Fighting the 3 Poisonous Emotions With Elephant Power

Sex, Love & Elephants with Dr. Cheryl

It’s a gorgeous, warm spring day. You're sitting out on a beautiful deck in a comfortable chair, you've got a perfect glass of lemonade, and a fascinating book that you just can’t put down. You can’t imagine a more content scenario. And then, you hear it… the buzzing of a single mosquito. Your first reaction: “Ugh! Why is this stupid mosquito ruining my perfect afternoon?” Just this tiny bit of wanting something else, something different than your present reality, has caused you suffering.

Although aiding sexual romantic relationships is what I do by trade, that’s not the only thing this podcast is about. I’m also a student of Buddhism and a Buddhist teacher and today we’re focusing in on the teachings of the Elephant.

In this episode, I guide you through the Buddhist teachings of The Three Poisons—and their antidotes!—and show you how you can learn to be happy for no reason. Even if the love of your life just left you or you’ve lost your home or you’re in the throes of a difficult illness—these are all big challenges, but they don't have to destroy your peace of mind. We’re all prone to these poisonous emotions, but it isn’t about fighting reality, it’s about using these lessons to learn, grow, and achieve a greater peace by following the elephant… even if the journey is long and arduous.

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

• The elephant is like your inner knowing—except it’s much bigger than me and you (03:01)
• The Three Poisonous Emotions: 1) Greed, 2) Hatred, 3) Delusion (07:32)
• When we want anything other than what is presently happening, we suffer (11:45)
• We suffer because things change and we don't like it (14:23)
• We suffer when we don’t look at the world the way it truly is and don’t accept that things change (19:53)
• Good news! There are antidotes to the Three Poisons (24:56)
• Your weekly LoveByte (30:44)

Q&A:

• What are the Three Poisons in Buddhism? The three poisons of the mind and behaviour of a human are: greed or wanting, anger or aversion, and bewilderment or confusion, often called ignorance.
• What are the antidotes to the Three Poisons? The antidotes to the three poisons are: 1) Greed—Generosity, 2) Hatred—Loving Kindness, 3) Ignorance—Wisdom
• Why am I dissatisfied and miserable? According to Buddhism, suffering comes from wanting things to be different from our current reality. To ease suffering, follow the teachings of the Three Poisons and learn their antidotes.

Episode Mentioned:

• Meditation Sucks—But You Should Do It Anyway, Pt 2: Dr Cheryl's Long, Strange Trip

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