Anger, Irritation, and Stubborn Contrariety!
Evil and ill-will is the mental hindrance,
which is resisting against and
opposing phenomena.
It can be quite violent, when manifesting as quarrels,
conflicts, hate, hostility,
and wars.
Aversion
instantly destroys all harmony
and peace, and thus any potential for happiness.
It can
only be cured by
meditation on the four infinitely divine states
(the 4 Brahma-viharas).
First priority: Noticing
evil Ill-Will arise -in itself- makes it fade away:
The Buddha
said: When ill-will is present in
him then he understands:
"There is ill-will in me now" and when ill-will is absent, he also
notices:
"There is no ill-will in me now". He understands how unarisen ill-will arises.
He understands how to leave behind any arisen ill-will, and he
understands
how left ill-will cannot ever arise again in the future. MN 10
What is the feeding cause that makes
ill-will arise?
There are
displeasing and repulsive features and aspects of any object,
frequently giving
irrational and unwise attention to them, this is the feeding
cause of the
arising of unarisen ill-will, and the feeding cause of the very
increase and expansion of ill-will, that
has
already arisen. SN 46:51
The 3 paranoid thoughts that induce resentment
and anger:
1: He or she has done, is doing
now, or will in the future do me some
wrong!
2: He or she has done, is doing now, or will do those I like some wrong!
3: He or she has done, is doing
now, or will do those I dislike some good!
What is the starving cause that makes
ill-will cease?
There is
the release of mind through Universal Good-Will and Friendliness,
frequently giving
rational and wise attention to this is the starving cause
of
the non-arising of unarisen ill-will,
and the starving cause of decrease
and shrinking
of any ill-will, that
already has arisen. SN 46:51
Which medicine cures
ill-will, so that it does not re-arise
ever again?
One should cultivate the meditation on
Universal
Friendliness (Mettā)!
For
the
meditation on universal friendliness
gradually
evaporates all ill-will.
One should cultivate the meditation on
All-embracing
Pity (Karunā)!
Meditation on
embracing pity, makes cruel and brunt harming violence
fade away.
One should cultivate the meditation on Sympathetic
Mutual Joy
(Muditā)!
Meditation on
mutual joy eliminates discontent, all green envy and jealousy.
One should cultivate the meditation on composed
Equanimity
(Upekkhā)!
Meditation on imperturbable equanimity can make anger
and aversion cease.
MN 62
Some advantageous
reflections to return to:
Remember the
Simile of the Saw... The Blessed Buddha once said:
Friends, even if bandits were to cut you up, savagely, limb by limb, with a
two-handled saw,
you should not be
angry with them, but do my bidding:
Remain pervading them with a friendly mentality
imbued only with an all
embracing good will, kind, rich, expansive, and immeasurable.
Free from
hostility, free from ill will. Always remembering this Simile of the Saw
is
indeed how
you should train yourselves...
MN 21
Being OWNER of ANGER is Pain: Know that everyone is
the owner of the
consequences of all
their actions (Kamma),
whether good or bad...
The 11 advantages won
by cultivating Universal Friendliness (Mettā):
1: One
falls sleeps happy!
2:
One wakes up happy!
3:
One dreams no evil dreams!
4:
One is liked and loved by all human beings!
5:
One is liked and loved by all non-human beings too!
6:
One is guarded and protected by the divine devas!
7:
One cannot be harmed by fire, poison or weapons!
8:
One swiftly attains the concentration of absorption!
9:
Ones appearance becomes serene, calm and composed!
10:
One dies without confusion, bewilderment, or any panic!
11: One reappears
after death on the Brahma level if reached no higher!
AN V342
