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匠VEⅢⅢINCWEDoM八ITERS

V<NfRA6l<WullNc

匠VⅢγⅢINC

WEDoMATTERs

＼／EHER八RLE＼〉〈／ULINO

正V匠RγⅢINC

WEDoMATI匠Rs

VENER八ⅢE＼〉〈／uLINO

八川IT八月H八pU0LIC八TI○NS

CHIc八C○

VenerabIeWulingisanAmericanBuddI]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

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

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

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,

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-

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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)

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

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)

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]

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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·

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

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

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

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

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-

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,

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

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-

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

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-

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

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

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

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-

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.

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

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

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’

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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,

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.

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

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.

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

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”

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-

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

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

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.

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

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-

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.

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

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

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

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-

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-

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

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

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.

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

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

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

EVERYrHINGWEDOMATTERS

thosewboharmus.Thosewboharmusprovideuswithanopportunitytorepayadebtthatwebadincurred.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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·

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

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-

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

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-

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.

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-

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-

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-

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-

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

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-

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

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

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.

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

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-

WITHOuRTHoucHTsWECRE/VETHEWoRLD

IineastheygetbackintotheirSUVanddriveoff’

aIone.ParentsshaketheirbeadsandworryabouthowclimatechangewiIaffecttheircbiIdren’tbenboardtheplanetogovisittheirchiIdrenandgrand-childrenbecausetheyIovethem.

OnMarchll’2007’theSundayTfmes’ama>ornewspaperintbeUnitedKingdom,detailedtheearth-cbangingscenariosdegreebydegreethatwouldIikeIyoccuringIoba>warming.Tl]earticlewasanintervlewwitbMarkLynas,theauthorofSrxDe-grees;OⅡr几﹝ureonaHOr〔erP／aDetandreferenced

researcI]bytheHadIeyCentreforCIimateCbangeintheUnitedKingdom.Basedontensofthousandsofpagesofscientificresearch’SixDegreesprovidesasuccinctana}ysisofwhattheworldcouldIookIike

aftergloba>warming:

(‘Atonedegreeofwarming,theArcticisice-freeforhaIftheyear,theSouthAtIantic-typicaIyvoidofhurricanes-experiencescoastalhurri-canes’andinthewesternU.S.severedroughtsarepIaguingresidents.

l37

EVERYrHlNGWEDOMATTERS

TwoDegreesofWarming:PoIarbearsstruggIetosurvIveasgIaciersincreasingIymeltaway.GlaciersinGreenIandbegintodisappear,wbiIecoraIreefsarevanishing.

ThreeDegreesofWarming:TheAmazonrain

forestisdryingoutandElNifio}sintenseweatherpattembecomesthenorm.Europere-peatedlyexperiencessearingsummerheatthathasrarelyhappenedbefore.

PourDegreesofWarming:Oceanscouldrise’takingovercoastaIcities.ThedisappearanceofgIaciersmaydeprivemanyoffreshwater.NorthernCanada}sagricu}turecouldboomandaScandinavianbeachcouIdbethenexttourism

botspot.ApartofAntarcticacouldcoIapse>causingwatertoriseevenfurther.

PiveDegreesofWarming:UninhabitablezonescouIdspread,snowpackandaquifersfeedingbigcitiescouIddryup,andcIimaterefugeescouIdruninthemiIions.HumanciviIization

couldbegintobreakdownwiththisdrasticof

l38

WlTHOuRTHoucHTsWECREATETHEWoRLD

cI]angestotI]ecIimateThepoorwouIdIikelysuffertbemost.

SixDegreesofWarming:T}]eoceanscouIdbemarinewasteIands,thedesertscouIdmarch

acrosscontinents,andnaturaIdisasterscould

becomecommonevents.Theworld)sgreatcitiescouIdbef>oodedandabandoned.TbiscouIdbe

.”)I

<tbedoomsdayscenarlo.

刀﹞eChL／se;US

Forthepastl50years,wewereslowlydrawninbycheap>accessibIeenergy.ltbecameinevitabIethattheenvironmentaIcostsofpoIutionandresourcedepIetion,notbornebyconsumers,wouIdfaIlonothers.lntime,asheaIthcareproblemsarose,tbesecostswerebornebytaxpayerswbowerenotquitesureexactIywheretbeirtaxdoIIarswent.ButasIongast}]esystemseemedtobeworking’fewpeopIewereincIinedtoaskquestions.PeriodicaIlyastorywouId

Ibttp://channelnationaIgeograpbic.com/c}]annel/sixdegrees/

l39

EvERYrHlNGwEDOMAT丁ERS

beonthenews-thedepIorabIeconditionsminersIaboredunder’increasingcancerrates,inequalityissues-butpeopIedidnotconnectthedots·Mostwereengrossedwit}]thecommercialsaftert}]enewsanddreamingofwhattobuynext.

Howdidtheygettotbispoint?Asconsumers,af-terWorIdWarI,Americansbecamecaugbtupinthegovernmentpromoteddreamofowningahouseinthesuburbs.Therewasseeminglyendlessland’

governmentprogramsand}oansfOrthesoldiersre-turninghome,andIotsofcheapoiItopowerthedream.SoAmericansinrecordnumbersbeganmov-

ingtothenewsuburbs.DaddroveintotbecitytoworkwhiIeMomstayedhomeandIookedafterthechildren.ltseemedidyIlic.

ButsomewbereaIongtheway,thedreamofsub-urbiabecamecompIicatedPeoplegotcaugbtupinthetragicaIymistakenideathatpossessionsandex-perienceswouldmakethemhappy.Themessagetheykepthearingwas“moreisbetter.”GraduaIly’thehousesbecamelargerandfamiliesfoundthem-seIvesseparatedasgrownchildren,nowwiththeirowndreamsofanidyIIiclife,IefthometoworkinotberpIaces.

l40

WITHOuRTHouGHTsWECRE八TETHEWoRLD

WithouttI]egrandparentsaroundtobelpcareforthechildren>Momneededtogeta>obtohelppayforchiIdcare.DadfoundheneededtoworklongerhourstobeabIetoaffordaIIthegoodthingstheywantedfortheirchiIdren.Shortontime’tbeparentsturnedtothenewelectronicheIp.Disbwashers,was}]ingmachines’andvacuumcleanersweresoondeemedhousehoIdnecessities.Thenumberof(must

have’>electronicappIiancesincreasedasmoreprod-uctscametomarket.

ButwithplannedobsoIescencecarefuIycaIcu-Iatedtoincreasecorporateprofits’thecarsandaIItbeothermoderngadgetryneededtobefrequentlyrepIacedSincetherewassomucbIandandsomanygarbagedumps’thenolongerwantedgoodsweresimplythrownaway.PIastic,polystyreneandotherpetroleumby-productsthatwouIdtakecenturiesto

breakdownendedupatdumpsites.Toxinsbegantoleacl]intotbesoiIandgroundwater.ButitwasokaybecausetherewassomucIand

AstheIistofmodernconveniencesgrew’time-honoredhouseholdskiIIsweredeemedold-fas}]ioned

andunnecessaryinthemodernworId.TheVctorygardensthatwereama>orsourceoffoodduringthe

l4l

EvERYrHlNGwEDOMATTERS

wargavewayto>awnsandflowerbeds.Therewasno

needtocookanymorebecausetberewereTVdin-nersandpreparedfoodsthatcouldbequicklybeatedupbyaMomnowverytiredfromworkingalldayattheofficeorfactory.TherewasnoneedtopersonaIIypreservefoodsanymorebecausetherewereIotsofcannedandfrozenfoodinthesupermarket.

DadforgottheskiIlshehad>earnedfromhisfa-therbecauseitwasnoweasiertohirepeopIetodowhatneededtobedone.Plus,hebadaItl]osetime-

saVngpowertoolsandcouldbuyready-madeitemsattbestore.People,hookedontbeeIectronicmar-velstodotheirwork’becameincreasing>ydependentonaIlthecheapenergythatpoweredtheirIifestyIes.

Today’noneofthishaschanged.WeseepeoplebuyingIargerhousestostoreaItbenewelectronicgear’Thechildren’seeingMomandDadbuyingmore,wanttheirownteIevisionsandcomputersjust

likeaIltheirfriends}]ave.Pamiliesmightgathertoeatdinneratthesametime,buteveryoneheatsuptheirownfoodinthemicrowave.Afterthrowing

awaythemicrowavabIecontainers,tossingthepizzacartoninthetrash)andputtingthecut}eryinthedishwasher,parentsandcbiIdrengototbeirown

l42

WIT{-{OuRTHoucHTsWECREATETHEWoRLD

rooms.Theytl]enimmersethemseIvesintI]eir}]ome

entertainmentcentersorpIaygamesontI]eircom-putersuntiIitistimetogotosIeep.Theninthemorning,it>stimetogetupandbeginalloveragain.

Andsowe}]avetheAmericandreamtoday’adreamthatmanypeopIearoundtI]eworIdwantto}]ave.ButthisisadreamgoneterribIywrong.

E／ep力an㎡ntheLjvingRoom

FromdeepwitbineachpersonwhobeginstograsptheenormityofcIimatechangeandgIobaIwarming,aprofoundsenseofgrief﹂andfear-beginstoarise.

Humanity’sdreamofprosperityisnowbecominganightmareWearenowIearningwhatthefutureofourworIdwiIIbelikeAndwiththisreaIization

comesanother:thatsix-degreesfuture}]asa>readybegunAnditisevenmoreborrificthanwehadfeared

ClimatechangehasbeencaIIedthe(<eIephantintheliVngroom.>’Thinkofitasalarge,unruIyguestwhodoeswbateveritwis}]estodo.ButcIimate

changeisnottheonIyeIephant.PeakingoiI>natural

l43

EVERYrHINGWEDOMA丁TERS

gas,coaIanduraniumreservesareanotherfour.

Thentbereisaquiferdepletionandabumanpopu>a-tionthesizeofwhichtheearthcannotsustain.It

takessomuchIandandwatertofeedonehuman

andwehaveonIyafiniteamountoft}Ieseresourcesinourworld.OnceweexceedtbatnaturaIcarrylngcapacity,thereisnoIongerenoughfoodandwaterforeveryone.

Ourcurrentwor}dsituationistbatweareattbe

brinkofanenergycrisistbatbeganwithgIobaIoiIreservespeaking·TbeU.S·EnergyInformationAd-ministrationreportedin2007thatthepeakoccurredinMay2005.2ltismoredifficuIttogaugenaturalgasreservesbutitisgeneraIIyacceptedthattbeybaveeithera>sopeakedorarecIosetodoingso.CoaIanduraniumareexpectedtopeakaround2020andbefore2050,respectiveIy.Oil,naturaIgas,coaI,ura-nium,andhydroeIectriccurrentIyprovide93percentoftheglobaIenergysupply.Tberemaining7percentismainIyhydropowerfollowedbybiomasswithafractionprovidedbyrenewabIesIikesolarandwindpower.

zUS.EnergyInfOrmationAdministration’“EIectricPowerAn-nuaIfor2006Report,”reIeasedOctober22,2007

l44

WITHOuRTHouGHTsWECREATETHEWoRLD

PeakresourcesmeanswehavereachedthepointintimewhenthemaximumproductionrateoftberesourcebasbeenreachedOncepastthepeak,thesenaturaIresourceswilIbecomeincreasingIydif-ficuItandcostIytoextractandprocess.Astbepricesrise’eachofuswiIIreachourpersonalpeak’thepointwhereourIifeisimpactednegativeIybytbehighcostbrougbtaboutbyever-increasingcompeti-tionfortberemainingoil

AIso>wearemovingcIosertothepointatwbicbtheextractionandproductioncostsoutweightbeen-ergyobtainedWecanseetheIogicinthiswitbourfoodltwouIdmakenosensetoexpendonehundredcaIoriestoeatfoodthatwilIonlyprovidetencaloriesofenergy.

lnadditiontoextraction)productionanddistribu-tioncosts,therearethehiddencostsIikepolIution,aquiferdepIetion,soiIdegradation,andhumanhea}thissues.T}]esecostsarenotcaIculatedinthe

priceatthepumpw}]enwefiIlupourcarsoratthestorew}]enwebuyaboxofimportedchocoIateen-casedinIayersofpIasticpackagingThecostsarebeingbornebytaxpayersandthosewhowereforcedofftbeIandbygovernmentsandinternationa>con-

l45

EVERYrHINGWEDOMATTERS

glomerateswhoarefocusedonprofitnotonclimatec}]angeort}]esufferingofl]umans.T}]esemiIionsofeconomicrefugeshavenochoicebuttomoveintocitieswberetheycannotfindworkorraisethesub-sistencecropsthatusedtofeedtheirfamilies.Thecostsarebornebyt}]ecbildrenwbomustbreathe

polIutedair,drinkcontaminatedwater,andIivein

squalidconditions-chiIdrenwhohavenofuturefortbeywilInotbeabletomakealiVngorfarmtbeIand.NorwiIItheybetaughtbythosewhodispos-sessedthemhowtodoprovidefortheirownfamiIiesinthefuture.

UnderstandingwhatpeaAoi/means,whathap-penswbenwereachit)

TbeUnitedStates,theIargestoilconsumer,reacbedtbepeakofitsdomesticoilreservesinthel970s.Now,whentheUnitedStatesisrelyingmoreheavilyonimportedoil,lndiaandC}]inaarea>sobe-comingmajoroiIimporters.Thisishappeningatthesametimet}]atdomesticdemandisincreasingwithintheoilexportingcountries.SocountriesIikeVene-zuelaandSaudiArabianeedtosuppIytheincreasingneedsoftheirowncitizensasweIastbeirforeigncuston]ers.

l46

WITHOuRTHoucHTsWECREATETHEWoRLD

AsthegapbetweensuppIyanddemandincreases,

thepriceperbarreIwillcontinuetobitnewhigbs.TbisisaIreadyhappeninglnthefal>of2004abarreIofoi}}]it$50>ustthreeandahalfyearsIater’onMarchl2’2008’oiIit$l09.72.AIreadywearesee-ingpeopIeinthedeveIopedworIdhavingtodecidew}]ethertospendmoneyonI]eatingoiIoronfood,agonizingdecisionsthoseinthedeveIopingwor>dbavefacedforyears.WhatdopeopIecboose?TheyarechoosingtobuyheatingoiIbecauseittakeslongerforchiIdrentostarvetodeathtbanitdoesorthemtofreezetodeath.

Evenifwe}]avereac}]edthemaximumofgIobaIproduction’don’twestiI]aveaIot>eft>SureIywehavepIentyoftimetocomeupwithanothersolutiontotbeincreasingenergydemands>

No>wedonotbavetimebecausetI]eeaseand

costofextractionfortheremainingreservesareverydifferentfromt}]eaIreadyextractedoiIbotbinquaI-ityandeaseofextractionAlso)newso>utionstakea

}ongtimetodevelopAsreservesdwindleandbe-comemoredifficuIt,andthusexpensive,toextract’thequaIitygradeoftheoiIaIsodecreasesasdoestheenergyoutputperbarrelHigheroiIpricesreHectthe

l47

EvERYrHlNGWEDOMAT丁ERS

additionalproductionexpense.Wbataboutotherenergy-producingmateriaIsIike

tarsands?TarsandsareactuaIybituminoussandsthatareanaturaImixtureofsand,water,andbitu-

menTheIargestreservesareintbeoilsandsinCanadaandthetarsandsinVenezueIa,withsmaller

reservesintheUnitedStates,Russia,andtbeMid-

dIeEast.TheseoiIsandsarenotVscousIikeoil,thus

theymustbemined.Thisprocesstakesmuc}]waterandIargeamountsofenergytoextractandprocess.Thisheavycrudeoilisinturnexpensivetoprocessintogasoline,dieselfuel)andotherproducts.

Currently,thegovernmentofAlberta,Canada}]asapprovedtheextractionoftbepetroIeumfromtbesandseventhoughenVronmentalistsaythiscompIexprocesswiIcreateanenVronmentaInig}]tmareandthusbastengIobaIclimatechange.Theoilcompa-nieskeepexpIoitingour廿agilepIanetjusttoprolong

tbecomfortoftheweaIthywhodonotwanttogive

upt}]eirpersonalcomfortandconsumptive}ifestyles.Whataboutnaturalgas>TheUnitedStatesisnow

anetimporterofnaturaIgas.NorthAmericandis-coveriesbavebeenonagenera>decIinesincetheearlyl980s.EuropeaIsobitthehighofitsnaturaI

l48

WITHOuRTHouG｝﹣﹛TsWECR巴ATETHEWoRLD

gasdiscoveriesaboutthesametime.Dr.AIiSamsamBakhtiari,formersenioradvisertotheNationaIIra-

nianOiICompanyinTebran’reportedtotheAustra-lianSenatein2006tbatnaturaIgaswouIdpeakworIdwideabout2008or2009.Healsofeltthat

Russiabadalreadypeaked,wbichinturndirectIyaffectedEuropeanimports.

UnlikeoiI’whichcanbeeasilytransportedintankers,gasbastobeusedonsite,ortransportedthroughpipeIinesorinspeciaItankers.SomovingitaroundismoreprobIematicthanoil

WhataboutcoaIPTheWorIdCoaInstitutehas

beensayingformanyyearsthatthereareenoughcoa>reservestoIastforanotherl50years.ButtheEnergyWatchGroup,workingwitbmorerecentIyupdatedreservenumbersandfactoringinthein-creasingrateofextractionduetoincreasingdeInand’}]ascaIcuIatedt}]atthecoaIpeakwiIIoccursome-wherebetween2020and2030China,the>argestconsumerofcoaIispredictedtopeaksooner.

EnvironmentaIy,coaIisevenmoredamagingthanoiIornaturalgas,asweIIasbeingfarIessefficient.TheUnitesStateshastheworId>slargestcoaIre-serves’butwhathasbeenextractedisthehigher

l49

EvERYrHINGwEDOMATTERS

gradeanthracitecoaI,withabigberenergydensitytbantheIowergradelignitecoalbyafactoroffiveorsix.Now,muchoftberemainingcoaIreservesare

lignitenotanthracite.SowbiIecoalproductionisincreasingintbeUnitedStatesbecauseoftheIowerqualityoflignite>tbeenergyoutputderivedfromthiscoalpeakedaroundl999.ConsequentIy>theUnitedStatesisnowanetcoaIimporter.

Whataboutnewtechnologies>SureIypeopIeareworkingonasoIution.Won,tsomethingbeinventedthatwilIproVdeforourfutureenergyneedsPYes,wearenowseeingdevelopmentsintecImoIogiesIikesolarandwindbutthesecurrentlyprovidejustafractionofonepercentofourcurrentenergysuppIy.ltwiI|taketimetoincreasebothdemandandsupply.

RichardHeinberg,authorandpeakoileducator’hassaidthatitwouIdtakefifteenyearsforpeopIetograduaIyreplacetheircurrentpetroIeum-poweredvehic}es.SothereisnoquicktransitionevenwhenwedeveIopothertechnoIogies.Also,tbesetechnolo-gieshavetheirownenVronmentaIimpactassolarvo>taicarrays,windmil>s’andtheothernecessaryequipmentneedtobeproducedandshippedTbenwefacetheVnotinmybackyard’)syndromeEvery-

l50

W<THOuRTHouGHTsWECREATETHEWoRLD

onewantsthenewteclmologyinplace,buttbeydonotwanttobavetolookatit.

Also,forthesizeofwbatwearetalkingabout,weneedanationa}andeveninternationalenergydistri-butioninfrastructure.WedonothaveamagicfUeIthatwecansimplyplugintoexistingdistributionsys-tems.ltwiIltakenationaIandregionalgovernmentactiontobuiIdanewenergygrid.ThiswiIenabIeindiVdualsandcompaniesw}]oproducemoreenergythantheyrequiretobesharedwitbothers.

BeforeanewtechnoIogycanbeproducedandused,nationaIgovernmentsneedtodostudiesofthetechnoIogy.PoIiticiansneedtopoItheirconstitu-ents’listentospecialinterestgroups,andvotelfabiIispassed,fundingneedstobefound,andfinaIlybuildingneedstobedone.Then,aswegetclosertoreaIproduction’wehaveacbicken-and-eggprobIem.BeforecompanieswiIcommittoparticipatinginthisnewdistributionsystem,tl]eywiIwanttoseecus-tomersreadytousethenewformofenergy.Butbe-forecustomersinstaIlthecommercia>andresidentia>

systemstousetbenewtechnoIogy’theywillwanttobesurethecompanieswiIIsuppIythenewformofenergy.Sowhichcomesfirst-supp}yordemand?

l5l

EvERYrHlNGWEDOMATTERS

Tbecbickenortheegg>

Aswithanynewtechnology,priceswillbebightobeginwithAsproductionmethodsimproveandmorepeop}epurchasetheitem’theperunitcostwillgraduallybereducedandthustbenewtechnologywillbecomemoreaffordab>etoalargernumberofpeople.Butevenwithlowercosts,manypeoplewillwanttowaitfortheoIdtecbnologytowearoutbe-forereplacingitwiththenew.

Hurd／esroOv巴rcome

WebavetoVewthewboIepicture.Climatechange,peakenergy,aquiferdepletion’soildegradation,andoverpopulation-everything-isinterrelated.Inna-ture,ifyoutinkerwithoneaspect’alltheotbersarealsoimpacted.Wecannotignoreanyoftheseother“elepbants,>’fortodosowillputatriskwbatevergoodwemightdoregardingtheothers.

IfwearegoingtohaveanypositiveinHuenceonclimatechangeandpeakenergy,wehavetorecog-nizetheseothereventua}crisesaswellandincorpo-

ratesolutionsforal}ofthemaswequicklyadaptto

l52

WlTHOuRTHouGHTsWECREATETHEWoRLD

ournewreality.AstheBuddhasaid,everythingisinterconnected;nothingexistsonitsown.

Cqgni㎡ved／ssonance

Wbenfacedwithinformationthatisdrasticallydifferentfromwhatonebelievestobetrue,t}Ieten-

sionhastoberesoIvedtbroughchoosingeitberthefamiliarbeliefortheproposednewone.Mostpeoplewillgowiththebelieftbeyarefamiliarwith

WhenpeopIe’hearingaboutglobaIwarmingandpeakoiI,IookaroundandseethateverytbinglooksnormalandfeeIthattheirlivesarenotthatmuch

affected’theytendtodismissthenewperspective.Yes’tbepriceofgasandfoodbasincreasedbutsureIythat>sjustduetoincreaseddemandandcorpo-ratepricegouging.Yes,theweatherisunusualbut

thatisnormalYes’theiceismeItinginGreenland,theArctic,andinhigb-mountaingIaciersbutthatcouldjustbeatemporaryoccurrence

Itislikeputtingafroginanuncoveredpotofwa-ter,placingthepotonthestove,andturninguptheheat.Becausetbetemperatureincreaseisgradual,thefrogkeepsadaptingtotheincreasingheatuntilitistoolate,andthefrogisboiledtodeath.

l53

EVERYTHlNGWEDOMATTERS

Econom/cDecl/neandC/tizenPanic

Whengovernmentsseetheirfinancialmarketsfallingandimminenteconomicdownturn>t}]eywillwanttogiveintocorporatespecialinterestsandpan-ickedvoters.Shortsightedleaderswi}ldoastbeyhavedoneforseveraldecades:lookforthequickfix.

TbeywiIIdivertmoneyfromlong-rangeplanstocombatglobalwarmingandspenditonsbort-termeconomicinjectionsofcapitalintotbeeconomy.ButappeasingimmediatedemandstostopthepainwiⅡ

onlyinsureevenmoreterriblepaininthefuture.

助ecia／hreres〔Cm叩s

TberearespeciaIinterestgroupswhohavefundedorganizationsspecificaIlysetuptoconVncepeopletbatclimatechangeisahoax.TbroughoutbistorybusinesshasbadcIosetiestothoseinpowerandto-

dayisnodifferent.Tberearecompaniesandindi-vidualswhoarecaughtupintheircraVngforpowerandwealthToonlookers>itseemsamazingthat

thesecorporategiantsandgovernmentofficialsseemtobecompIeteIydisconnectedfromreality·TheirchiIdrenandgrandchiIdrenwiIIbavetoIiveintbe

l54

W【THOuRTHouG日TsWECREATETHEWoRLD

wor>dtheycreate.Wbatoneartharetheythinking>Wbatevertheirreasons>thesespecialinterestgroupsmakeitdifficultforpeopletoIearntbetrutbaboutglobalwarminganddenythemtbetimetomakenecessarychanges.

【∕【∕﹜〕a〔ChI】Cov巴rnmen店Do〉

SomethingscanonlybedoneonanationaIorIoca>

governmentlevelForexampIe,toensureequityandtoslowdowndepIetion’rationingsystemsforre-sourceslikegasoIine,heatingoiI,andnaturalgaswilIneedtobeinstituted.Newenergypo>iciesandinter-nationa>treatiesasweI>aslargeinfrastructurestomoveenergymoreefficient>yneedtobedoneatthenationaIandinternationaI}eveI.NewtecbnologiesneedtobesharedwitbdeveIopingcountries.WeaIsoneednationa>farmpoIiciesthatwi>lencourageback-yardgardensandsmallfarms.Largefarmswillneedtogrowmorevariedfoodinasustainableway.

WeneedmoreHexibIebuiIdingcodesandfinan-cialincentivesforpropertyownersandrenterswhoinsta>ltheefficientnew-energysystems>improvethe

l55

EvERYrHINGwEDOMAT丁ERS

insulationintheirhomesandbusinesses,andincor-

poratewaystoreducetheirenergyconsumption.LocaIcommunitiesneedtofocusonfoodavail-

abilityandconservationmeasures.Porexample,intbeUnitedKingdomandAustralia,transitiontownsarepIanningtomoveawayfromreIianceonexistingenergysourcesintorenewables.Theyare}ookingathowtosupportmoreefficientwaysofmanufactur-ing,providemorepubIictransportation,usemoreefficientwaystoheatandcool,andprovidemoresecurefoodsuppliesthataremuchclosertohome.

l/IatCbnlbdMdua/SDo>

IfwelivejustforourownsatisfactionandHawedperceptionofhappiness,wewilIhavelittIereasontomaketbesacrificestbatwemustmakeforhumanity

andaIlbeingstoallowthemtosurviveintbefuture.Ouron>yconcernwilIbefor(<me>>and(‘mine,’>mean-ingourimmediatefamiIyandclosefriends.Asre-sourcesbecomeincreasinglyscarce,andthusin-creasingIycostIy,wewilIbecomeevenmoreself-centeredandselfish.Themoretbefearsetsin,the

l56

WlTHOuRTHoucHTsWECREATETHEWoRLD

morese>f-centeredwiIwebecome.UnIessour

depthofunderstandingisprofoundanddeep-rooted’wewillbeovercomebyourfearandwewillfigbttosurv1ve,atanycost.

TbosewhotruIyunderstandcausalityknowtbeimportanceofeverythought,word,andaction.OureverydecisionwiIlhaveconsequences.Wbeneverwetakemoretbanourfairshare’wearetakingfroman-otherbeingTbesufferingwecauseotherswiIcomebacktous.

WewiIlpaytheterribIecostforourindulgence.AsGeorgeMonbiotwroteinHeat:HbwtoSrOp

t/jeP/anetBuming,“…theconnectionbetweencauseandeffectseemssoimprobabIe.ByturningontheIigbts,fiIIingtbekettIe,takingthechildrentoscboo},driVngtotheshops,wearecondemningpeo-pIetodeathWeneverchoosetodothis.Wedonot

seeourselvesaskiIers.Weperformtheseactswit}]-outpassionorintent.”3

Be／】a㎡orCbange

Ourparentsworkedveryhardwiththehopethat

3GeorgeMonbiot》Heat:HOwroStOP肋eP／anerBuming,(Cambridge’Mass.,SouthEndPress’2007)22.

l57

EvERYrHlNGwEDOMATrERS

ourIiveswouIdbebetterthantheirs.Pormanyofus’

ourliveswouldappearbetterbecausewehavemore“stuff”andenjoyabroaderrangeofexperiences.Butitisnotenoughforus.WeareIockedintobehaviorweseemunabletochange.ItisasifwearewearingbIindersasweforgeabeaddeterminedtobaveoneIastfinalorgyofself-induIgence.

Webavegrownsousedtoourcomfortsthatthethoughtofhavingtowasbourclotbesbyhand’ofwalkingmore,ofgrOwingandthencooking-fromsCratch!-ourownfoodseemsIikeareturntothe

darkages.OurexpectationsbavefaroutruntbeabiI-ityofourfinitep}anet’sresourcestosupplybutweseemunwillingorunabIetoa匈usttothisreality

Thetrutbistbatwehaveunthinkinglymade

manywastefuldecisionsregardingeIectricityproduc-tion,transportation,andbousing.GeorgeMonbiotcalculatedthattbedevelopedworldneedstocutcarbonemissionsby90percent.UsingtbeUnitedKingdomasanexampIe’heshowsbowtbisisnotimpossible.Notknowingwhetberwewillbeabletomakeadifferencebycuttingback’westilIneedtotry.

l58

WITHOuRTHoucHTsWECREATETI-lEWol{LD

CbangingPerceptions

M<M>uchofwhatisrequired…issimplycomingtotermswitbthenotiont}]ataradicalchangeinyourwayofIifeisnottbesaInethingastbeendoftheworIdlthinkmanypeop>etendtoassociatethetwo-wehavealwaysbeenwealt}]yandcomfortabIeand>uckyhereinthewest’andthelossofsomeor

aIoftbosetbingsseemsIikeadisasterofunimagin-abIepropoTtionsBut{tdoesn>tI]avetobe-thafsawayofthinkingwecancboosetodiscard,recogniz-ingt}]att}]osewboIiveIesscomfortabIelivesoften

vaIuethemequaIy.’)4

Re／oca／fza㎡on

lntheUnitedStates,foodtraveIsanaverageofl500miIestoreachtheconsumer.Onaverage,su-permarketskeeponlyathree-daysuppIyoffOodinstockSmalI,IocaIyownedstoreshavegoneoutofbusiness,unabIetocompetewitbtheWaImartsoftheworldWithgIobalization,manufacturingjobshaveIeftthedeveIopedcountriesandgoneoverseas

斗Anonymouscomment’Casaubon’sBook,﹙﹙HaIIowingtheDe-scent’”bttp://casaubonsbookbIogspot.com/2007/l2/baIowing-descent.btml,accessedDecember27Ih,2007

l59

EVERYrHlNGWEDOMATTERS

wherelaborischeap,oftenbecauseworkersdonotreceivehealtborotherbenefits.Inmanycountries,

smal>farmershavegoneoutofbusiness’unabletocompetewitbgovernment-subsidizedagribusiness.

Asenergypricescontinuetoc}imb,tbedistribu-tionoffoodoverlongdistanceswillbreakdownTherewilIbenoguaranteetbatwhenwegotothesupermarkett}]erewillbeenoug}]foodforeveryone.ThesolutionisreIoca|izationNotonIyisitaneco-nomicsolution’thisisalsoalifestylesolution.Agri-

businessmaybegoodforthecompaniesbutitisnotgoodforconsumers.Poodtransportedl500miIesIosesmucbofitsnutrition.Butfoodthatwaspicked

yesterdayandboughttodayatthelocalfarmersmar-ketisnutritiousandsomuchbettertasting.Organi-

caIlygrownandsustainablyraised,itisgoodfortbeconsumer,thefarmer,andtheenVronment.

EnergyaIsoneedstobeprovidedonalocalbasis.Movingenergyoverlongdistancesrequiresmanyresources·PeakenergymeanswewillhavemuchIessaccesstothefueIswethoughtwouldlastfor-ever,oratleastaslongaswewantthem.Butasre-sourcesdwindle,wewillneedtofocusourlives

mucbclosertohome.Soon,ourpersona>spbereof

l60

WlTHOuRTl-{oucHTsWECREATETHEWoRLD

existencewillbeverysmallifwearetocombat

globaIwarmingbyreducingcarbonemissions.TbefIeetingconceptoft}]eglobalviIIagewi>>becomeamemoryasournewprioritybecomesenergyconser-vation.Long-rangetravelandcbeapenergywil>soonbeathingofthepast.

TbeupsideistbatwewiI>bui}dcommunityaswegettoknowourneighbors’dobusinesswitbIocaIpeople)andgrowmuchofourownfoodtoprovidefoodsecurity.Weonlyhavetothinkbacktotheim-agesofthepeopleinNewOrleansafterhurricaneKatrinatoknowthatweneedtodependonourselvesandourcommunity.

AcceptingReSponsib洫卹witbHOnor

Inhisbook’OnHa〃ow加gOnebDim加／sAmeⅢs,

theQuakerwriter>ohnYungblutwrote’

《《Onem妙tsayw／tbtbeBαddb／srs’t／iatrhS

伍a／／Owing／／sanimPor〔ant允rmof加IDd／ij／ness’

an（Myan（／clj／㎡vatet／﹚eiDnerpostureinw／jic／】

suc乃consciousnesscanbere／a㎡ve【ysαsta加ed

l6l

EvERYrHlNCWEDOMATTERS

Consu／㎡ng叻ed／c㎡onaIy／觔d叻atfbr肋e

wo㎡乃a〃owing’tbefb〃owIngde觔i㎡onsareofLfbred;加aAeMyorSe〔apartfbrMyuse’con﹣

secmre／toreSpeαgreat加venera﹝e.7twasa

newa㎡mosrencoumgingideatome﹣thatonebdiminiSbmentscou／dbe加a（／e／io耽』匕on﹣

secmteα﹚℃Spectedgrea咖’evcnvenemted／

／saw肋at叻e／﹜l召rsrepfbrmein／eamingto乃a／﹣

／ow’的eprqgressivediminis／】mentsInstore／br

mewasdeep﹃goIngacceprance.Butt／】eaccep﹣

tancewou／d／】averobepos㎡vB’notanegatIve

one’if／〔weretobearea川a／／Owing.Imust

/earntodosome[/>ingcrea[IveVt/>/t.>’

Wedonotknowwhetherwehaveenougbtimeto

alterfutureeventstbathavebeenputintomotionbysomanypeopIeforsoIong.Butweneedtodoevery-tbingwepossibIycantotry.Wehearsooftenaboutintention.OurintentioninhaIowingourdiminish-mentsofglobalwarmingandenergydepletionistoacceptresponsibilityforwhat}iesinourfuture.AsSharonAstyk,apeakoileducator,wroteonberblog

l62

W}THOuRTHoucHTsWECREATETHEWoRLD

℃asaubon﹚sBook／’5ll【W】ecancometorecognizethatsometimes>thepointisnotwbet}IerwecanaIterevents’buthowwefacethem.Wecanfindmeaning,evenwhenwecannotchangetbings,inourabilitytoshapethemeaningoftbings-todorig}]t,evenwbentherightthingisnotenough)tofaceevenveryhardtimeswitbcourageandhonor,eventhougbitwon’tmakethehardtimesgoawaytodoso.”

Wecanfigbtandrailagainsttbethingsinlifethatfeelsounfair.Wecanslipintopretendingtheydonotexist.Wecangiveupindespair.Orwecanturnaroundtofacetbathorrorandworktounderstand

wbyitissoterri吋ingWecanlearntofaceitwith

honorandthus’manageourfear.Whatwearenowfacingaretheconsequencesof

ourownpastactionsanddecisions.InitiaIy,wewereunawareofwhatwashappening)butnowweknow.WebavebeenusingupournaturaIresourcesandnowtheyarerunningout.Webaveexportedoursty}eofIivingthroughmoVes’teIeVsion’andotbermedia.NowpeopIearoundthewor>dwanttoIiveIikeAmericansdo.ButtherealityistbatAmericans

5lbid

l63

EvERYrHINGWEDOMATTERS

canno}onger}iveasAmericanshavelived.TheIongertboseofuswboenjoytheprivilegesofwealthdelaymakingthenecessarycbanges,t}]eharderitwiIlbeforallofustofacethemIater.

Previously,wedidnotthinkofwbatweweredo-ing.Nowwehavecomeupagainsttherealityofouractions.Wecanpostponewhatneedstobedoneorjustmaketokeneffortsatmakingsomechanges.Butifwefailtomakethebigchanges-life-a>teringchanges-ourchildrenandgrandchildrenwilIbeforcedtoinbabitaworldterrib>ydifferentfromtheonewebavebeensopriVIegedtoen>oy.

IfwecanhalIowourdiminisbments,wewiIlfind

somebenefits-astrongersenseofcommunityandfamily’tbeknowledgethatwetriedtodot}]erightthingwhenwereaIizedthatwehaddonesomeoftheworst·

TbeBuddhataughtaboutimpermanence,howeverythingiscontinuouslycbanging.Eachofushaschanged廿omwhowewerejustaminuteago.Somecellsbavedied,othershavereplacedthem.Theseareminorchanges,notevennoticeable.WestilIfunc-tionaswedidaminuteagoeventhoughwehavechanged.

l64

WITHOuRTHoucHTsWECREATETHEWoRLD

ButcIimatechangePNomorecheapoi!and,eventuaIy,nooilatanyprice?Notenoughnaturalgas〉Notenoughwater?Theseareterri觔ngWben

wecomeface-to-facewithtbeclIangestbatwefeelareoverwheImingandmorethanwecanhandIe,weinitiallyreactfromourfear.Wesayitcannotpossi-blybetrue.Wesaythosewhosufferfrominade-quateresourcesandnaturaIdisasterssufferdueto

theirkarma.OrweIookforwaystodisprovewhatpeoplearesayingOrwecboosetodonotbingasweabruptlyshutthedoorinthemessenger!sface.

AsacommenterwroteonAstyk)sblog“IthinkcognitivedissonancehasmuchtodowithourcoIIec-

tivedeniaIofresponsibility.We’reunwiIlingtosacri-ficeastandardoflivingthatcannotbesustainedwitboutexp>oitingothers.Soinsteadofchanging,wefindwaystominimizethetruthandbIameourVc-timsfortbeirtroubIes.Peopleshutoutclear’rationalargumentsthatdon>tfitwiththeirworIdviewand

self-concept.OurseIf-esteemistotal>ywrappedupwithconsumption.WehavebeentoldsincewewerechildrenthatbaVngIotsofstuffiswhatmakesus<winners>inIife·Wedon,twanttogiveanythingup-itwouldbegivingupapartofourselvesthatwe’ve

l65

E\/ERYTHINCWEDOMATTERS

workedhardtocreateandnourish.That}swhypeo-

plegetsocompletelydefensiveandpissedoffwhenyoubringupthissubject-youremessingwiththeirseIf-esteemandsenseofself-worth.llmnotjust

pointingthefingeratotherslaIsopleadguilty.”6SothereisaIotgoingoninpeopIe’sreactionsto

wordslikegIoba>warmingandresourcedep>etion.ThereactionsrevoIvearoundcbange.Weusuallydonotlikeit.TheBuddhataughtthatchangeperme-ateslife.Thatjustasourmindsarecontinuously

changing’pbenomenaareaIsocontinuouslycbang-ing.EverythingismanifestedbythemindandaI-teredbytheconsciousnessandtbus,withourthougbtswecbangetheworIdAndyet,westiIbe-Iievethatwecankeeplivingaswehavebeendoing.Wedoubt,debate,anddeny.Butdoubting,debating’anddenyingwiIlnotheIpusfixthisnew’廿ighteningwor>dofours.

NorwiIIwhatwehavebeentoldtodoforthepast

sixtyyears-goshopping-solvethisprobIem.WebelievebuyingthingswewiIImakeus}]appy.Butstudiessbowpeoplewerehappierinthel950s.Yes

6Ibid

l66

W}THOuRTHoucHTsWECREATETHEWoRLD

theyhadless-lessstu{fButtheyhadtimefortheirchiIdren,theyworkedfewerhours,andtheyfeItmoresecure>twassafeforchiIdrentowalkto

schoolPeoplecouIdIeavetheirdoorsunIockedBut

then,weweretoIdtobuymore,thatbydoingsowewouldbereaI}yhappy.

WebaveseentheresuItsoflookingforbappinessinconsuming.ltdoesnotwork.Tl]isishardIynewssincetbeBuddhataugbtover2500yearsagothathappinessdoesnotIieinnewthingsorexperiences.Happinessistobefoundwithinourselves,itIiesin

w}]atweteIIourseIves.Happinessisamentalstate,notaphysicaIstate

TbeearIierwereaIizehappinessdoesnot>ieinconsumption’theearlierwewiIIreaIizewecannot

consumeourseIvesoutofwhatisnow}]appeningItisgoingtotakemorethanchangingIigbtbuIbsandcarry1ngreusableclotbshoppingbags.TheseareofcourseanexceIIentstart,butthatisaII-abeginning

WeneedtomakechangesinourIives,ineveryaspectofourIives.WhatweteIIourseIvesabout

thosechangeswiIdeterminehowwefeeI.Wecanmakethechanges,orwecandoubt,debate,anddeny.WecancompIain,orwecanhal>owtbose

l67

EvERYrHlNGwEDOMATTERS

cbangesbybonoringthemandacceptresponsibilityforwbatwebavedone.Wecan>earntolivewitbthe

changes’understandingthatdoingsois,asAstyksays’<‘notanun>ustcruelty,butsimplywbatisaskedofus,ourshareoftheburden.>)

Peakoil)waterdepletion,andcIimatechangearesomeofthemostdestructiveconditionsthatcould

happentosocietyandthispIanetweliveon.Buttheyarewhatwehavecreated.Verysimply,t}Ieyarecauseandeffect.lnitiaIly)weactedoutofignorance.Atsomelevel,weknewtherewasonlysomuchoilandnaturalgas,butwefiguredsomecleverpersonwouldcomea>ongandfIthingsforus.Tbeywouldfindanewformofenergyorinventabettertecbnol-ogy.Itwasnotanythingweneededtobeconcernedabout.

IgnoranceisoneoftbethreepoisonstheBuddbasooftenwarnedabout.TheothertwopoisonsP

Greedandanger.Indeed,withourthoughtswecre-atetheworIdSonotonlyfromtbeeverydaystand-point’but廿omthekarmicstandpoint’webavecre﹣atedandarecurrentlycreatingtbeworldwewilIbeIivingin.TheenVronmentalchangeswearenOwbe-ginningtoexperiencearenotanun]ustpunisbment

l68

WITHOuRTHouGHTsWECREATETHEWoRLD

inHictedonus.Wehavereckless>yexploitedourplanetandnowwewillbepayingforouractions.Howwillwe>usti{\/whatwehavedonewhenourchildrenandgrandchildreninherittheworIdfromus>Whentheyrealizehowwehavelived,theywillwonderwhatwewerethinking.WhydidwenotchangewbenweIearnedoftheimmensebarmweweredoing>HowcouldwehavecaredsoIittIe?Portheworld’schildren?Porourown?

Itisuptoustofaceourdiminishmentsnow,whenwestiIIhaveachoice.Todosowbenweare

fOrcedtowou}dbeirresponsible,andIargelyfutile.NowatIeast,westiIIhavesometimetochangetbewaywedothings.

AndthisiswherethehaIIowingcomesin,fortherearebenefitstobehadifwejustrecognizeandhonorthem.Wewi>lhavemoretimewithfamilyandneighbors,benefit廿omheaItbierlifestyIes,Iearn

moreaboutourseIves,andmaybe,justmaybe,helpsavethefutureforourchildrenandourplanet.

Lifeinforty’twenty,eventenyearswiIlbeverydifferent廿omwhatitisnow.Weneedtocometo﹣

getberandIearnwhattodo>bothonacommunityleveIandasresponsibleindividuals.Weliveinauni-

l69

EVERYrHlNGWEDOMATrERs

versethatadherestotheIawofcauseandconse-

quence.Theconsequencesarenotwitbinourcon-trol.Butourcurrentkarmas,ourcurrentactions,are.

HonoringandrespectingresourcedepletionandcIi-matechangearewithinourcontrolandabiIity

Weneedtodoeverythingwithinourpowertoha|-lowthesediminishments’fortheyareours.

l70

Maythemeritsandvirtues

accruedfromtbiswork

adorntbeBuddha>sPureLand)

repaythePourKindnessesabove,

andrelievetbesufferingsofthose

intheThreePathsbeIow.

Maythosewhoseeorhearoftbis

bringforththeBodhimind,

andattheendofthislife,

beborntogether

intheLandofUltimateBliss·

WaystoReachUsht已met

www.abuddbistperspective.orgwwwamtbweborg

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KUAmitabhaBuddhistSociety(Lawrence’Kansas)www.kuedu人amtb

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