Instead of automatically reacting with sarcasm 

or trying to be clever, think again.

Will our wit ridicule another?

Will our sarcasm harm the listener? 

For varied reasons, ranging from wanting to make others laugh to being considered witty, or simply being frustrated with a situation, we can find ourselves using sarcasm. But what is sarcasm? It is yet another manifestation of anger. We may view ourselves as amusing, but we’re heedlessly belittling another person or some situation. There’s a valid reason why the Greeks defined sarcasm as “tearing flesh.” 

Before glibly tossing out another sarcastic quip, we need to figure out why we feel inclined to do so.

So that others will laugh? 

So that they think we’re sophisticated with our rapier wit? 

Surely, we can manage to make others laugh without resorting to disrespect or ridicule. We also need to remind ourselves that our sharp remarks subtly nurture tension in others and plant seeds for our own future belittlement.

There’s no need to fuss . . .

Ordinary beings view things dualistically:

as two, not one.

Awakened beings understand 

all phenomena are one, not two.

Viewing circumstances and objects in a dualistic way means seeing them from opposing perspectives. As either one thing or another. We thus categorize everything in contrasting terms, such as pleasing or annoying, superior or inferior. Caught up in such discriminatory thoughts, we go to great lengths to acquire more of what we desire while vigorously avoiding everything we dislike.

Viewing things in dualistic terms causes us endless problems and agitation. For example, when viewing a spoon from different angles, two people can argue over whether it is convex or concave. (That’s viewing things dualistically.)

Awakened beings, on the other hand, understand that all phenomena are one. They regard the spoon as a single object with two aspects. In such a manner, they view all situations and objects non-dualistically, and can act judiciously without any trace of rancor.

“In the face of war, social injustice, religious conflict, what difference can I make?