What is poison?
1 : a substance that can cause people or animals to die or to become very sick if it gets into their bodies especially by being swallowed
2 : something (such as an idea, emotion, or situation) that is very harmful or unpleasant
What is medicine?
1 : a substance that is used in treating disease or relieving pain and that is usually in the form of a pill or a liquid
2 : the science that deals with preventing, curing, and treating diseases
Three mental poisons:
- Greed
- Hatred
- Ignorance
Three medicines:
- Gratitude
- Compassion
- Wisdom
How do we acquire these medicines?
- Being mindful of the impermanence of all existence, people and possessions, big and small, and moving toward genuine appreciation of them moment to moment
- Being mindful of the dissatisfaction (dukha) inherent in aversion, hostility, and ill-will and moving to share peace, equanimity, and true happiness with all
- Being mindful of the ignorance inherent in conditioned existence and moving toward an deep understanding of the nature of reality though earnest and honest practice