Choices and Responsibility

[Brian]

A reader wrote in with the following comment:

[quoting one of the comments from an earlier Daily Buddhism post]
” . . . not judged by (our) actions? Which, by the way, are all a
result of ones family life, and how their father treated their mother,
grandfather to grandmother, so on and so forth. Our minds exploited by
the information and beliefs of our elders. We are all products of
societies influence, generation after generation. And are a direct
result of our environment. ”

I remember years ago I was getting counseling from a very wise man and
explained to him how when I returned to my home town after a couple
years away, I fell right back into my old patterns of life, which
included many healthy choices. I explained it him this way, ” Have you
ever seen those chickens at fairs that do a trick or something? Like
the kind that are in a small cage with a light bulb and a piano? When
I was growing up there used to be one near our house at a small
amusement park. You put a quarter in a slot below the cage and the
light bulb in the cage would turn on. The chicken would see the light
and walk over to the piano. The chicken would peck out four or five
notes on the piano and food would be dispensed as a reward. You see, I
feel like that chicken when I come home. When the light goes on, I
play the piano.”

My wise counsel replied, ” You have forgotten one important point. You
are not a chicken.”

My Response:

This note made me think. We often hear about the nature vs. nurture
argument, and I often wonder just how much of the world’s problems are
due to genetics. It seems that on the news, more and more bad things
are being blamed on genetics, everything from diseases and obesity to
criminal actions.

Obviously whether you are tall or short, black or white, blue-eyed or
brown-eyed, is a matter of genetics. No one has any control over that
stuff. But is it really reasonable to blame things like overeating
and drug abuse on genetics? How much behaviorally can we really blame
on genetics rather than upbringing, and even more importantly,
personal choice? I won’t argue against there being a genetic factor
that can push people in certain directions; perhaps genetics is the
cause of someone who has a tendency to overeat or even make them more
likely to become addicted to something. However, as the reader who
wrote the letter above stated, we are not chickens. We do have a
choice in our actions.

Buddhism, more than any other religion or philosophy, emphasizes
personal responsibility. You make the choices. You control your life.
This is the main repercussion of the existence of karma; you are the
one ultimately responsible for yourself, bad genes or otherwise.

Another reader sent in the following slideshow which emphasizes this
point perfectly. Sometimes it is possible to go against one’s own
inner nature and behave on a higher level. If tigers can do it, so can
we. (Slideshow on the site)

View the slideshow or comment on the post at: http://www.dailybuddhism.com/archives/1303
Try Mighty Leaf Tea, hot or cold. Get yours at http://dailybuddhism.com/tea