It seems like it’s human nature to focus on the negative. There’s an expectation that everything is always going to be just how we want it to be, all sunshine and good food. But in reality, most of these things we perceive as negative are mere inconveniences. The Buddha pointed this out when he stated that life contains some difficulties, unpleasantries, and struggles. He advised us to stay in the middle of the road, not veering off into the ditch of despair on one side, or eternalism on the other. Two of the habits we can develop are kshanti paramita (patience and tolerance) and virya paramita (taking energetic action, having zeal, persevering).
Even though our nature may be to exaggerate our inconveniences, there are times when things really are bad. Undeniably not right. And they can be dismissed as “empty,” or “impermanent,” but there are times when kshanti & virya need to be exercised. The equanimity of patience, tolerance, and acceptance isn’t apathetic. The energy and action of not settling doesn’t have to be a grand gesture that calls attention to ourselves as much as it does the issue at hand.
This can be seen as how we accept events, but not settle for them. We accept that there are indeed serious difficulties, struggle, pain and suffering. They’re there, and our attitude toward them doesn’t change them any or make them go away. My dismissing as “empty” the suffering of a starving child doesn’t fill their belly.
There have been a couple self-immolations recently outside the Israeli Consulate in Atlanta, and outside their embassy in DC. We may be aware of the number of the same happening in Tibet, in protest to the PRC’s actions there. And we may be familiar with the photo of the Vietnamese monk who set himself alight in Saigon/Ho Chi Minh City—which technically wasn’t about the war, but against the Vietnamese regimes treating of Buddhists and Buddhism. These weren’t suicides of despair, centered on “I” feel bad, “I” can’t get out of this, but rather to call attention to a situation that seems to be met with a combination of apathy and lethargy. Their sacrifices were for the benefit of others, a benefit that the suicide knows they won’t enjoy personally.
Keeping these things in mind, how does a bodhisattva display patience, tolerance, forbearance, and energy? How do we not only practice as if our hair was on fire, but extend our practice in all matters in life? Do we have to literally set ourselves on fire because there is injustice and suffering? Probably not. But we can ask ourselves, “Who have I helped, and what action did I take today?”
Myeong Jin Eunsahn gave the Dharma talk February 24, 2024.
