Page 38 - The Buddha‘s Noble Eightfold Path

we do it in a violent or dramatic fashion; not like the gentleman I

heard about over the radio the other day, who climbed up the
Eiffel Tower and threw his television set from the viewing
platform. (He was protesting against the quality of French

television programmes, but at least his action indicated a certain
degree of detachment from his television set!). The point to be

made is that if we really have some sort of vision of the true
nature of existence, and have really seen the inadequacy of
material, worldly things, then our hold on them will be relaxed

and we will be quite willing and happy to let at least some of
them go — to have just one car, perhaps !

(b) Avyapada or Non-hate.

Vyapada is literally 'doing harm', therefore 'hatred'. Hatred, as
we know, is closely connected with craving, there being a strong
link between them. Very often we find that hatred or

antagonism, in any of its numerous forms, is at bottom
frustrated craving. We see this very clearly in the case of

children. If you do not give them something that they want very
much, they just fly into a rage or tantrum. Adults do not usually
do this. Their reactions are not usually so simple and

uncomplicated, for their cravings are, in any case, much more
complex. They do not crave simply for material things, but

instead for success, recognition, praise, and affection. When
these things are denied, especially when denied a long time,
then a mood of frustration sets in. This produces in many people

a deep bitterness, indulgence in constant criticism of others,
fault-finding, nagging and all sorts of other negative activities.

But with the decrease of craving,

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