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Basic Buddhist Teachings (Spring) 25 - The Three Poisons
Breathing in—breathing out is the path that brings us into nirvana right in our breath and body, by smiling to each breath and touching the state of non-anger, coolness. Nirvana is not outside of birth and death, nor outside of afflictions, but is made from exactly those materials—not by cutting off craving, anger, or sorrow as in surgery, but by transforming them through mindfulness and insight, day by day. The practitioner knows how to use afflictions and suffering as green compost for the fruits of peace, accumulating the capital of non-greed and non-anger thanks to non-delusion—true understanding.
The human mind consists of two parts: the quick-reacting surface and the deep store consciousness containing both insight and afflictions. Practicing deep listening helps us recognize the moment of automatic reaction, stop, and let words—whether criticism or praise—sink deeply, touching the seed of non-dual insight within us. Only when we invite our insight to meet and dissolve together with the painful, angry emotions lying deep at the bottom, can we truly transform at the root and live wholly, no longer split into “two people,” but dwelling peacefully in the present moment.