The Harmful Effects of the Three Poisons: Greed, Hatred, and Delusion (Part 3)

When our physical body is unhealthy, we should examine our mental state to determine whether there are thoughts and emotions related to greed, hatred, and delusion that obstruct and affect the physical body. These emotions are most capable of generating toxins within our body, thereby affecting its physiological functions. Physical unhealthiness arises from two sources: one is the afflictions of the present life, and the other is due to karmic force carried over from past lives. The unwholesome actions created in past lives can manifest as an unhealthy physical body in this life, giving rise to various illnesses, because the physical body is the host of karmic retribution. When we currently generate afflictions of greed, hatred, and delusion and create unwholesome karma, the condition of our physical body is bound to change, exerting a detrimental effect on the body. After affecting the physical body, it undergoes subtle, gradual changes that are not easily noticeable at first. Over time, as these changes accumulate, the physical body undergoes a qualitative transformation, and symptoms of illness become clearly apparent.

Our mental emotions, afflictions of greed, hatred, and delusion, as well as various unwholesome mental states, can all affect the health of the physical body. The mental activities of the six consciousnesses can also influence our physical body. Since the physical body can be altered by the influence of the six consciousnesses, it follows that the dharmas are not produced solely by the eighth consciousness alone. The seventh consciousness (manas), the sixth consciousness, and the first five consciousnesses are all involved. The eight consciousnesses operate together to produce all dharmas, although the seeds originate solely from the eighth consciousness. Our physical body changes constantly; this is not only related to the eighth consciousness but also to the mental activities of the present sixth and seventh consciousnesses.

If the six consciousnesses that react to objects are calm and neutral, the physical body remains in its original state and is unaffected. If the six consciousnesses are neither calm nor neutral, and emotions undergo sudden changes, then the physical body enters another state—such as heart pounding and body trembling, veins bulging, sallow complexion, purple lips, trembling calves, flushed face and neck, fainting, etc. The functioning of the physical body becomes uneven and abnormal. This demonstrates that the operational state of the physical body is related to the sixth and seventh consciousnesses. All dharmas are manifested jointly by the three combined consciousnesses, not solely produced by the eighth consciousness alone. This is called "all dharmas are consciousness-only." The meaning of "the three realms are mind-only" is that all dharmas of the three realms originate from the eighth consciousness; they are manifested by the seeds within the eighth consciousness. Therefore, all dharmas come from the eighth consciousness.

The eighth consciousness, encountering conditions, can give birth to and transform all dharmas of the world, including the transformation of the five aggregates (skandhas) physical body. These conditions, of course, include the mental activities of the six consciousnesses. Whether the six consciousnesses operate in a pure or defiled state, whether they possess the afflictions of greed, hatred, and delusion or are free from them, determines the difference in the changes occurring in the physical body. The six fundamental afflictions—greed, hatred, delusion, arrogance, doubt, and wrong views—are all poisoning the present mind and also poisoning the future five-aggregate body and mind. Why can these six fundamental afflictions also affect the future? Because the karmic seeds created are stored in the eighth consciousness. When these seeds encounter conditions in the future and are delivered again, the mental activities of the six consciousnesses become defiled. The accumulation of defiled karmic seeds over lifetime after lifetime causes the afflictions of greed, hatred, and delusion to become increasingly severe, the physical body to become progressively less healthy, and both the karmic retribution (正报) and circumstantial retribution (依报) to become increasingly unsatisfactory.

Therefore, each of us should diligently subdue our own afflictions and obstructions. After subduing greed, hatred, delusion, and arrogance, we not only bring a pleasant and harmonious atmosphere to others, but the greatest beneficiary is ourselves: physical health, mental joy, inner openness, freedom from worry and vexation, and an increase in merit and virtue. By overcoming our own afflictions of greed, hatred, and delusion, and eliminating all worries and sorrows, everything around us becomes pleasant. Not only will we be free from troubles and afflictions life after life, but in the future, we will also become great bodhisattvas (mahāsattvas), accomplish the Buddha Way, and become the honored one of the three realms.