In Buddhism, it is taught that the root cause of suffering and rebirth are the three poisons of greed, hatred and ignorance which are represented at the centre in Buddhism’s wheel of life as: The rooster is for greed, the snake for hatred and the pig for ignorance.
Buddhism does not teach that humanity will collectively overcome the three poisons but rather they will repeat across time as recurring challenges in the human journey, though Nirvana is the way to ending individual suffering. Collective efforts at reducing suffering arestill associated with some interpretations of Buddhism, however.
The Three Poisons Recur
Having grown up with stories of inevitable progress as innate to this era in human history, the current political chaos caused by Trump represent a sort of cognitive whiplash for the western psyche.
It is not to say that linear progress was an illusion or cannot continue in different ways, but it is a recognition that the three poisons are alive and well and indeed, always have been in the human story. So, how do the three poisons manifest in the current socio-political landscape?
Greed is seen in corporate influence (e.g. money in politics), monopolization of the internet, Trump’s desire for control, and the erosion of civility for the purposes of profit or power.
Hatred appears in bigotry, polarization, scapegoating, and resentful politics. It is a significant part of what is fuelling suffering in the United States.
Ignorance is also a prominent issue in our current predicament with widespread misinformation dividing societies, wilful ignorance, and the prevalence of ideological echo chambers. In Buddhism, Ignorance is more than just a lack of accurate information but a fundamental misperception of reality.
Of course, this is not the full story. Resistance and progress have not vanished. They remain active while the three poisons are more at the fore in the current landscape, but they have not disappeared.
Is Linear Progress a Myth?
With that said, is linear progress a myth? I suspect the answer is yes and no. On the one hand, many of us have experienced a kind of cognitive whiplash in going from Obama 2008 to the current mess. At the time of Obama’s first election, there was discussion of a ‘post-racism America’ and, well, clearly that was naïve.
With that said, across generations and on a global scale, change continues. Perhaps linear progress is best recognised as an active element among many and that, in hindsight, it was not secured at the fore as much as we assumed.
So, it is and isn’t a myth. The three poisons, however, are recurring components of the human story and sometimes (like now), they are clearer for us to see. We are, in many ways, remembering what our ancestors already knew.
The Antidotes to the Three Poisons
Buddhism teaches that the three poisons exist so long as beings are unenlightened, but Nirvana represents the end of suffering and these afflictions.
Generosity, loving-kindness, and wisdom represent some of the key antidotes to our current predicament, but, of course, political resistance (e.g., the recent No King’s day of protests) and societal resilience are also essential.
Where the antidotes to the three poisons and socio-political resilience meet might represent the intersection of guidance for our modern context.
Another consideration (though likely much harder to integrate) is Buddhism’s idea of non-attachment to outcome. It goes without saying that the outcomes do matter but it is worth considering the value of not letting hope or fear overwhelm the mind, especially in times like these.
Non-attachment does not mean indifference, however. It could arguably be seen as a form of resilience. It is a signal to act with compassion even if outcomes may not be inevitable or immediate.
We care because we do and seek to be part of answers that we cannot guarantee in the immediacy. Of course, resistance matters all the same, even if it may not feel like ‘victory’ any time soon.
Meditation is considered a key method to overcoming the poisons within the self and aligning with the antidotes to the three poisons. Indeed, meditation could act as a form of self-care and resilience in the current predicament.
All in all, Buddhism offers resonant guidance and considerations that are relevant to the current political context.
Buddhism may teach us that the three poisons never vanish on a collective scale, but it also teaches that the possibilities of liberation, wisdom, and reduction of suffering remain ever possible too. A better world remains possible.
