We live in difficult times with so many polarising opinions, so how do I find a position that feels right for me?
I’m not sure about you, but I sometimes feel like I am being bombarded with so many views about very difficult issues and can feel pressured to take a position about some of these things. The Dhammapada provides us with some guidance on how to approach these situations. I hope you find this helpful.
Making an arbitrary decision
Dhammapada v.256
Does not amount to justice,
Having considered arguments
For and against,
The wise decide the case
Following commentary by Ajahn Munindo in Dhammapada Reflections page 71
You are under pressure to make a decision. Is it possible to remain cool and calm when others want you to decide in their favour? Can you remain free from bias and arrive at a just decision? How do we hold our views? Having a strong opinion can feel great; it can appear as confidence. But such is the nature of fundamentalism; so too is providing simplistic answers to complex questions. Rigid views and simplistic solutions are not aspects of a spacious mind; a mind can consider all aspects of the dilemma. It usually takes time to arrive at a balanced, thoroughly considered view. It also requires an ability to listen from a place of inner quiet. If we are mentally preparing our rebuttal, we are not really listening.