Victims of Viruses

~ By Ajahn Jayasāro ~

How do we look at people who think nothing of the suffering they inflict on others in their pursuit of sense pleasures, power and status?

How do we look at people whose hatred leads them to physically and verbally abuse others, or event to maim and kill innocent people?

How do we look at people who through foolishness, thoughtlessness and confusion destroy the very things they should most want to preserve?

Looking at such people in ways that lead to aversion, depression or despair is to lose the path.

It is wiser to see them as victims of viruses. They have contracted the greed virus, the hatred virus, the delusion virus. When we see the symptoms of these viruses manifesting in others, we should remind ourselves that we have them too, if only in milder forms. We should recognise how dangerous these viruses are and how fortunate we are that the Buddha has with his great compassion, given us the antidote. We should re-double our efforts to apply this antidote to cure ourselves and, when possible, to share it with others.

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"Food for the Heart", a series of Dhamma teachings handwritten weekly is posted on the Buddhadāsa Indapañño Archives page with Ajahn's kind permission.

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For other teachings by Ven. Ajahn Jayasāro, please visit the Panyaprateep Foundation website.