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Dharma Talk May 96
When states such as suffering, anger, or longing arise, they are not fixed entities but are always arising and passing away in each moment, consisting of two parts that manifest simultaneously: the subject (the aspect of knowing—perception, feeling, thought, intention…) and the object. Seeing, hearing, anger… do not exist beforehand, waiting for us to experience them; rather, they are always a stream of “sparks” following one another, creating the illusion of continuity. Deep understanding of Manifestation-only Buddhist psychology—that subject and object arise together—helps us see clearly the impermanent nature of mental formations, so that we can let go of attachment and live peacefully in each moment.
Based on Buddhist psychology and Buddhist studies of the mind, we can apply two main principles to transform emotions:
- “changing the peg”—ceasing to pay attention to the condition that causes suffering, and directing the mind to another wholesome condition, such as a flower, friends, or the sangha
- “appropriate attention” (yoniso manasikara)—practicing right mindfulness, embracing and dwelling with what nourishes peace and happiness
For practice, three essential steps are presented at the end of the talk:
- clearly recognizing the emotion—this is anger, this is sadness, this is disappointment (mindfulness)
- inviting mindfulness to arise, embracing the mental formation present so that we are not dominated by craving or suffering
- generating “appropriate attention”—directing the mind toward wholesome conditions, nourishing the energy of the Buddha within us
The sangha plays an important role in supporting and “changing the peg”: the presence of friends practicing meditation, peaceful steps, a marronnier flower, or a moment of enjoying the spring sunshine… all are wholesome conditions that help us generate mindfulness, transform suffering, and share boundless love.