Re: Anger
hariḥ om̐
~~~~~~
namasté
One approach is to look at the problem introspectively... this may not be for everyone, yet has been offered many times by the wise.
When you say I am (always) angry. Let’s for the moment throw out ‘always’. Doesn’t matter if it is ‘always’ or ‘partly’ or ’sometimes’ for this approach... let’s for the moment take it out of the equation.
Now you have, I __ am___angry. Yet you wish this would say I__am___happy.
So just for this moment consider who is ‘angry’ and who wishes to be ‘happy’ ? Let’s continue and parse out some terms of the equation one more time to get to this answer.
We do this by answering a question. Consider who is ‘angry’ and who wishes to be ‘happy’ ? One responds ‘ I___ do ’.
Now we’re making some progress because we can discount one more term... the first one is ‘am’ – it leaves the formula when the answer ‘I _ do’ is offered.
Now we get to this ‘do’. I need to get technical just for a moment and define this ‘do’ so we are all on the same page: ‘Do’ means to perform (an act, duty, role), to execute, to accomplish; finish; complete, to put forth; exert. Now we can write the answer ( I__do) in a slightly different format:
‘I’ want to perform, execute, accomplish, finish, put forth or exert = I do.
Here is the 1st insight as there are several and should go one step (pada) at a time to insure adhesion of comprehension.
When a human spends more time on the ‘anger’ part or on the pursuit of the ‘happy’ part without knowing who or what this ‘I’ is, it (anger or the pursuit of happy) will continue to confound the human. Who or what is this ‘I’ that does not want anger, or prefers to engage in ‘happy’? That is the crux of the question.
If one solves this side of the equation I __ am__always __ (fill in the blank e.g. happy, sad, tired, content, mad, late, hungry) you come to know the receiver of all these conditions. Who wants all this ? Well, I do!! Who then is this ‘I’ ? This is where one will gain more understanding , on this side of the equation, and takes one to a better place. ( Why so ? That will be an additional post).
Insight number 2
What or who or where is this ‘I’ ? This needs to be better understood. No one explains it better than rāmaṇa mahaṛṣi; I would recommend, Be As You Are, The teachings of Sri Ramana Maharshi , edited by David Godman
Insight number 3
Happy ? What is it? Consider contentment first... Contentment is at the core of 'happy'. We know when we're content, and we can affect it; How can I affect my contentment ? By being simple. By being okay with what one has or does not have . That is a choice.
Well what does this have to do with anger? Anger is the signal that a human wants something to be something else... Here's some examples:
- Bobby knocked over my bike!!! I am mad/angry. Why? because this person wanted the bike to be something else - standing up.
- I am angry that I did not get that promotion. Why ? the promotion meant more status, more money, more ___ (fill in the blank). It would be something else than one has right now.
- I didn't get an 'A' on my paper... boy does that make me mad! Why? That 'A' could be how I get into graduate school ( something else).
- I do not feel happy... why I do not know!!! That makes me angry. Why? I am losing out of being happy. There must be something to this 'happy' and I do not have it. I must pursue it as an 'object' to achieve.
- I am angry all the time.... I do not know why and that too makes me angrier .... what is desired? Something else , another condition other than perpetual 'angry'.
These 3 are a start...
इतिशिवं
iti śivaṁ
Last edited by yajvan; 16 September 2016 at 01:22 PM.
यतस्त्वं शिवसमोऽसि
yatastvaṁ śivasamo'si
because you are identical with śiva
_
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