistAssociationofPerth
T:8-9306-8l20F:8-9306-8366
AmitabbaBuddhistAssociationofQLD
T:7-3273-l693F:7-3272-0677E:[email protected]
AmitabhaBuddbistRetreatCentre
T:7-4l7l-042lF:7-4l7l-04l3E:[email protected]
PureLandLearningCenteroftheNrT:8-8927-4988F:8-898l-35l6E:pureIandnt@tchiacom
PureLandLearningCenterofVictoriaT:3﹣989l﹣7093F:989l﹣7093E:purelandvic@ya﹜﹞oαcom
PureLandLearningCoIege(Toowoomba)T:7-4637-8765P:7-4637-8764E:[email protected]
www.chinkungorgwww.amtb-aus.org
αna由∕I/OttawaAmitabbaBuddbistAssociationofCanada
T:6l3-723-9683P:[email protected]
www.amtb-ottawa.ca
Amitabba(SixHarmony)BuddhistOrganizationT:4l6-265-9838P:905-947-l870E:amtb6hcan@yahoαca
AmitabhaBudd}]istSocietyofMontreaIT:5l4-257-l770F:5l4-525-6846E:amtbmtI@l]otpopcom
AmitabhaBuddhistSocietyofTorontoT:4l6-293-0024P:4l6-292-606l
lnfiniteLightAmitabbaOrganizationofCanadaTeI:4l6﹣893﹣3366/265﹣9838Pax:905﹣947﹣l870Binfamtb@yahoαca
u】itcd肋】gdbm〃勺BuddhistEducationPoundation(UK)
T:l7l-586-6923F:l7l﹣794﹣8594E:info@buddhisteducation.cαuk
www.buddhisteducationco.uk
HongKOng/8夕2/
HongKongBuddI]istEducationFoundationT:23l4-709gP:23l4-l929E:amtbbkl@budaedUorg」】k
Ma幽﹚脰ia/6叨
AmitabhaBuddhistSociety(Malaysia)T;03-404l-4l0lF:03-404l-2l72E:amtbmy@amtb-morgmy
wwwamtb-m.org.my/emidsbtmI
Smgapore/6刃
AmitabhaBuddhistSociety(S)T;6744-7444P:6744-4774E:abss@amtborgsg
SingaporeBuddhistLodgeT:6737-2630F:6737-0877E:[email protected]
乃iwan佃8d/
TbeCorporationRepubIicofHwaDzanSocietyT:02-2754.7l78F:02-2754-7262
www.amtborg.tw
乃aiknd伍62﹚
AmitabbaBuddbistSocietyT:662-7l9-5206P:662-7l9-4356
肋itedStatesofAmer尢a/I/
AmidaSocietyT:626-286-5700P:626-286-7988EamtbIa@pacbeIlnet
AmitaBudd}]ismSociety-BostonT/P:508-580-4349Bamtbboston@ya}]oo.com-
AmitabhaBuddhistAssociationofStateWas}]ingtonT:425-25l-6822F:425-656-9789
AmitabhaBuddhistLibraryinCI]icagoT:630-4l6-9422F:630-4l6-6l75E:}ibrary@amitab}]alibrary.org
www.amitabhaIibrary.org
AmitabhaBuddhistSocietyofHawaiiT/P:808-523-8909
AmitabhaBudd}]istSocietvofHouston』
T:7l3-339-l864F:7l3-339-2242
AmitabhaBuddbistSocietyofMichiganT:734-995-5l32P:734-995-5l32
AmitabbaBuddbistSocietyofNew}ersey,IncT;856-75l-7966P:[email protected]
AmitabhaBuddbistSocietyofNY’lncT:7l8﹣96l﹣7299F:7l8﹣96l﹣8039E:amitabha-ny@ya}﹞oαcomtw
Amitab}]aBuddhistSocietyofPhiladelphiaT:856-424-25l6P:856-489-8528E:amtbphi}a@hotmailcom
AmitabhaBuddI]istSocietvofSeattIe•
T:206-624-9378
AmitabbaBuddhistSocietyofUSAT:408-736-3386P;[email protected]
www·amtb-usa.org
AmitabhaEducationaICenter(Hawaii)T:808-262-5279F:808-262-498
AInitabbaHouseo『t}﹞eUnitedStates’lnc
T:703﹣845-0l86Eamtbva@yaboαcom
AmitabhaSocietyo『LasVegasT:707-252-3042P:707-87l-3542
AtIantaAmitabhaBuddhistSocietyT:770-923-8955F:770-925-06l8E:mietoVIIe@beIIsouthnet
DaIasBuddbistAssociation
T:972-234-440lP:972-234-8342E:[email protected]
KUAmitabhaBuddhistSociety(Lawrence’Kansas)www.kuedu人amtb
Twenty-fiveI﹜und『e﹝Ivea『sago,wI】entI﹞eBllddI)awas
teachingw}]atl]e|]adawokento,bisworIdwassimllarin
manywaystooLlrworl(ltoday.Tbereweregreatcente『s
ofcuItllre,andtI}el.ewe「e∣andsofstagnatlonTI}ere
wererLllerswithgreatpowerwl﹞otI﹞irsted『orevenmore,
andtberewereop})resse(II]eopIewI]oon}ywan[edt()Iiw
lnpe(lceT∣﹞e『eweremenwl﹞osaidthattheyaIoneI﹞eId
theI<eyt()sI)irit<IaIsecl-ets,andtberewerctl1()sewI]o
searcI﹞edfol.di「{℃rentanswers.TI﹞erewerepeoplewh﹙﹞
ITadgreatweaItb,ilndtl]ereweret}][)sewhoI1adnotl]lng·
TI﹞erewe『epeopIew}l﹙)saidwemustchange,andtI)ere
werethosewl]()denie(ltherewasanythingwrong
PerhapstI]atdistantIandandtlmelsnotthatdist&lnt
a「teraIlGreed,anger’lgnorance,anddeIusionarestiII
\/erylnucIIwitl-Ius.ButtI]eydonot}]avetorelnalnwith
usforeacb(﹚『wel﹞ast}】ea﹜﹚iIitytotrans{or】ntI】e】nlnt()
se{flessness,comI){lsslon’andundelstanding
Venc『aI〕IcWuIinRisanAmcrlcanBuddbistnunoftI】ePureLan(lschool0「Mal】avanaBu﹝ld}】ism.
Com<)Iimcntso{:TbeCorDo『a〔ionRepuI〕Iico「ⅡwaDza】﹞Societv么
2F﹑No333﹣l,Sec﹄↓.HsinγiRo﹙ld’『hil)ci,「IhiwanTbl:(886)﹣2﹣27弓巴I﹣7I78PaX:(886)﹣2﹣275斗-7262E-MaiI:I]w[ldXan@I)wadXan.tW
Po『frcc(IistIiI)u〔ion/I)】.in【edin】Mw﹠ln
【SBN978﹣I5907S﹣3﹃8﹣斗
HZ50-2>-0l