The Three Poisons

The resolution of conflict in its truest and fullest sense is the conversion of the Three Poisons of anger, greed and ignorance into the Four Sublime States of Loving Kindness, Compassion, Appreciative Joy, and Equanimity. In fact, in deference to the Four Noble Truths expounded by the Buddha upon his enlightenment, and the Buddha’s Noble Eight-Fold Path which is laid out in the Fourth Noble Truth, and by which he declared suffering to be resolved, we might fashion the schema for the arising and full resolution of any conflict as follows:

The Four Truths of Conflict

1)      Life is Conflict

2)      Conflict is caused by Attachment

3)      Conflict can be resolved and reconciled through transformation of  Attachment

4)      The way to resolve and reconcile conflict is the Eightfold Path To Resolve Conflict.

     These truths acknowledge that conflict is unavoidable in human life, and that attachment in one form or another is the root cause of all conflict. This attachment can be released and transformed, through using Mindfulness to convert  and transform destructive emotions into Loving Kindness and Compassion. This conversion process is the one referred to in the Fourth Truth of Conflict, to wit:

         Eightfold Path To Resolve Conflict:

1) a Situation causes Attachment and thereby conflict

2) which is the arousal of one or more of the Three Poisons

3) which persist through a Refractory Period  (a period where they are highly resistant to change) leading to stasis

4) after which the parties can Acknowledge to themselves and each other – through the development of personal or inter-personal Mindfulness -the nature of the Three Poisons present in the situation, making possible

5) a Settlement of the (external) Situation, during which process

6) the parties can develop Loving Kindness  and Compassion for themselves and the others, which allows for

7) Appreciative Joy in the benefits that each side has gained through the Situation, which allows each person to achieve

8) Equanimity and peace with themselves, the others, and the outcome of the process.