Monday, May 31, 2010

Open your eyes

Why is it so difficult for people to see all the sides of a story? We're so quick to take sides, based on our preconceived notions about the parties involved. I'm not saying we need to justify each party's actions, but at least attempt to understand their logic? View the bigger picture? Consider all points of view? But no, the majority of people are content to see the world through blinkers, and use their personal preference (chanda) to cultivate ill-will (dvesha) towards the perceived perpetrator. All because of their ignorance (moha) of the true nature of things.

Why? Why not make the effort to see things in a different light? You might revert to your original stance, which is fine...but at least you've considered alternative ideas. Didn't Lord Buddha tell us to examine the Dhamma before accepting it? Surely the same goes for everything else?

I don't get it.

(Chanda, dvesha and moha are three of the four defilements as detailed in the Agati Sutta [AN 4.19]; the fourth being bhaya - fear.)

Sabbe sattā bhavantu sukhitattā!