Afflictions 2

The reality is complex and always changing - it is impossible to follow with our clumsy brain. So we simplify and look for rules of thumb.

Historically we used to live a static life - one village, one work, one group of other people. We could learn a lot about this small world, but as we had to live together in order to survive we also had to accept a lot of ignorance and even ill will.

These days we can move around more and we can get more information about the world at large. So a lot of the old ignorance is removed. We can not uphold prejudice in face of truth.

When we were rooted in one economical situation and in one world view we are like sitting ducks - vulnerable to whatever happened around us.

If we have a clear mind we can undermine all afflictions. The afflictions are related to mind, not to any external reality. We can remove all afflictions and live under very different circumstances - rich or poor, traditional or modern, in the wilderness or in the city.

If there is a problem, it depends on new attacks of ignorance. Sometimes ignorance is attacking with weapons, sometimes it is attacking with limiting rules and even laws.