Politics and the Three Poisons

 

In Looking at Power Through an Integral Lens, I reflected on a couple of experiences I’d had in religious communities using the stage theory of consciousness development furthered by Ken Wilber in, for example, Wilber (2007). In both cases, if my assessment is correct, potential conflict arose due to one party or parties being at one stage, mythic, for instance, and another party or parties being at another, say, rational. At the close of that post, I raised the question as to whether we might benefit from looking at our current political climate through such a lens. Obviously, I think the answer is yes!

Let’s back up for a moment. The Integral theory of the development of consciousness posits that our consciousness matures through various stages: archaic, magic, magic-mythic, mythic, rational, postmodern, etc. I think it’s safe to say that the vast majority of adults in the U.S. are either at the mythic stage (veering toward group conformity, traditionalism, and black and white thinking), the rational stage (veering toward pragmatism and a science-based productivity mindset), or the postmodern stage (veering toward a more relativistic, interconnected, and ecological orientation). Sadly, Wilber (2007) estimates that 50-70% of humanity may actually be at the mythic stage or lower (p. 179).

We can readily see how the existence of large groups of people at different consciousness stages is impacting our current political discourse. For instance, we have those with a postmodern relativistic attitude towards gender flummoxed by mythical thinkers stuck in dichotomy (and vice versa). We have mythical thinking covid conspiracy theorists squaring off against science adherents. And we have rational and postmodern folks outraged that the mythic climate-science deniers are driving the world toward oblivion.

Clearly, it’s difficult to reconcile these disparate worldviews. But it’s even more difficult when we have leaders and influencers who calculatingly accentuate the inherent potential for division for the sake of remaining in power and enriching themselves. With an attitude of goodwill, we might be able to work to understand each other. However, with some so intent on sowing seeds of conflict and confusion, goodwill is at risk of becoming choked out.

The QAnon phenomenon began in 2017, offering up a sweeping conspiratorial worldview for the mythic thinkers of the world. It appealed to the myth consumers for speaking directly (albeit falsely) to their more contemporary worldly concerns, and it appealed to the myth creators for being malleable to their political designs. By 2019, COVID science denial was posing a life and death threat, and by 2020, manipulation of belief had become a well-practiced art. “Stop the steal” was the adopted slogan, and the fabricated narrative of a deep state aligned against the mythic candidate/savior was ubiquitous. And then came January 6, 2021.

No meaningful evidence of a “steal” was ever presented. But that no longer mattered. Anger over the alleged steal was simply diverted into anger over any number of other things. The “stolen” election was reframed as an existential fight against Socialism, Communism, Marxism, Black Lives Matter protesters, ANTIFA “terrorists,” lawlessness (ironic?), the enemies of freedom and liberty, elitism, fake news, fake science, illegal immigration, homosexuality, transgender acceptance, diversity, baby-killing, and pedophilia. That is a whole lot of fear being fomented for the sake of regaining power!

What does Buddhism have to say about such craving for power? One of the more concise teachings relevant to the matter is that of the so-called three poisons of attachment, aversion, and delusion. We suffer because of our desires and cravings—our attachments. We suffer because of that which we disdain and seek to banish from our existence—our aversions. And we suffer because of our fundamental ignorance as to the true nature of reality. Actually, delusion is the most basic poison of all in that our attachments and aversions are predicated on our basic ignorance of what would lead to true liberation and peace.

Delusion has many layers to it. There are those who are smart enough, cunning enough, and powerful enough to be able to take advantage of the attachments and aversions of others—to stoke them and manipulate them to get what they want. But they’re not without delusions of their own. They are deluded in thinking that they’re actually doing something good for the nation, the world, or even themselves. They are deluded in thinking that the power they crave will bring them lasting peace, happiness, or meaning. Nonetheless, these individuals may be fleetingly rewarded for their ability to delude the rest of us with the lies and recriminations that play into our own attachments and aversions.

Yes, ignorance is the root of all suffering according to Buddhist teaching. And so it is that Buddhists practice—so that ignorance may be dispelled, and clear vision may arise. The process is neither linear nor devoid of pitfalls of its own, however. Zazen may indeed have its own built-in bullshit detector, but, as we’ve seen, the ego’s machinations are quite skilled at evading detection. That said, seated meditation does allow us to more easily wriggle free from the clutches of our karmic tendencies, our attachments and aversions, so that clearer vision has the chance to arise. And, oh, how we need some clear vision to inform our current political discourse!

Power, Practice, and Peace

This post is in the Power, Practice, and Peace series.

Find a running list of all posts in this series by clicking here.

 

References 

 

Wilber, K. (2007). Integral spirituality – A startling new role for religion in the Modern and Postmodern world. Integral Books, an imprint of Shambhala Publications, Inc. 

 

Copyright 2021 and 2025 by Mark Robert Frank