Another "Will Smith" waiting to happen: Are you uprooting the defilements?

A few weeks ago, I was urging a friend to do some meditation. I have known him for many years. He is a Buddhist and have been doing lots of philanthropic activities for most of his adult life. He is an active member of Tzu-Chi Buddhist Merit Society. I know they don't do meditation and I was thinking it is timely that he incorporates some meditation into his daily routine. He then explained that "their" (meaning Tzu-Chi) style of meditation is to behave well from moment to moment, being aware of our behaviour and tasks at hand that we are doing at every single moment. Basically, being mindful of ourselves and keep our emotions in check.  

There are quite a number of schools of thought with this way of thinking. Not just Tzu-Chi. I am not saying what they are doing is wrong. Not at all. Instead, I am saying, there is MORE that you need to do.  

Venerable Ashin Tejaniya had this advice, which is also the title of his book: "Awareness Alone is Not Enough". I had this realisation a few years back that what I am doing so far, even with my meditation, it simply was not enough to deal with my negative emotions. I realise that what we are doing is simply akin to sweeping the defilements "under the carpet" of our mind. They are basically all still there. The truth is we think we have dealt with our negative emotions but seriously, and you're be surprised when it popped its "ugly head" one day, that all the potentials of your negativities are all still very much inside you. It is frightening actually, especially when you think you are such a nice guy and most people think you are. But one day, in one moment of carelessness, out springs the "tiger of anger" or jealousy or any other negativities. Then the next moment, when you have come back to your senses, you wonder where does that emotion come from? Then you start to look on who or what to blame? It's probably this. It's that thing, ... that person. etc etc etc. BUT IT IS REALLY ABOUT YOURSELF. YOUR OWN DEFILEMENTS WHICH YOU HAVE BASICALLY NOT UPROOTED.

Very recently...at the recently concluded Oscars award 2022, the whole world witnessed Will Smith walked up on stage to smack Chris Rock on his face and then twice shouted vulgar words at the latter. And it is a shame that this was telecast live internationally. It is such a shame that the world has to be witness to such abusive and violent behaviour. And I have seen video of movie commentators commented that those actors that have worked with Will Smith will testify that he is such a good person. Has always been. He was not known to be a violent person. So, what happened? It's the same answer. The defilements are lurking somewhere inside his mind, waiting for your moment of weakness to arise. 

Just to side track and comment about this incident, in case anyone thinks it is okay to slap another person who had joked about your family, think again. Firstly, presenters at such award shows are expected to joke about everyone and anything. That had been the case in all previous Oscars. So, such jokes, even if inappropriate are not out of line. Second, many commented that there are worst jokes than that, and yet, the person who joked did not key assaulted on stage. Third, it is not a criminal offense to joke about someone else. But to physically hit someone is a CRIMINAL OFFENCE. Do you know that? At most, even if it was inappropriate (which it was not), the joke may only be unwise. But the physical assault was wrong! Do you now understand the difference between being unwise and committing a wrong action? It is not both are wrong. Nay, only the person physically hitting another was wrong.  You may watch the video attached here. 

When I realised this, I began to question the meditation method that I have been doing all the while. I asked whether there was something deficient in it. I always knew that the measure of our religious practice has been the reduction of defilements, i.e. reduction in greed/ desire, anger/hatred and delusions/ignorance. I started to check. I started to question the various Buddhist techniques available. And finally, I made a tactical switch in my meditation method to incorporate Vipassana to investigate the arising of fetters through the six sense doors. I believe the Buddha taught Vipassana in quite a few scriptures. One of them being Maha Satipatthana Sutta. You do not need to give up the meditation method whatsoever it is that you are currently doing. Only that you need to incorporate some principles based on Vipassana on observation of your defilements. Also, if the meditation technique is purely samatha, then it will not be able to uproot any defilements. You have to incorporate vipassana for uprooting of defilements. 

Okay. That's all for now. There are many "Will Smiths" around actually. Perhaps waiting to happen. Do you want to bet it won't happen to you? That you would not just snapped and do something stupid? Don't bet on it. Deal with your defilements now. Don't sweep it under the mind carpet!

#satipatthana #mindfulness #defilements #WillSmith #Oscars2022

If you like this post, do consider reading this one https://buddha-and-me.blogspot.com/2012/11/dont-let-your-character-shy-you-from.html   Take care!