From the very moment we enter this illusionary world, we are endowed with five senses—touch, sight, hearing, taste, and smell—that serve to sustain and maintain our existence. These senses are essential not only for our physical survival but also play a profound role in our spiritual journey toward liberation.
However, overindulgence or misuse of these sensory faculties can cloud the mind, distort our perceptions, and sever the sacred connection to our true essence, leading to the formation of Greed, Hatred, and Ignorance (also known as the Three Poisons of Buddhism 貪 tān, 瞋 chēn, 痴 chī – the roots of suffering in Mahayana Buddhism).
But how do we overcome these three human traits? Is it possible to have none of that? What are the ways we can practice to reduce the greed, hatred and ignorance in us?
Let’s discuss.
The Role of Our Five Senses in Human Existence and Spiritual Growth
The moment we are born into this illusionary world, we are attached to five senses within our body to help sustain and maintain our existence. Without these five senses embodied in our body, we would not be able to survive the complex metabolism and would become robotic in nature.
Although these five senses—touch, sight, hearing, taste, and smell—are vital to the full function of our organs, humans should never overindulge in the use of these senses. Overindulging the five senses encourages attachment to material things, and could then pollute and corrupt the overall function of the brain, which in turn shapes our mindsets and destroys the sanctity of our existence on this earth.
Also read: Duality of the Mind
In truth, the duality of our five senses’ functions is obscured if we do not observe and understand that our five senses are also vital to our spiritual development in attaining liberation to Pureland realms.
A similar analogy to our five senses is money—just as money is important to our survival on this earth, we should never abuse the power of money over others. We can also utilize money to create good deeds, help others, and lessen human suffering. This is the proper way of using our money for a good cause and earning merits to uplift us in gaining spiritual attainment.
Unfortunately, the act of using money to abuse others and bring hardship to rivals is rampant everywhere, and it is a very sad reality. At the end of the day, these wicked humans will suffer all kinds of retribution, including demoting themselves into the Hade world upon passing in the afterlife.
How Do The Three Poisons of Buddhism Come to Be?
So how do we actually end up with feelings of greed, hatred and ignorance?
Without realizing, we create greed, hatred, and ignorance through our own disastrous actions. This include overindulging in food consumption, polluting our mind with all kinds of convictions in money gambling, womanizing, alcoholic drinking, laziness, idling our time, and committing all kinds of vices just to satisfy ourselves and our cravings. Never for a moment do we find it humane to treat people with contempt, inflict suffering on others, and cause painful repercussions—instead, all these stem from human greed.
Likewise, we cause all kinds of pain to others due to vengeance and revenge. We could be slighted by others who possibly spoke the wrong words or acted recklessly without bad intention. As a result of anger, we feel disgusted and release our hatred and ill will through harmful actions onto others. This is the uncontrolled thought and emotion of an ordinary human being.
How Can We Reduce Greed, Hatred and Ignorance in Ourselves?
Indeed, it is never easy to contain our hatred, greed, and ignorance unless we have undergone all kinds of hardships and immense suffering through vast experiences. Only through these life experiences can we tame ourselves into more dignified, humble beings and learn to forgive and forget human weaknesses and shortcomings.
Another way is through training to reduce our five senses into one by constantly monitoring simple meals, practicing moderation in our needs, and always staying humble in our character. Unfortunately, in modern times, many are brought up in soft landing environments and hence cannot develop self-reliance and discipline, which eventually leads to deterioration in character and shallow foresight.
Lastly, there is the evil root of ignorance, which causes all setbacks in our life, regardless of materialistic or spiritual status. One can never understand that ignorance is never inborn nor is it a natural existence of the human race.
The only way to eradicate this ignorance is to undergo all kinds of beneficial exposures that enrich us with knowledge and wisdom. Likewise, we should gain as much experience as possible to widen our scope of understanding and comprehension of life. This way, everything becomes clear, and we achieve insight to conduct a good balance of righteous living on this earth.
However, many never set the goal to achieve such knowledge and insight to eradicate ignorance but rather, prefer seeking ways to acquire more wealth and power to satisfy their egoism. Hence, ignorance is rampant everywhere and is the greatest fire of destruction through wrong views and erroneous thoughts.
If we ever want to seriously destroy ignorance in our lives, then we must consider the broader perspective of everything and the ability to grasp the fundamental aspects of comprehension on anything that comes our way. Notwithstanding having these two initiatives, we also need to constantly practice mindfulness, concentration, and contemplation to build the correct force of insight to destroy our ignorance.
Also read: Practising Mindfulness
Conclusion
Needless to say, a lot of patience, endurance, and perseverance are required, and only through our drive and initiative will we be able to achieve such a feat of success in establishing the light of wisdom over Greed, Hatred, and Ignorance. It is part of human nature to feel greed and hatred, and even being ignorant of things in life, but we should always endeavor to reduce these unbeneficial traits in ourselves, not only for the betterment towards our spiritual cultivation but also, improve our daily living to become happier, calmer and filled with knowledge and insight.