My mental circus, inside and out.

Suffering Fools

Through not seeing fools
constantly, constantly
one would be happy.

For, living with a fool,
one grieves a long time.--Dhammapada

Emma likes this verse.  For one thing, it advises that you're not obligated to hang around with fools too much.  In fact, it might be bad for your happiness and progress.  Better yet, it allows you to name fools--and the Dhammapada is quite clear on the definition of foolish behavior-- though of course you are supposed to recognize fools with utmost compassion, thus saving yourself from the miseries of anger and hatred which will only make you suffer.  So, you feel compassion for fools, knowing they are fools, but you don't have to live with them.   Pondering this verse, Emma has also found it worth acknowledging that it is best not to be a fool, since then you inescapably have to live with yourself, and that can indeed cause you much grief.

Posted by: EmmaPele at April 28, 2006 19:02 | link | comments