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Year of the Snake - 3 things to avoid

CSS Staff Writers

Good morning, everyone. This is today's Dharma Espresso.


We continue the story of the Kitchen God reporting the things he has witnessed in our home. When the Jade Emperor hears the report, He certainly won't punish or reward because He is not a judge. He is simply a wise and high moral being. Therefore, He will guide us toward the good things we should do in the Year of the Snake. Since we cannot directly ask the Jade Emperor, we turn to scriptures and texts to find any advice necessary for the Year of the Snake.


In the previous discussion, I shared three things we should do. First, we should remember to remain cautious and gentle in our actions. We should avoid behaving rudely or offending others. Second, we should be like a snake shedding its skin to renew its body—not through physical beautification but by seeking ways to improve ourselves. And third, we should reflect on the snake entity called Mahoraga (belonging to the eight classes of beings and resembling a giant serpent or python) that the Buddha referred to as a "belly-walker." Being a "belly-walker" means moving with humility (symbolized by moving on the belly) and doing everything from the heart, with kindness.


Therefore, we should learn to be humble, lower ourselves, and approach all our actions with goodwill and kindness.


Those are the three pieces of advice from me, not from the Jade Emperor.


But the next question is: are there things we should avoid?


When observing the snake's nature, we can identify three things to avoid.


First: Avoid causing others to misunderstand you.


When we see a snake, we feel fear, but a snake doesn’t necessarily attack, bite, or harm us when it encounters us because it is also afraid of us. Unless it feel threaten, it will either continue on its way or avoid us entirely.


Similarly, during the Year of the Snake, we are prone to being misunderstood. Sometimes our intentions are good, and our hearts are kind, but others misinterpret us. Therefore, during the Year of the Snake, we should avoid actions that may lead to misunderstandings.


How do we avoid being misunderstood?


We should explain everything clearly and gently, using simple and easy-to-understand language. Don’t worry about the time or effort it takes to clarify things. If it takes five minutes, give five minutes; if it takes an hour, devote the time to explain.


This year is a year to focus on explaining ourselves to others. Through explanation, we can foster understanding. Explaining to others also requires us to practice listening. Take the time to explain the nature of your work, your feelings, your goals, and your motivations so others can understand and not misinterpret you.


Second: Avoid reacting hastily based on rumors or what you see and hear.


We know that snakes don’t have hands, but their skulls can sense vibrations in their surroundings. Their eyes lack eyelids, and their vision is very weak, so they have developed a special ability: they extend their tongues to sense heat and smells in the environment.


When we approach a snake, it can sense us through the vibrations detected by its skull, and it can also perceive our body’s scent. On a snake's head, there is an organ that detects the heat our bodies emit. This organ is so sensitive it can detect a temperature change of one-thousandth of a degree. When we stand in front of a snake, it can sense which part of our body is the warmest and even feel our heartbeat.


Snakes possess a sixth sense and a heightened intuition.


This year, the Year of the Snake, we should not hastily believe everything we hear or assume we fully understand what we see. We must recognize that we often only see a partial view of the situation. Therefore, avoid immature reactions, such as blindly believing gossip or rumors, and instead use wisdom to make judgments. Wisdom comes from the quietude of the mind and the sixth sense. If your mind is not calm and quiet, you cannot develop the sixth sense.


Thus, we must maintain a gentle and peaceful inner state.


Third: Avoid harboring venom or thoughts of revenge.


We believe snakes have venom and that being bitten by a snake is fatal, or we think snakes seek revenge. Folk tales recount stories of snakes avenging themselves, such as the story involving Nguyễn Trãi. According to legend, Nguyễn Trãi once ordered smoke to drive snakes out of their nest, killing the snakes in that nest. One snake, according to the story, was reborn as a young woman who became his concubine and brought about his unjust execution. This, however, is merely folklore.


The key point is that harboring venom—whether literal or figurative—is harmful. The Buddha taught that the venom of humans consists of greed, anger, and ignorance. If we still hold venom within us, we should not "spew it out," meaning we should avoid thoughts of revenge or harboring resentment. Resentment refers to nursing anger in our hearts, fostering hatred without forgiveness.


So, we should avoid seeking revenge or retaliating. We should refrain from holding onto hatred in our hearts. In English, this is referred to as "resentment and animosity"—a deep and harmful state of mind we conceal from others.


Planning revenge, holding onto grudges, or waiting for the right moment to retaliate poisons our minds. Therefore, we must avoid harboring grudges and instead practice forgiveness.


In conclusion:

In this Year of the Snake, there are three things to avoid:

  1. Avoid causing misunderstandings. Take the time and effort to explain yourself clearly. Be thorough in clarifying your intentions, reasons, and motivations for your actions.

  2. Avoid immature reactions to gossip or rumors. Use wisdom and judgment instead of reacting based on hearsay or partial observations.

  3. Avoid harboring grudges or hatred. Refrain from thoughts of revenge, resentment, or animosity, and instead practice forgiveness.


By following these guidelines, we can create a peaceful and harmonious year for ourselves.


Thank you for listening, and I wish you all a calm and peaceful day!


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