[Phoneemer]

Are the negative emotions enemies or friends?

They are a combination of physical sensations in the body and thought processes in the mind.

Not reacting with aversion to negative emotion and seeing into their impermanent, unsatisfactory, and not self nature diffuses their ability to get a hold over us.

Trying to deal with negative emotion on the level of the storyline only feeds it in my experience.

[bawayTeen]

If all these types of practitioners are wrong what in your view would be the characteristics of the right kind of practitioner?

Well, they are sentient! So will mistaken until enlightenment.

[ConoMadura]

They are a combination of physical sensations in the body and thought processes in the mind.

Not reacting with aversion to negative emotion and seeing into their impermanent, unsatisfactory, and not self nature diffuses their ability to get a hold over us.

Trying to deal with negative emotion on the level of the storyline only feeds it in my experience.

What you say is so interesting. In trying to answer the above question will depend on which tradition we follow.

In my chosen path, the negative emotions never existed in the first place. But when they do arise due to a dullness of Essence, and a down grading of consciousness to a mental "I", the emotion with such a vivid appearance reminds one of one true nature.

So negative emotions appearance is a wisdom. One of five!

[baskentt]

So negative emotions appearance is a wisdom. One of five!

This makes no sense, so the angriest and most depressed people in the world are the wisest?

Negative emotion arises due to past causes and conditions, there's nothing we can do about that except to avoid the causes and conditions that gave rise to them and so lessen the possibility they will continue to arise in future.

In the meantime while experiencing the negative emotion that has already arisen how one reacts to is where the rubber hits the road as far as wisdom is concerned. Instead of adding to it through increased reactivity and making it snowball observing it with clarity and equanimity understanding it's impermanent, unsatisfactory, and not self nature leads to it running out of steam. This is wisdom.

[blackjackblax]

This makes no sense, so the angriest and most depressed people in the world are the wisest?

Negative emotion arises due to past causes and conditions, there's nothing we can do about that except to avoid the causes and conditions that gave rise to them and so lessen the possibility they will continue to arise in future.

In the meantime while experiencing the negative emotion that has already arisen how one reacts to is where the rubber hits the road as far as wisdom is concerned. Instead of adding to it through increased reactivity and making it snowball observing it with clarity and equanimity understanding it's impermanent, unsatisfactory, and not self nature leads to it running out of steam. This is wisdom.

What you say is very important, and it reveals the differences between the traditions and teachings.

The five wisdoms are the five Buddha families, each of which has a corresponding neurotic tendencies. If one's essence is recognised, then when a negative emotion arises, it is immediately seen as one of the wisdoms: therefore, we are beginning to look at the unity of the two truths, relative and absolute. I could go into more detail if you wish.

All the best
Tony

[dhrishiasv]

The five wisdoms are the five Buddha families, each of which has a corresponding neurotic tendencies. If one's essence is recognised, then when a negative emotion arises, it is immediately seen as one of the wisdoms: therefore, we are beginning to look at the unity of the two truths, relative and absolute. I could go into more detail if you wish. Hi Tony,

I was a Tibetan Buddhist practitioner for a long time before deciding to change to Theravada.

I am familiar with the concept of the 5 Buddha Families and their corresponding emotions and wisdoms. However, in your ordinary daily life , can you honestly say that these concepts enable you, for example, to immediately deal with the arising of anger in a disagreement with someone?

Please give a detailed example of how you are able to effectively deal with this and other negative emotions on an everyday level.

kind regards

Aloka

[replrobin]

The five wisdoms are the five Buddha families, each of which has a corresponding neurotic tendencies. If one's essence is recognised, then when a negative emotion arises, it is immediately seen as one of the wisdoms: therefore, we are beginning to look at the unity of the two truths, relative and absolute. I could go into more detail if you wish.

Not really, looking at wikipedia though the 5 wisdoms doesn't appear to have anything to do with negative emotion http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Five_wisdoms

[Grewlybreekly]

Not really, looking at wikipedia though the 5 wisdoms doesn't appear to have anything to do with negative emotion http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Five_wisdoms

There's a detailed and correct explanation here:

http://www.rinpoche.com/teachings/5families.pdf

I can't post an excerpt because there are specific copyright restrictions .

[Taunteefrurge]

Not really, looking at wikipedia though the 5 wisdoms doesn't appear to have anything to do with negative emotion http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Five_wisdoms

Hello Goofaholix,

You will definitely not find this information in wikipedia! This is Dzogchen. If you want to talk, we can talk.

[myspauyijbv]

Hi Tony,

I was a Tibetan Buddhist practitioner for a long time before deciding to change to Theravada.

I am familiar with the concept of the 5 Buddha Families and their corresponding emotions and wisdoms. However, in your ordinary daily life , can you honestly say that these concepts enable you, for example, to immediately deal with the arising of anger in a disagreement with someone?

Please give a detailed example of how you are able to effectively deal with this and other negative emotions on an everyday level.

kind regards

Aloka

Good morning Aloka,

This is a gradual process of understanding. It happen quite naturally, one find that the emotion arises but subsides. There are three illustrations of this: A knot in a snake (uncoils itself), writing on water, and a thief entering a empty house.

This brings us to the four types of teacher: root, lineage, inner and symbolic. The symbolic teacher being everything that arises.

I wrote a short article this morning called 'Trigger happy', it may help.

Trigger happy!
In all of our encounters with others, a trigger can occur. It's not quite a reaction, but it triggers something in the mind. It inspires! It joins up some dots! Now depending on one's attitude and understanding, this may happen sometimes or be quite frequent. Another word for this is 'learning'.

This is why we need one another, to bounce ideas off. It's not so much the ideas, but it may show a fresh approach. That's if a big fat ego of pride isn't in the way!

If we actually want to learn about ourselves, then these triggers are the best things ever. Anything that expands our view must be of benefit. Of course there could be a slight discomfort as one has to let go of a previous approach, or maybe it can be seen as an upgrade.

If we merely argue about something we see as untrue, we are only giving that untruth...legs!..which it does not deserve.

Every encounter is an opportunity. One day you may realise, “Hey I don't react anymore!” That will make you happy. Hm..”I can turn this into a positive event.”

Be trigger happy!


Tony

[patuvammnogoo]

Hi Tony,

You still havent explained how you yourself deal directly with a negative emotion when it arises.

[Koayrbzh]

A quick answer: the arising of an emotion brightens up the mind suddenly. At that moment, one has a choice of whether to go in, or go out. Going in would be to refresh the connection with essence – that creates space so that one doesn't just react. Because of that space, one can then respond as necessary. But one is not reacting from a negative emotion in this scenario. Depending on the situation, one would use one of the enlightened activities (even though one isn't enlightened!) of pacifying, magnetising, enriching and destroying, whilst being mindful that inner demons of like and dislike are lying in ambush...we are constantly being tested, and this is to be welcomed.

A longer answer: a couple of years ago, on a month-long silent retreat, I was having a real problem with yidam practice. Suddenly, I saw that there was a connection between the kayas and the so-called poisons. This brought me to an understanding of the unity of the two truths of reality and a seeming reality. This in turn brought me to a greater understanding of the symbolic teacher – that the whole of samsara is a teacher (and not an enemy). And that anything we need to learn is in our own reactions. I told my teacher this, and he gave me a huge hug.

I know this may sound like a cliché, but it is how it works. It's a gradual process, but suddenly you find that you're not reacting the way that you used to, and a sense of responsibility dawns – that others are more important than oneself.

All my questions have been answered: there are now only subtle ones about whether and how to engage with others, and for that, one needs to review one's intentions. Of course, there is still ego there, but it is more or less tamed (I know saying this makes me an easy target to attack, but I am no longer going to feel guilty about ego any more...Buddhists do tend to use that as an weapon against one another!)

With the discovery of non-meditation in meditation, this brings us to conduct in daily life. This is just a continuity of the view. When something comes up that distracts – such as somebody else's emotions – it is noted but not reacted upon. Emotions do still arise, but they are radiantly sharp and offer an opportunity to look into their nature. As one gets older, one is less involved in trivia. I do find a lot of the Buddhist teachings hold people down with dogma, when we are actually free spirits!

One important point I have learned is about inner wind in the subtle body. In the modern world, we have become very speedy people and this raises the inner wind from below the navel, into the upper body which causes tensions and a sense of anxiety. This merely entails using the gentle vase breath to bring the inner wind down again. I can explain more about this later.

One more important point...and this is very important! There are beings in this world who know all the teachings of the Buddha, but don't practise. They are called Mara. Much of the strife in the world is created by them, and this in turn puts additional pressure on people. If you want, it is exemplified by the corporate world feeding on the ego-clinging of people, and this is something that I have found it difficult to get the lamas to understand.

In fact, our minds are full of negativity, as everything is based on a mental image of “I”. Understanding this, one can be kinder to people and not see them as “wrong”...just mistaken. I told my teacher that I have empathy for negative people and compassion for positive people (they hide their wounds well): he agreed.

I suppose at some time in one's Dharma life, one has to take the teachings to heart and give up all the books and theories and rules and see how it really does feel. It is most important not to forget ordinary human warmth.

So the negative emotions are not bad, unless they are acted out.

All the best
Tony

[Searmoreibe]

A quick answer....

Lol, Tony, it looks like a really long answer to me ! I thought you said you were a Dzogchen practitioner?

If you notice an emotion arising and just relax into it completely, it dissolves....poot !

No need for excessive analysis and labelling

Which Nyingma organisation do you practice with ? Rigpa?

[Tveabuti]

If you notice an emotion arising and just relax into it completely, it dissolves....poot !

No need for excessive analysis and labelling

Thanks for the translation.

If that's the gist of it then he's pretty much been saying the same thing I've been saying only in a more long winded fashion.

[SnareeWer]

Thanks for the translation.

If that's the gist of it then he's pretty much been saying the same thing I've been saying only in a more long winded fashion.

Long winded, surely not, just comprehensive!

[Cengaeas]

Lol, Tony, it looks like a really long answer to me ! I thought you said you were a Dzogchen practitioner?

If you notice an emotion arising and just relax into it completely, it dissolves....poot !

No need for excessive analysis and labelling

Which Nyingma organisation do you practice with ? Rigpa?

No need for analysis? Analytical meditation is part of practice in my tradition, I love it! It's a bit like being a spiritual engineer, noticing the slight changes in attitude and view. Knowing the different between the eight consciousness (alaya) and rigpa. Relaxing into an emotion does do it for my, knowing the wisdom quality does! Hey, each to their own!

We can practice to feel better, but that can become a little sticky! Dzogchen is just an simple view, quite ordinary. Talking about it can take many words. I go on several retreats a year one is intensive in Colorado, a month long. The lama talks, and talks and talks, we take a topic apart. It is not at all a waste of time.

We all go to what satisfies us, and it may be slightly different to one another. There is no right or wrong. On the path to enlightenment perception changes, at each level the same words are used but the experience is different.

Sogyal Rinpoche is not my teacher, but is excellent.

All the best,
Tony

[CiccoineFed]

An illustration of the outer teacher, inner teacher and the emotions working together.

This is probably the most difficult article I have ever written, because it entails many elements. It will show how nothing is perfect, and, everything is perfect.

I write on several forums ( just experimenting) and quite often an individual will come up, who holds a very strong view. This one was about there is no need for a teacher, path or practice.
A common theme from the new age sector, and they have every right to their view.

This is not about them, but my reaction. I'd like to know if others have experienced something similar.

There had been a long discussion spanning a few weeks, and it was a little frustrating, because there was no discussion, just repetition of set phrases. After the last session, I just blew my top! I felt totally useless, and it all seemed pointless. I just could not work out what had gone wrong, as I felt that I couldn't help anyone.

During meditation this morning, this was my overall feeling, and it seemed to get worse and worse. In fact I noticed that it was speeding up (or out of control!) Suddenly the word 'speed' rang out! Now this may get complicated, but I'll try to keep sane!

The word 'speed' had a great significance. This is to do with the subtle body, it's where our residue of feelings are held. I wouldn't have known this unless my teacher had explained it to me. What happens is that an external event occurs and because of past experiences the inner wind rises and one might feel anxious or anger or fear or some sort of tension in the body.

So because of the weeks of frustration, a reaction had occurred in my subtle body, this was aversion, which in this case was subtle fear. Fear of not being able to deal with the situation, so fear of my own mind!

This emotion was very bright and clear, it had an energy in it. If one knows the nature of emotions then they can either stay demonic or seen as wisdom. I know this because my teacher explained it to me. In Tibetan buddhism there is a diagram of the 'wheel of life', part of it has the twelve links of cyclic life, each depending on the other for our habitual patterning to take place.

At number seven is a fellow with an arrow in his eye, this represents 'contact'. It is the moment when past karma ripens, and if we just react, we merely continue in our habit, making a deeper and deeper groove! However if we are able to not 'react', to find a gap in our reactions, we experience the freedom of space, and no karma is produced. I know this because my teacher explained it to me.

So, our inner teacher is Essence. This was introduced to me by my own practice, and verified by my teacher. Having realised my true Essence ( a baby realisation!) I was able to see that the whole of phenomena was now my teacher, ie karmically produced situations. Which on every occasion is an opportunity to negate karmic effects, instead of acting in a repeated pattern.

To keep this short, the outcome of all this is...noticing! It is not a eureka moment, it is a gradual understanding. The same things will arise in the future, but will be recognise or noted more easily.
This is part of the process, if one chooses to work that way.

There are two parts to our enlightened journey, one is realising our true Essence.
The other is exhausting our reactions (karma).

Sometimes we hear the phrase, “It resonates with me”.We have to be sure what this is. This could either be a true connection with our inner teacher, or just familiar feelings in this subtle body.

It has to be noted that our emotional reactions can drive us into a 'rage of righteousness' which we may find we enjoy...for the moment! This is up to you if this is the way you want to live. But it does not solve the problem, it creates the next one!

So one can see how nothing is perfect, because obstacles always arise. But everything can be seen as perfect as it all fits together, therefore can be taken apart! What notices all this, it's our knowing quality, our nature is to Know.

Whatever method works for you, works. If it does work, use it. The outcome will be loving kindness, and that is exactly what the world needs now, as long as we know what is going on, in our minds!



Tony

[Qncvqpgfg]

I really like that Tony, I think some of the terminology can be a little misleading for those who are not au fait with the Vajrayana.
But I thought it was an honest and interesting piece.

Thank you

[DoctorTentonyya]

I thoroughly enjoyed your post(s), Tony. There is much I relate to. Thank you for sharing.