Cynicism

ClayTheScribe

How do I balance cynicism in my Buddhist practice? I feel like it's a trait that could be useful if not worked on properly. Or is it something I should seek to eliminate?

federica

It depends. if your cynicism hinders your practice, and prevents you practising acceptance, then it's a negative trait.
If cynicism aids your practice, by preventing you from being drawn into unskilful views, then it's a positive trait.

Cinorjer

I am probably one of the most cynical people around, far as I can tell. I balance it by not insisting that "nothing ever improves, and nobody ever has good intentions", but by understanding that people being what they are, self-interest is going to infect their best efforts.

When a man is working hard, trying to bail out a leaky boat with a bucket, you can admire his effort and determination while knowing the real problem is the leaky boat, not the water up to our knees.

aMatt

I see cynicism as distinctly inhibitory to the practice. For me, at least, it implies a disparaging or distrustful quality of observation. Those aren't all that helpful, in my opinion, but also trust and blind faith are not helpful.

In the middle, there is discernment, which simply recognizes true from false from projection and so forth. What cannot be understood, is simply let go of as "not understood" or "this is what was said"... without placing value on it.

For instance, I have a friend who uses to deception to hide from her guilt of acting unskillfully. When she says things to me that feel somewhat out of tune, I don't think "well, that's not true" (cynicism) or "Oh wow, that is crazy true" (blind trust) but rather "this is what was said." If my mind sprouts those things, I let go of them, so I can more skillfully interact with what is being presented. I also do this with my teachers, saying "my teacher said this" as true and false don't really need to be applied to teachings and stories handed to us from others.