Opinion Verses Opinion

Opinion A speaks to Opinion B. Opinion A explains itself. Opinion B explains itself. Opinion A disagrees and explains why. Opinion B disagrees and explains why. Opinion A says, “You don’t understand what I’m saying. If you did you’d change and agree with me.”Opinion B says, “No, I understand I simply disagree. You don’t understand what I’m saying. If you did you’d change and agree with me.”They go on in this manner for sometime. Each believes the other fails to understand their particular point. If the ‘other’ simply understood they’d change and agree.

In the attempt to help the ‘other’ understand, voices are raised. Faces redden.

Hands slap tables.

Fists hit tables.

Words, curses, oaths are thrown.

Slaps are given.

Fists are swung.

Bullets are shot.

Bombs are dropped.

Children are killed.

All because of two differing opinions.

The anger that comes from this not agreeing is the dangerous, tragic, and deadly symptom of the greater problem: “My opinion is correct and your opinion is wrong.”

The Third Ch’an (Zen) Patriarch, Seng-Ts’an, wrote:“If you wish to know the truth,then hold to no opinions for or against anything.

To set up what you like against what you dislike is the disease of the mind.

“How do we do this? Practice. It’s called a practice for a reason. Live a life guided by wisdom and compassion. Allow each moment to unfold. And address that unfolding spontaneously. Address each moment for what it is; not for what you think, hope, or want it to be.

---Rev. Hung Su, Grand Rapids Buddhist Temple and Zen Center---