People Are Stupid

I originally intended to post this cartoon seven days after the recent Pain cartoon. Together they seemed like a good pair.

But I couldn't find the words to go with the cartoon. I wrote several drafts and, although they seemed clever enough, they also felt a little sour. So I held off posting and spent some time looking into why I was having a hard time.

Then I woke up last night thinking about humility. And realized that this cartoon portrays the kind of simple-minded pride and arrogance that comes so easily when we're not present in our own lives.

Humility naturally arises from insight into the ways in which hatred, greed and delusion poison our relationship to the world.

When we see these qualities within ourselves - thus becoming present with what is - some of our certainty and swagger naturally dissipates.

Of course, I'm often lost in storytelling about the world. "I read this," "I believe that," "she did this," etc.

But with just a slight turning of attention, then . . . Ah! . . . This is my life.

And what could be more humbling than that?

Comments

[Joseph]

I often think the amount of feedback you get from people on this blog would be a good test of humility!

[Genju]

I was saying to my friend, "Isn't it amazing how stupid people can be?"

And then we laughed...

a folie à deux..

[J]

Nicely (and humbly!) stated. :-)

[Suzanne]

Poison our relationship to the world...if there was no poison, there could be no antidote.

[Barry Briggs]

Thanks for your comments, everyone!

I'm really grateful for each comment I receive - every one of them turns me inward a bit, to look more deeply. In this way each of you become one of Guanyin's hands and eyes.

Barry