From the Yetzer Hara’s Desk - January 2009

A Matter of Perspective

by Cindy Mettika Hoffman

revised by Bob Evans

The Yetzer Hara (the Evil Influence) has over the years been an important entity in my life. For whatever reason, and there are many, “the evil one” has whispered in my ear. His voice sounds just like mine or yours, if not seen and heard for what it is. Why just the other day I went to the café and planned to order a delicious and healthy salad and when asked what I wanted “cinnamon bun” slipped out of my mouth. The waitress asked if I would like that heated and I wondered why she would suggest that the salad would be heated. Then, I understood that Mara the tempter had lurked and that I could clarify, but didn’t. In one fell swoop and slip of the tongue the Lord of Darkness provided the keys to craving, desire, sloth, fear, doubt, stubbornness, and ignorance. I have discovered that The Yetzer Hara thrives on making it difficult for me to discern between needs and wants.

The Evil One has a base sense of humor, which he manifests by seeking to corrupt, demote, disparage, disgrace, and depress others. Prayer and the study of Torah are antidotes to his whisperings and he really does not like being seen. In fact, he slinks away hissing when caught. And then we can have a good laugh at ourselves and the plight of the human condition. Some things I have learned, by catching the Yetzer Hara in the act, are that:

• We are all mortal and in the final analysis, those thoughts, feelings, fears and opinions which so obsess us in the here and now, are transitory;
• We can allow ourselves to feel our own suffering which in turn can release fear, and lead us to better love our neighbors as ourselves;
• We can allow ourselves to experience life as it is;
• We can improve our lives, our souls and repair the world through tzedakah (chairity), tefilah (prayer) and gemilut chasidim (acts of loving kindness).

Last year after being diagnosed with an extremely rare blood disease, I underwent a treatment called monoclonal antibody therapy which is a 6 hour infusion that takes place every three weeks. Every fifteen minutes, the nursing staff checked my heart rate, blood pressure, oxygen level, and other vital statistics. I thought, with the Yetzer Hara’s help, how kind and wonderful and thoughtful, and caring the staff was. Of course the Yetzer Harah suggested I not read the handout about the drug I was given, until a few weeks later. At the top of the form in bold letters was written Mortadatodt (Azrael) May Kill You. The nursing staff was indeed thoughtful and caring’ but they were mostly interested if I were still living or had croaked while being infused.

I told this story to Ajahn Amaro (a Buddhist monk in Redwood Valley) who related a story by Ajahn Chah (an influential teacher of the Buddhadharma and a founder of two major monasteries in the Thai Forest Tradition) about a chicken who thought she was loved by her owner. The hen was picked up daily and rocked up and down. From the chicken’s point of view, she was loved and from the owner’s point of view he was seeing when it was time for her to be part of a delicious and special Thai meal.

© 2008 Cindy Mettika Hoffman

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