Published Wednesday, 05 April 2023
Making an arbitrary decision
does not amount to justice.
Having considered arguments
for and against,
the wise decide the case.
Dhammapada v.256
When we encounter uncertainty, it is tempting to grasp at something we hope will make us feel certain again. Wanting to feel certain is perfectly understandable. However, since so much of life is actually uncertain, the Buddha advises us to learn to let go of such grasping. If we are faced with having to make a difficult decision, our spiritual practice encourages us to be patient, attentive and discerning; to listen to all sides of the argument and not merely cling to uninspected assumptions. Skilful, sensitive restraint is not the same as heedless, reactive repression.