Three Poisons (Tam Độc)
Tam độc là ba thứ xấu ác, một khái niệm dùng trong Phật Giáo. Sở dĩ gọi như vậy v́ ba thứ này làm cho vô minh bị che lấp, dẫn đến phiền năo. Nó luôn xuất hiện trong mỗi con người chúng ta. Ba thứ đó chính là: Tham, Sân, Si.
Chính là tham lam, bao gồm công danh quyền uy và cả tiền tài vật dụng, không biết khi nào là đủ.
Sân
là sân hận, giận hờn
Si
Si là si mê tham đắm. Là phiền năo, si mê đối với mọi chân lí tương đối và tuyệt đối.
Three Poisons / Three Evil Roots
Greed, hatred and delusion are called the Three Poisons or Three Evil Roots, which are the primary source of all evil deed. It is the Three Poisons that create all bad Karma, resulting all kinds of suffering in accordance with the Principle of Cause and Effect. The Three Poisons are also obstacles to the attainment of good Karma. Thus we have to abandon them by all means.
The cause of human suffering, as explained in Buddhist terms, is greed, anger and ignorance. These negative traits and fundamental evils are called the Three Poisons, because they are dangerous toxins in our lives. Not only are they the source of our unquenchable thirst for possessions, and the root cause of all of our harmful illusions, but they are painful pollutants, which bring sickness, both physical and mental.
1. Greed is an excessive desire to possess wealth or goods with the intention to keep it for one's self. Greed - like lust and gluttony - is a sin of excess. Greed is inappropriate expectation. However, greed is applied to a very excessive or rapacious desire and pursuit of wealth, status, and power.
2. Anger
Hatred to people is another cause of evil
deed. We should not lose temper and get angry when we are unhappy. We should be
calm and patient.
Anger’s friends are hatred, animosity and aversion, which cause us to reject what displeases us or infringes upon our ego.
3.
Delusion
A delusion is a belief that is either mistaken or not substantiated and is held with very strong feelings or opinions and expressed forcefully
It means the persistent belief in something false and distorted. We have to observe and think in an objective and rational manner, so as to avoid prejudice and misunderstanding. For instance, if we don't believe in cause and effect, and then commit offence frequently and heavily, we will suffer from the retribution.
Ignorance, which is “not knowing,” especially not knowing our true nature, paves the way for delusion or in our believing something that is false.
These poisons fill our lives with suffering, unhappiness and unsatisfactoriness. They cause us to make unskillful decisions, which affect our future. They cause us to have self-serving and dishonest intentions, which in turn cause us to act unethically and immorally. They are the roots of not only our own pain and misery, but those of our loved ones’ and of society’s. Fortunately, there is a way to eradicate this trio of contaminants. The practice of loving kindness and compassion is the medicine and enlightenment is the antidote