Illuminated Choice

From the Stone Tarot, the Two of Swords; from the Buddhist Quote Cards, a verse from the 26th chapter of the Dhammapada:

Stone's painting shows that whenever we must make a choice between two opposing ideas or two different options, our clarity is always tinged by our passionate reaction to each one. It can feel like a no-win situation, caught between a rock and a hard place. Yet the verse from the Dhammapada gives some direction:

Whenever one turns away from the intent to harm, suffering is allayed. 

Before making a decision, we can check our intentions, and secondly (and most important), we can ask if this choice will cause undeserved harm to anyone (including ourselves). In the words of Mary Jane Dodd, may we "shine to lessen the darkness of another being's suffering."