Inscriptions: stubborn and erasable ~ Malinda Words

Rock-paper-scissors is a game usually played by two people where each player simultaneously forms the shape of one of the three objects using an outstretched hand. Accordingly, a closed fist would be a rock, an open hand would be paper and a fist with the index finger and middle finger extended denoting scissors. Victory could come in one of three ways: paper would wrap rock, rock would blunt scissors and scissors would cut paper. If both choose the same shape it is a draw but would be followed by an immediate replay.

While it appears to be random, some would contend that the game can be played with skill, where one recognises and exploits the non-random behaviour in an opponent.

It’s all about trying to get into the mind of the opponent, anticipating the next ‘move’ based on what has been ‘played’ before and quickly choosing one’s own move to trump that move.

There’s another game, if you wish to call it that, where one’s own mind is investigated and response to certain situations, events, words or actions is decided upon. This ‘game’ was not named but it could be called ‘Rock-Sand-Water.’

In the ‘Book of Threes’ (‘Thika Nipatha Paliya’) of the Anguttara Nikaya (‘The Numerical Discourses of the Buddha’), there’s mention of the Buddha employing inscriptions as an analogy to explain the different ways in which an individual could deal with anger. The recommendations consequent to the explication require no elaboration.

The Buddha spoke about three types of individuals whose response to anger is like inscriptions on a rock, in sand and in water. Accordingly, the anger of the first type remains as would an inscription on a rock. It is not quickly effaced by the action of wind or water. The anger of the second type is like an inscription on sand or soil, it doesn’t last long. Finally, the anger of the third type is like writing on water. It disappears immediately.

How does this happen? Here’s the quote from the Lekha Sutra or the Discourse on Inscriptions:

‘Where a certain individual, when spoken to roughly, harshly or in an unpleasant way is nevertheless able to be congenial, companionable and courteous, it means that he or she has cultivated the quality of dealing quickly and effectively with irksome matters or situations.

It constitutes a rule of thumb. We could always ask ourselves ‘rock, sand or water?’ Moreover, it need not be limited to dealing with things that could cause anger. The principle has multiple applications. What do we do with grief? How do we deal with sorrow, loss or defeat? It would not be out of place to apply it to the happier flip side: joy, acquisition or victory. We might believe that dwelling on the sunny side of things cannot be harmful. True, but moderation will ensure that no one’s sentiments are hurt and it will also insure us from the potential damage that pride and inflated ego could cause.

There are accepted fist-signs for rock, paper and scissors. In the case of rock, sand and water, what is required is a mind-exercise. A bit of symbolism may not be out of place and indeed could act as an enabler. Clenched fist for rock, we could keep that. An open palm for sand. Fingers in a trembling movement for water. We would immediately understand which of these describes our response best.

Anger, hatred, jealousy, disenchantment and grief: we could etch them all on rock or, put another way, deal with them as though we have carved them deep in the mind or written them down in indelible ink. Anger, hatred, jealousy, disenchantment and grief: we could write these down in sand and the work of wind and water will be far more swift. Anger, hatred, jealousy, disenchantment and grief: we could let the relevant words fall on water and watch them instantly disappear.

Rock, paper and scissors make an interesting game. Rock, sand and water: a game of a kind, yes, but reflection thereupon could very well placate our anger and the anger of the world.

13 May 2023

Inscriptions: stubborn and erasable

['The Morning Inspection' is the title of a column I wrote for the Daily News from 2009 to 2011, one article a day, Monday through Saturday. This is a new series. Links to previous articles in this new series are given below]

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