QUESTION
Venerable Robina,
Why does it seem that religious people consider addiction to sex and marijuana worse than addiction to spiritual materialism and self-righteousness?
Love,
N
ANSWER
Good to hear from you, dear N.
You might be right!
Meanwhile, what I would try to do is —
- Given that there is no affliction I don’t possess — it’s just a question of degree — I’d first look into my own mind and see if I can locate attachment to my views, spiritual or otherwise;
- then, on top of that, I’d check to see the hubris that comes along with it.
- then I’d see the suffering these two afflictions, on the one hand, cause me and, on the other hand, blind me from seeing others, and then decide to give them up; and
- then I’d see the suffering these afflictions must be causing the other person, just like me;
- and then I’d have compassion for them.
What do you think?
Rx
QUESTION
Venerable,
Thank you. I’ll reflect on that.
Thank you for your guidance.
N