Three Poisons

Greed, hatred, and delusion:

The three unwholesome roots.

They are responsible for so much suffering:

Pain, sadness, disputes…

 

"I want, I want, I want…":

Such is the urge that drives us.

And we, poor fools, are unable to see

The good things of which it deprives us.

 

Hatred buttresses the ego

With vengeance, distrust, and despair.

We end up being inextricably

Caught in its captious snare!

 

Delusion poisons us all

And obscures wrong and right.

We flounder about in blind confusion,

Unable to see the light.

 

But, hark! All is not lost.

Three antidotes exist:

Generosity, loving-kindness,

And wisdom--just a short list.

 

Generosity quenches

Our constant, greedy craving.

A truly magnanimous spirit leaves

No room for misbehaving.

 

With loving-kindness we see

The good that comes from caring.

Ugly hatred can't survive

When it's kindness that we're sharing.

 

Delusion is maybe the hardest

Unwholesome root to destroy.

But just imagine conquering ignorance

And bathing in radiant joy!

 

If we applied to the poisons

The antidotes listed above,

What a world we could all live in!--

A world full of peace and love.

 

(5-27-15)