The Thirty-Seven Practices of Bodhisattvas
I was challenged, by Zen Buddhist Practitioner Fusatsu, to study the Thirty-Seven Practices of Bodhisattvas. I’m a spirituality nerd, so I was all in.
Generally speaking, I read one a day out loud in the morning, again in the evening and I thought about it in between. When I got to the fifth one, I had to stop. It was too important to not give it my complete attention. I’ve looked at it multiple times since then. I’ve contemplated it. I’ve researched it. I’ve talked to others about it and now here I am blogging about it.
It says “When you associate with evil companions, your three poisons grow stronger. Your listening, thinking and meditating decline. Your loving kindness and compassion are destroyed. Leaving such companions is the practice of the bodhisattvas.”
So, who or what are the evil companions? Can it manifest in more ways than just a person? Can it be the news or opinion pieces you follow? Might it be triggering information on social media that hasn’t been verified as truth? Sometimes the truth IS triggering. These companions would happily take your mental health and peace of mind from you in the name of getting views. What about the ain’t it bad people? Ward them off with a cross. You have to be the one that doesn’t allow harm to come to you. Plan an escape route.
Let’s identify the three poisons. They are Greed, Hatred, and Delusion. They are unskilled mental habits that generate suffering for us. They’re distortions in how we relate to experience.
When I see a negative or triggering video or article, I have only a moment to leave it behind and choose a higher thought. It’s just a moment so you have to proactively make the skillful choice to not go there. Saying yes to the triggering thought is the unskillful path. I have had plenty of experience entertaining the less than wholesome distractions and yes I might turn away from my spiritual practices to stay involved with less than wholesome thought. It’s like an addiction. I bet you have had this experience as well. This was an aha moment for me.
Greed is the grasping mind. It is the impulse to cling to what feels pleasant or rewarding. It ranges from craving (money, status, pleasure) to subtle forms like wanting validation or wanting things to stay comfortable. Greed due to compulsions can manifest as addictions. You can try to keep them hidden; just know that nothing stays hidden when its origin is greed or compulsion.
The bodhisattva practice would be:
Practice generosity: giving time, attention, or resources loosens the grip of wanting.
Cultivate contentment: intentionally noticing “enoughness.”
Use mindfulness and meditation if you feel the urge to grasp. You have a few seconds, maybe up to a minute to choose which path to take.
Use the self-help agencies such as OA, SA, etc. or sangha’s devoted to this.
Hatred (Aversion)
Hatred is the pushing-away mind—anger, irritation, fear, resentment, or the desire to reject. I would add to this rage, because that’s a timely issue.
How to work with it
Practice loving-kindness (mettā): intentionally wishing well for yourself and others.
Slow down reactions: name the emotion (“anger is here”) instead of becoming it. Know that it’s here and set it aside. Give yourself grace.
Use compassion to understand the fear or pain beneath aversion.
Delusion is the misunderstanding mind. It is not seeing reality clearly. It’s the root poison from which greed and hatred arise. It includes denial, self-deception, and mistaken beliefs about what brings happiness.
Is my negative mind chatter creating an issue that’s not really there?
Is the problem mine to handle?
Is it permanent?
Is there a different way to see this?
Buddhists say that healing comes from meditation and mindfulness. The ego will still pop up from time to time asking if you are sure you’ve overcome this. The answer is a resounding Yes. I have overcome and I can do it again and again. See you later ego. 😊
Know that you are loved.