Weeding My Delusions

Today we had perfect weather in Seattle, so I spent a bit of time in the front yard tackling the weeds. I often associate weeds with delusions and imagine I am getting at my bad minds as I am pulling up the weeds, sort of like Lam Chung with his dust ("Out with the weeds, out with the delusions"). Some similarities:

* You want to get both weeds and delusions up by the root if you can. Using the right tool for the particular plant/delusion helps. Ideally you get the entire root (self-grasping), even if it goes very deep, but there's satisfaction even in getting some of root, or even the plant above ground if that's the best you can do at the time.

* Because they both tend to proliferate, it's good to prioritize the ones that can do the most damage to others. In weed terms, where we live, this means getting the dandelions that will spread to the neighbors. (In delusion terms, this generally means anger and its allies.) Which leads to the next point ...

* Attack them before they can spread. If the dandelion goes to seed, those seeds will be blown next door. I'm imagining the neighbors appreciate it, even if we don't get the root up, if we can keep the seeds out of their yard.

* As with delusions, weeds are much easier to pull up - especially if you're trying to get the whole plant - if you get them while they're still small; think of the anger analogy of putting out fire. For delusions, the more familiar you are with your mind, the more quickly you notice yourself starting to smolder, the more quickly you can douse it out with the water of love and compassion or emptiness or any other antidote.