Even if you could identify all the supporting causes
Every intricacy of your sadness
And your anger, and your hatred
All the way back to the beginning
As the Noble One traces the eye on a peacock’s feather
And identify every trauma inflicted by your parents
Borne from their parents, and thus borne from their parents’ parents
Picking apart an infinite shining web of causes and conditions
What would it change?
Even if you could perfectly understand the interlocking gears
Of the brain, body and mind
And could talk at length on all different types of emotional state
Of paranoia, and malaise
Rage, jealousy, pride
Shame, sadness, self-flaggelation
And all of these other countless ripples upon water
How could it help?
Why do you tear weeds out at the head
And then act surprised when they sprout back days later
When you have not torn up the root?
A man
Upon discovering he has ingested poison
Would not query the manufacturer
Or spend time mulling over the other times he has been poisoned
He would reach into his throat frantically
Even if it were to threaten his life
And attempt to purge the contents of his stomach at all cost
Concerned about nothing else
This is what is praised
And this is how you should conduct yourself