Transforming the Three Poisons

[Bion]

Transforming the Three Poisons

From a practical standpoint, as long as you still "want", want the world to be different than it is, even if you "want" this difference for all beings, you still create suffering because the world is not the way you want it to be. Perhaps, better to radically accept things "as they are" for all beings, yet continue to work to improve.

Gassho

Dick

sat/lah

Well, there’s two sides to that, I believe. We can accept the unchangeable reality of the present moment, but knowing how karma works, we can definitely want for the “next present moment” to be different and can actively work to make that happen, yet accepting in each moment the true state of things, even when we don’t succeed (momentarily). I think equanimity does not kill hope nor should it make us give up on living by vow (which, I believe, is how as boddhisatvas we exist in the world).

[emoji1374] Sat Today

[Amelia]

Well, there’s two sides to that, I believe. We can accept the unchangeable reality of the present moment, but knowing how karma works, we can definitely want for the “next present moment” to be different and can actively work to make that happen, yet accepting in each moment the true state of things, even when we don’t succeed (momentarily). I think equanimity does not kill hope nor should it make us give up on living by vow (which, I believe, is how as boddhisatvas we exist in the world).

[emoji1374] Sat Today

I will leave karma and its various interpretations out of it, but I agree that we practice to recognize the ingredients of our life and how to cook with them to make the best meal possible (to borrow a common metaphor), while SIMULTANEOUSLY accepting our life just as it is.

Gassho
Sat, lah

[Bion]

I will leave karma and its various interpretations out of it, but I agree that we practice to recognize the ingredients of our life and how to cook with them to make the best meal possible (to borrow a common metaphor), while SIMULTANEOUSLY accepting our life just as it is.

Gassho
Sat, lah

I meant karma (voluntary action) creates very palpable consequences. Knowing that, we continuously choose to act in ways beneficial to other beings, or that might lead to beneficial results.

[emoji1374] Sat Today

[Prashanth]

"if ego or self is removed from greed, anger and ignorance..."

But how? Theoretically it sounds plausible, but how to actually achieve it?

Gassho.

Sat/lied down

Sent from my GS190 using Tapatalk

[Amelia]

"if ego or self is removed from greed, anger and ignorance..."

But how? Theoretically it sounds plausible, but how to actually achieve it?

Greed, anger and ignorance are products of our ego, or who we think we are or should be. However, those emotions or states aren't inherently bad, it is how we behave when we notice them that is important, so it is a lifelong practice-- not necessarily something that is achieved once and done with.

Gassho
Sat, lah

[Jundo]

From a practical standpoint, as long as you still "want", want the world to be different than it is, even if you "want" this difference for all beings, you still create suffering because the world is not the way you want it to be. Perhaps, better to radically accept things "as they are" for all beings, yet continue to work to improve.

Well, there’s two sides to that, I believe. We can accept the unchangeable reality of the present moment, but knowing how karma works, we can definitely want for the “next present moment” to be different and can actively work to make that happen, yet accepting in each moment the true state of things, even when we don’t succeed (momentarily). I think equanimity does not kill hope nor should it make us give up on living by vow (which, I believe, is how as boddhisatvas we exist in the world).

I will leave karma and its various interpretations out of it, but I agree that we practice to recognize the ingredients of our life and how to cook with them to make the best meal possible (to borrow a common metaphor), while SIMULTANEOUSLY accepting our life just as it is.

Well, sounds as if the three of you are pretty much saying exactly what the others said, which is also just what I would say ... so I have to agree with you! I call this "acceptance without acceptance," accepting thoroughly from one eye without self and other, good vs. bad, anything lacking, anything in need of doing ... and yet, and yet, not accepting from the other eye, lightly judging (i.e., judging what needs to be judged, but don't cling here either), knowing the bad and trying to make it better, doing what needs to be done ... with both eyes open together, a Buddha's Wisdom.

"if ego or self is removed from greed, anger and ignorance..."

But how? Theoretically it sounds plausible, but how to actually achieve it?

As one sits in the radical equanimity of Zazen, not judging (except with a slight positive feeling in the bones), in radical equanimity, not grabbing thoughts, letting things be, sitting with a trust that there is nothing more to do, no other place to go, sitting for the sake of sitting ... the hard demands and judgements of the little self soften or are fully dropped away.

Then, rising from the cushion, hopefully such insight stays in the bones as we return to a world of things to fix, places to go, work to do.

Gassho, J

STLah

Sorry to run long.