Shundo David Haye – Zen Priest

‘In Buddhism, we say that the three poisons of greed, anger, and ignorance form the basic ingredients of our suffering. Like poison, they contaminate the balance, clarity, and kindness of our true nature. These fundamental or root poisons of greed, anger, and ignorance, alone and in combination, make up all of the endless varieties of our suffering in thought, emotion, and action.

In Sanskrit, the word for these poisons is klesha, which has the connotation of something that obscures or covers. Kleshas are said to be like clouds that cover the sun, which is always shining but is sometimes hidden from view. They hide the reality of our buddhanature from our conscious awareness.

The three poisons can combine to create all kinds of unhappiness, and they seem very real when we are in their grip. The way we are driven by these elemental forces can be seen easily when we look directly at our behavior, thoughts, and inner feelings. We notice that there are all kinds of thoughts that begin with the phrases “I want,” “I hate,” and “I don’t care.” It’s hard for us to see beyond these habits of mind, which of course lead to even more destructive habits of behavior.

All the kleshas are based on dualism: me and you, happiness and suffering, good and bad, right and wrong. From the nondual viewpoint, the mind that only sees opposites is distorted and can’t comprehend the reality of pervasive, awakened nature without falling in and out of dualism. We cling to the “everything sucks” view until it seesaws into “everything is beautiful.” Without a nondual view, we go back and forth endlessly in dualities.

There are many names for this nondual, awakened nature. We can describe it as unborn, free from categories, free from clinging, and free from self. It is always present. It cannot be opposed or attained. It can’t be understood by the discursive mind. It can only be known by the awakened heart/mind. Bodhidharma, the fifth-century Indian teacher who is said to have brought Zen to China, says that buddhanature is “inconceivably wondrous.”

There is more good news. Buddhanature is not just limited to human beings. There is nothing in the universe outside of this awakened nature.

In the undivided reality that holds all opposites, everything reveals the truth of awakening. Animals and plants, tiles and walls, trees and stars all demonstrate buddhanature. For the mind that endlessly creates dualistic thoughts and views, this is hard to understand. But once it is seen, it is indeed wondrous and profoundly reassuring.’ (from Lion’s Roar)