Giving Up Our Addictions

We often hear in Buddhism that Buddhas and bodhisattvas will help us. Hearing that, many look around at the suffering of uncountable people and ask where are the Buddhas and bodhisattvas? With all the problems we are facing, we certainly need help. So why aren't they helping us?

To some degree they are, we just don't know it. But that's only to some degree.

Why aren't they helping more?

Anyone who has tried to help an alcoholic or drug addict will sadly admit that if the alcoholic or addict does not want help, there is little that can be done to help them. Before the person can be helped, they have to be willing to give up their addiction to alcohol or drugs.

It's the same with the rest of us.

We need to let go of our addictions.

What addictions could we possible have?

Greed for starters. We are addicted to the conveniences we consider it is our right to enjoy. We are addicted to doing what we want when we want. Addicted to consuming more than we need, to indulging our senses, and, generally, to putting our own interests before those of others. 

Anger. We are addicted to thinking we know what is right and that those who disagree with us are wrong, and need to be corrected. We are addicted to expressing how we feel without first thinking how it will affect others. Addicted to failing to practice self-restraint, to not caring enough about others, and, generally, to being so wrapped up in our own emotions that we ignore those of others.

Ignorance. We are addicted to our own complacency and laziness. We are addicted to seeing the suffering of others, silently thanking whoever or whatever that it wasn't us, and continuing with business as usual. Addicted to thinking we can escape the consequences of what we do, to not feeling the suffering of others as acutely as we do our own.

So many addictions. Addictions we don't want to give up.

It is not that Buddhas and bodhisattvas do not want to help. It is that we have not yet done what is necessary for them to be able to do so.

The Princess and Her Two Gifts

If we associate with and learn from people of great virtue,

we will benefit greatly. Day by day,

our own virtues will grow and our faults will lessen.

If we do not associate with and learn from these people,

we will suffer a great loss.

We will attract people without virtue,

and nothing we do will succeed.

 

Princess Christine began the day as she always did. She stretched, got out of bed, and called her maid. After the maid helped her dress, the princess went to the dining hall where she greeted her father, King Alfred.

The king and the princess were served breakfast by Willis, their new butler. Willis also told them all the latest news. The king was delighted with this because his new butler updated him more than the royal advisors did! Willis told them that two strangers were on their way to the castle. The princess asked if one was a tall, handsome prince. Willis replied no. King Alfred asked if one was a rich taxpayer, but he too was told no.

Willis reassured the two disappointed royals that it would still be an important day. When the king asked why, Willis explained, “Sire, each visitor is bringing a gift for the princess. May I make a suggestion to her highness?”

As the king nodded, Willis turned and said, “Princess, instead of greeting them as yourself, I suggest you do so as your maid. You can put on an old cloak.” He brought one in from the hallway and gave the cloak to her. 

She put it on and asked excitedly, “Now what?

“Your visitors will arrive any moment. You will need to use wisdom. I am confident that you will know what to do.”

Then they heard loud knocking. Eagerly the princess ran to the door. She flung it open and saw an elderly, dignified man. “Sir, I am the princess’s maid. May I help you?”

“Child, I am a virtuous sage from far away. I have knowledge that will greatly benefit your mistress. Kindly tell her I am here.”

Before the princess could reply, she saw a carriage approaching. As it stopped, a groom jumped down and opened the door. A beautiful woman carrying a sparkling box stepped out and stood by the carriage. She announced, “Tell your mistress she has a very important visitor. In this box are secrets that will make her rich and powerful!”

Not sure who to talk to first, the princess turned to the sage. He who held out his arm as if to reassure her and softly said, “I bring goodness and truth for the princess.”

The princess looked again at the beautiful woman.

“I bring her wealth and power! All in this box.”

As if mesmerized by the box, the princess walked out the door. She continued past the virtuous sage. And away from his gift of goodness and truth. Her eyes were held by the magical box. She forgot that she was dressed as a maid and reached out to touch it.

The woman struck her. “Impudent girl! This is for the princess not her wretch of a servant!”

Instead of being angry, the princess felt as if she had just awakened from a trance. “How could I have been so blind,” she marveled, “as to think a selfish gift more valuable than a virtuous one? Thank goodness that I realized it in time.” With that, she threw off the cape. “I am Princess Christine. To me, your gift is worthless. I do not want it.”

When the woman cried out, the king came running, Willis at his side. They all watched as the woman turned into an old witch and the box into a snake, which coiled around her arm. Then suddenly both were gone.

The princess turned to the sage. “Sir, I am ashamed. I was greedy and foolish. Caught up by selfish thoughts, I turned away from virtue. I will never do so again. If by chance you still think me worthy of your gift of goodness and truth, I would be most honored by it.”

“Princess,” said the sage, “it takes wisdom to know that we have made a mistake and courage to admit it. The following few words—my gift to you—may appear to be simple. But they are beyond value. To become virtuous, we need to always be with those who are virtuous and learn from them.”

“Princess, my king is looking for a bride for his son. She must be humble and know the value of virtue. The prince has also been looking. He sent word that he believes he has found his bride. I now agree with him. Would you like to meet your prince?”

“Oh, yes please!” replied Princess Christine.

“Here he is. His name is Prince Willis.”

 

At Least for a Moment

If I cannot be compassionate and awakened for all my tomorrows,

may I be for the rest of this life.

If I cannot be compassionate and awakened for the rest of this life,

may I be for a year.

If I cannot be compassionate and awakened for a year,

may I be for day.

If I cannot be compassionate and awakened for a day,

may I be for a minute,

If I cannot be compassionate and awakened for a minute,

may I be for a moment.

And may that moment expand until it becomes

a minute,

then a day,

then a year,

then a lifetime,

and then, finally, forever.

The Big Bright Electric-blue Plastic Basket

We had spent over a week cleaning the Pure Land College for the arrival of our Teacher, Venerable Master Chin Kung. This was not your ordinary cleaning. Everything was cleaned or organized or retouched or whatever was necessary to make it like new, but even cleaner. Buildings were swept down with brooms to remove the dust from the previous week's dust storm and the windows were washed. The gardens were weeded, the lawns mowed and edged, and the shrubbery trimmed. Plastic stools from the dining room were washed and the insulation under the metal roof over the parking lot was repaired.

Just as we all wanted, everything was perfect.

With one exception.

On the platform supporting a small water tank between our dormitory and the parking lot was a big electric-blue plastic basket. The houses, sheds, outbuilding, main buildings are beige. Everywhere you look is beige.

With that one exception.

The first time I saw the eye-catching electric-blue petrochemical marvel in front of the water tank, I moved it to behind the water tank and, thus, out of sight. Ahhh, much better.

But the next day the blue marvel was again in front of the water tank and in full view. (Possibly even from as far away as space…)

So I again moved it to behind the water tank. And again, this was much better.

Then, the next day there it was in front again. And so I moved it again. And there it stayed. Until (you guessed it) the next day.

On that day, looking at the big electric-blue plastic basket, I reached a decision.

I could live with it in front of the water tank. It really didn’t matter. Apparently it was where it was destined to be. And so, I let go. Not grudgingly. Not out of frustration. I let go because it just really wasn’t that important. And now, while I don’t walk by thinking “Wow, what a terrific big electric-blue petrochemical marvel of a basket,” I no longer feel an urge to move it either. It’s there. My mind is calm.

The basket, the basket mover, and I have learned to exist in harmony.

How?

By my not fussing with things that didn't need to be fussed over.

May We Learn from the Animals

May we have

the sense of humor and liveliness of the goats,

the maternal instincts and protective nature of the hens,

and the sassiness of the roosters.

May we have

the gentleness and the strength of the cattle,

the wisdom, serenity, and humility of the donkeys.

May we appreciate the need for community as do the sheep

and choose our companions as carefully as do the rabbits.

May we have the faithfulness and commitment to family as the geese

and the adaptability and affability of the ducks.

May we have the intelligence, loyalty, and affectation of the pigs

and the inquisitiveness, sensitivity, and playfulness of the turkeys.

May we learn from the animals

what we need to become better people.

~ Colleen Patrick-Goudreau, The Vegan Table