Don’t bring things to a painful point.

Poison Ivy - photo by B. King

          "Leaves of three, let them be" is an adage to help identify and avoid Toxicodendron radicans and its cousins. Contact with the plant's oil found in the leaves, stem and root can cause a blistering rash whose itch is maddening. While scratching may seem to bring relief, it can actually make matters worse. A good scratch temporarily distracts the brain with minor pain, which then stimulates the production of serotonin to help control it. But the serotonin has a secondary effect - it intensifies the itching. "Don't bring things to a painful point" encourages us to avoid making the same sort of error. When we find a person's sore spot, we may be tempted to test it, reinforcing the problem and causing it to become more severe. For instance, a coworker's weak spot might be political discussions. Our discovery leads us to ask him if he happened to catch a certain politician's speech the night before, knowing it will set him off. Poking people this way might seem entertaining, but it is certainly not beneficial to the recipient. Helping to reduce their suffering would be the better medicine. 

Instead of pouncing on people’s weaknesses and vulnerabilities, we should be providing encouragement and support for their strengths. ~ Judy Lief

For more information on the thirty-third slogan, go here. 

Don't wait in ambush.

Antlion larva – photo by Trevor Jinks

          Antlions are worldwide in distribution and well known for the predatory habits of their larvae. Many species dig funnel-shaped sandy pits and hide at the bottom to trap passing insects. The walls of the pit are steep, and any crawling bug that tries to scramble out is thwarted by the loose sand that provides no foothold. To further hamper its efforts at escape, the antlion tosses up grains of sand that cause little landslides. Once the insect slips to the bottom of the trap, it is seized by the lurking antlion. When thoughts of revenge fill the minds of humans, we dig the same kind of trap and wait patiently to strike. An opportunity comes when we catch the target at a disadvantage, and we relish the feeling of having power over them. We feel a surge of energy when we repay someone for the pain we think they've caused us. Yet the sand we throw to bring them down falls on us too. Though we may feel a brief sense of self-satisfaction, it is soon replaced by the worry of retaliation. Revenge, we discover, doesn't recreate the past into something more palatable. Instead it keeps us locked into a cycle of misery. Rather than giving such thoughts free rein, we can explore whether a heart with room for forgiveness also has infinite space for joy.

While we intended to undermine the other person, we’ve distorted the situation so much that we fail to recognize we have given them more power over us than ever.
~ Traleg Kyabgon

More information on the thirty-second slogan can be found here. 

Don't malign others.

Phragmites australis subsp. australis – photo by Paul Slichter

          In the wetlands of North America are two types of common reed; one is a native and the other a non-native. Both reeds are allelopathic, meaning they produce a chemical which inhibits the growth of other plants close by, thus allowing them easier access to the resources they need. But the non-native reed goes further, exuding an acid so toxic that it disintegrates the structural protein in the roots of neighboring plants. It efficiently kills its competition and aggressively invades new territory, greatly diminishing the biodiversity in the area. The ego can be just as militant when it feels threatened. Insecurity may trigger us to gossip or say unkind things about another person so that we appear more clever or superior. Once we think of someone as an adversary, our aspiration to be compassionate and kind is easily forgotten. This slogan is an admonition to be mindful of our words, not only for the benefit of others, but to protect the tender openness of our own heart too.

When the mind is virtuous, the tongue can be trusted. ~ B. Alan Wallace

For more information on the thirty-first slogan, go here.

Don't be so predictable.

Photo by James Ownby

Travel to any national park in the U.S., and you’ll likely see a sign that reads “Keep Wildlife Wild.” It gives visitors a stern warning not to intentionally feed the park animals or leave food unprotected. The rangers are very aware of how these human actions can radically alter the behavior of wildlife. Animals that learn people are an easy resource for food react consistently: they lose their instinctive fear, becoming bold and often aggressive. Property damage, injury and death (usually of the animal) are frequent results. The human animal can be just as predictable as food-conditioned wildlife. We react automatically with the consistency of hot and cold water taps on a faucet. Whether something brings us pleasure or threatens our pleasure determines which tap gets turned on. But the thirtieth slogan reminds us that we don’t have to give in to our impulses or be led by our assumptions. Instead we can be fully present as each moment unfolds without allowing preferences or prejudice to muddy our perception. Perhaps we humans need our own sign: “Don’t Feed the Habits.”

Desire is no friend, but seems like one, which is why you do not fear it.

~ Aryadeva

For more information on the thirtieth slogan, go here.

Abandon poisonous food.

Vitis riparia photo by Allen Norcross; Menispermum canadense photo by John Hilty

Euell Gibbons launched the modern-day movement of ‘living off the land’ with his book, Stalking the Wild Asparagus. A variety of people, from survivalists and foodies to herbalists and nature lovers, have since embraced the trend of gathering wild foods and medicinal plants. However foraging does have one major drawback: many edible plants have a poisonous look-alike. Frost grape, for example, closely resembles and often intermingles with moonseed, a vine with poisonous drupes. One way to know for sure which vine is which is to cut open the fruits and look at the seeds. The grape safe for humans has several ovate seeds, while the moonseed has only a flat, crescent-shaped seed (for which it is named). In the same way, our words and actions may initially appear to be benevolent and noble, but we need to check within for any hidden agendas. If our behavior is motivated by a desire for the attention and admiration of others, this slogan cautions that such 'poison' will only nourish our ego. Our craving for recognition is like trying to fill a bucket with a hole in the bottom. That feeling of being unique and special is insubstantial; it will always leave us anxiously yearning for more.

It’s important to note that there’s a huge difference between personal gratification and ego gratification, for the latter compromises our virtuous qualities by infusing them with conflicting emotions. ~ Traleg Kyabgon

For more information on the twenty-ninth slogan, go here.