The Harmful Effects of the Three Poisons: Greed, Hatred, and Delusion (I)

If in one's practice the afflictions of greed, hatred, and delusion are not effectively subdued, the mind's disposition cannot become gentle and pliant. When innate afflictive obstruction (kleśāvaraṇa) is heavy, it obstructs the healthy development of one's body and mind. A person with heavy afflictions and innate afflictive obstruction, on the one hand, brings vexation and displeasure to others, and the two parties inevitably form negative karmic ties and grudges; in future lives, one will have to endure the retribution of these afflictions, and suffering is unavoidable. On the other hand, the one harmed the most is oneself, and the one most distressed is also oneself. When afflictions become severe, one's own mind will feel suffering and agitation; body and mind are thereby disturbed, and one becomes the most unhappy person. If the other party has sufficient cultivation, they may not be troubled by the afflictions—even if suffering arises, it passes quickly. But you yourself will be continuously assailed by afflictions and innate afflictive obstruction, and sorrow, grief, suffering, and distress (śoka-parideva-duḥkha-daurmanasyopāyāsa) will constantly arise in your mind.

In studying Buddhism, subduing afflictions brings us benefit life after life and makes the spirit joyful. Having subdued afflictions and ceased to harm others, we no longer drain away our own merit, and we will not form negative karmic ties with others. If we can be considerate of others everywhere and bring benefit to them, our merit will increase very rapidly—and the one who benefits the most is still ourselves. Therefore, we must subdue afflictions and innate afflictive obstruction.

When afflictions and innate afflictive obstruction are heavy and the mind lacks tranquility (praśama), what kind of poisoning will one's body and mind suffer? The afflictions of greed, hatred, and delusion are commonly called the three poisons. What is meant by "poison"? Since they are called poisons, they naturally have a harmful and toxic nature. Harming others is secondary; the one harmed the most is still oneself. When the mind contains greed, hatred, and delusion, one's bodily, verbal, and mental actions inevitably create evil karma of greed, hatred, and delusion; having created evil karma, one must undergo evil retribution. This is the toxic effect of greed, hatred, and delusion.

Furthermore, when heavy afflictions give rise to a mind of hatred, the physical body is necessarily affected. When the physical body is affected, the body's four great elements—its tissue structure—undergo corresponding changes; the speed of blood flow changes accordingly, the composition of the blood also changes, and toxins are produced within the body. These toxins directly endanger physical health. The most obvious example is when we become angry: in an instant, our facial expression changes, becoming swollen, red, purple, and dark. Why purple and dark? Toxic substances are often purple-black in color. When the composition of the blood changes, the complexion of the skin visibly turns purple-black, and this altered blood composition is severely toxic to one's own body. When the blood contains toxins, its flow becomes sluggish, and the function of the heart is obstructed. The toxins in the blood can severely assault the physical body, and illness results. People with heavy afflictions and hatred have a relatively higher likelihood of developing heart disease, as well as more blood-related illnesses.