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Originally written in English

The Poison is the Medicine

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 practitionersand skillful Vajrayana practitiners, no lesspoison 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, AngerJealousy, and Ignorance) are also called the “5 poisonsbecause 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 notewithout 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 dislcaimerthe 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” (akathat 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 alland 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.”   (akaI 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

Originally written in English

Simplicity

March 15th, 2010

Simplicity is something that many of us want to achieve.  In fact, I heard Anyen Rinpoche speaking about it with a student just this afternoon.   Today, when I heard Rinpoche’s advice, I was reminded how simplicity often evades us.  We may misunderstand it completelyand how to achieve itwhile we trying to force the appearance . . . Continue reading »

Originally written in English

Silver Lining

March 10th, 2010

Isn’t it amazing how the most difficult things often turn out to be for the best?

Originally written in English

Gratitude

March 8th, 2010

There are hundreds of things to be grateful for at this very moment. How many of them have you called to mind today?

Origination language not set

Revising Our Lives

March 4th, 2010

Writing is sort of like lifewe start with raw material and then refine it, mix in the good qualities that arise from the spiritual path, and make it richer in the process.

Originally written in English

Following a Lama

March 1st, 2010

Developing a relationship with a Lama (sometimes translated asSpiritual Friendby skillful translators, to avoid spooking some of us Westerners who fear any notion of hierarchy) is definitely something that most students struggle with.
Many of us know the stories, especially of famous Yogis in Tibetan history such as Milarepa, who worked to overcome their . . . Continue reading »