Three Poisons

Hatred, greed, and delusion:

The three unwholesome roots.

They are responsible for so much suffering:

Pain, sadness, disputes…

Hatred buttresses the ego

With vengeance, distrust, and despair.

We end up being inextricably

Caught in its captious snare!

"I want, I want, I want…":

Such is the urge that drives us.

Sadly, we're unable to see

The goodness of which it deprives us.

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:

Loving-kindness, generosity,

And wisdom--just a short list.

With loving-kindness we see

The good that comes from caring.

Ugly hatred can't survive

When it's kindness that we're sharing.

Generosity quenches

Our constant, greedy craving.

A truly magnanimous spirit leaves

No room for misbehaving.

Delusion is maybe the hardest

Unwholesome root to destroy.

But wisdom can conquer ignorance

And fill us with 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) By Bob B