Greed, Anger, Foolishness, and Ego
Posted 10-22-2010 at 06:02 AM by LookinForMayberry
I've been reading the teachings of Buddha at bedtime for some time now. These seem to be his top four reasons for human suffering. I know they've caused havoc in my personal life, down the years.
The first three seem to stem from the fourth. People may say that "Love makes the world go 'round," but if it's true, they must mean self-love. We seem to each be thinking: "Me, me, me, me, me, me, & me," unless it's about how someone else has offended me, or has something I want, or can give me some jollies.
So, I ask myself: "How do I be alert for my greed, anger, foolishness, and ego?" After spending a day of paying attention for those things, I figure I the greater patience-buster is waiting for me to NOT experience those things!
Every minute, my mind seems to want something I don't have, be irritated with something or someone, or throw off the burden of whatever responsibility I'm engaged in and go do something stupid. It's not like I am four. I am fifty-four! Sheesh.
So, I figure the best thing I can do is work to serve others, and forget about me. Just nip all those "me" thoughts at their base -- ego.
Tomorrow, I am going to a workshop in Seattle to learn to become an advocate for the homeless. I am hoping to soon get my volunteer orientation at the pet shelter. IF I can commit at least two week nights to that work, and maybe a weekend a month, it should keep me busy enough on top of my other responsibilities to stop the Me junk.
More on my progress, later.
The first three seem to stem from the fourth. People may say that "Love makes the world go 'round," but if it's true, they must mean self-love. We seem to each be thinking: "Me, me, me, me, me, me, & me," unless it's about how someone else has offended me, or has something I want, or can give me some jollies.
So, I ask myself: "How do I be alert for my greed, anger, foolishness, and ego?" After spending a day of paying attention for those things, I figure I the greater patience-buster is waiting for me to NOT experience those things!
Every minute, my mind seems to want something I don't have, be irritated with something or someone, or throw off the burden of whatever responsibility I'm engaged in and go do something stupid. It's not like I am four. I am fifty-four! Sheesh.
So, I figure the best thing I can do is work to serve others, and forget about me. Just nip all those "me" thoughts at their base -- ego.
Tomorrow, I am going to a workshop in Seattle to learn to become an advocate for the homeless. I am hoping to soon get my volunteer orientation at the pet shelter. IF I can commit at least two week nights to that work, and maybe a weekend a month, it should keep me busy enough on top of my other responsibilities to stop the Me junk.
More on my progress, later.
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