Moments of darkness
The cycle of mental blindness that slows development.
My interpretation of Kamma
Kamma simply means volitional action, actions with moral significance fall within the range of Kamma. These actions are the seeds you plant in the present, to either thrive or suffer in the future.
The three poisons: the root of bad Kamma
Delusion: An incorrect view of reality that mainly comes from perceiving phenomena as permanent. Conceiving expectations and assumptions in the present based on events you witnessed in the past. This leads to a distorted view of reality, viewing reality through the mind instead of as it is. Reality is constantly changing.
Hatred: Producing a negative reaction to something perceived by the senses. Either hearing something that offends your ego, or seeing something that you find repulsive. Hatred comes from a constant judgement of your surroundings, which increases your chance of having an unpleasant experience and even if your experience is pleasant, it will be short-lived.
Greed: The craving of self-gratification, either from impermanent sensations or from objects of desire.
Any action stemming from these conditions is considered a bad Kamma. These conditions are not conducive to good intentions.
Mental blindness and the cycle of regression
Moments of darkness are the mental blindness one experiences in the future after committing an act of bad Kamma. A cycle of recurring moments of indulgence as a result of seeking to please the ego. That is simply what the three poisons are, an attempt to please the ego’s existence. The ego’s pursuit for permanence poisons the mind, because the only way it can find permanence is through attachment to the impermanent which leads to nothing but suffering.
How do moments of darkness slow the mind’s development?
Moments of darkness create mental regression by inducing mental blindness. When you experience these moments of darkness your judgement is clouded and overwhelmed by your senses and sensations. What moments of darkness do is put a blindfold on your mind so it can’t see anything beyond the material in front of it:
- When under the influence of anger, you can’t see past the thoughts and sensations you are experiencing in that moment (mental blindness). You end up with regret or suffering after experiencing that moment of darkness.
- When under the influence of intoxicants, you can't see past the thoughts and sensations you are experiencing in that moment (mental blindness). You end up in a cycle of indulgence which leads to mental regression and suffering when the backlash of those actions presents themselves.
- When under the influence of lust, you can’t see past the thoughts and sensations you are experiencing in that moment (mental blindness). Based on the changes you experienced during that moment of darkness, you form an attachment to it causing it to recur. This process causes mental regression, and suffering when the moment you crave is not achieved.
The entrance of corruption
All moments of darkness have a beginning, an initial action that spreads the darkness. Objects perceived by the senses and felt by sensations have the potential to bring up one of the three poisons. All it takes is an initial reaction, the moment you let a corrupting condition influence your perception. Once you let the three poisons enter the gates of your mind, they will spread their influence until you eventually experience a moment of darkness. Whether it’s a moment of rage, or an intoxicating high depends on which poison has defiled your consciousness.
Progressing your state of consciousness
Escaping moments of darkness.
Escape is only possible with the sternest of intentions. How frequently you experience moments of darkness determines how quickly your state of consciousness regresses. As Humans we are prone to forming habits. The more we indulge in actions that lead to experiencing moments of darkness, the more powerless we become when the conditions that allow them to arise present themselves. With the habit that is ignorance, intention wavers constantly. You may say you want the best for yourself, but later find yourself doing the very same actions you wanted to escape from. This happens because we are ignorant of our own actions and mental tendencies. Mindfulness is essential in breaking the bonds of habit. If you are mindful of yourself then you will be able to root out where the problem begins in your physical and cognitive actions, and your intention will never waver. It is through this that escape is possible.
The intention should not be to experience a constant transition between moments of darkness,
but to live in eternal light.
