March 18th, 2010

This isn’t just Lojung (mind training)…it’s medical science too!   If you have any doubt, check out this article:

http://health.howstuffworks.com/health-illness/treatment/medicine/medications/poison-as-medicine.htm

Briefly, the article describes how the venom or poison of deadly plants and insects is used to treat severe or life-threatening conditions such as heart attacks or exposure to nerve agents. ; Poisons are also used in vaccines, where a poisonous substance is introduced into the body in small doses so that the body produces antibodies that can deal with it. ; (I apologize for these poorly drafted medical explanations. ; If you have insight into the practice of medicine, please generously offer them!). ; Additionally, poison is used in treatments like cancer immunotherapy, where a toxic substance  being produced within a tumor is used to create a medicine that can kill the same deadly tumor. ; Like quantum physics, this is another sophisticated and magical area where science confirms what the Buddha already knew thousands of years ago.

For us, as spiritual practitioners–and skillful Vajrayana practitiners, no less–poison is probably the best medicine we have. ; Mental and emotional poison, in the form of difficult situations, hardships, suffering, grief, frustration, anxiety, depression, or fear, are all our greatest motivation to transcend complacency, to generate renunciation, and to take up the spiritual path. ; The root afflictive emotions  (Desire, Pride, Anger,  Jealousy, and Ignorance) are also called the “5 poisons’ because they, too, have this uncanny ability to poison us (quite literally, I think), at the same time that they offer us the opportunity for transcendence and liberation. ;  Consider sending them a thank you note–without them (as fodder), where would we be?

The poison is the medicine. ; In the secret mantryana teachings, this is the image of the peacock, adept at digesting poison. ; This handy lojung phrase is also the reason why in the ngondro (Tib. foundational practices) teachings, during the practice of taking refuge, we visualize those we consider our enemies in front of us while we visualize those we love deeply beside us. ; We are encouraged to recognize the great gift of mental and emotional agitation that they give us, and to transform our own agitated mind into one that is filled with compassion and loving kindness.

My close friend and dharma sister Tasha often uses this phase in ordinary conversation. ; If you try it, you’ll actually notice how often it comes up just naturally. ; You’ll be talking about something (anything really) and notice how it just kind of flows from the lips. ; (my dislcaimer–the following are just hypothetical examples)… “My boss gave me this truly terrible assignment that I was sure I could not do. ; But it turned out that I did it and I did it well.”  And (in my case) Tasha will smile and say, “The poison is the medicine” (aka “that was just what you needed!)   “I talked to my mother today and I felt like she didn’t listen to me or notice me at all…and that made me realize how important it is to be a good listener when I speak with others.”   The reply: “The poison is the medicine.”   (aka “I gleaned insight out of this situation.”)

Of course, anyone can fill in and do Tasha’s job. ; And you’re already so close to the best person you could possibly find to do it…

Allison

www.anyenrinpoche.com