Even if it were the nature of the childish
To cause harm to other beings,
It would still be incorrect to be angry with them.
For this would be like begrudging fire for having the nature to burn.
And even if the fault were temporary
In they who are by nature reliable,
It would still be incorrect to be angry.
For this would be like begrudging space for allowing smoke to arise in it.— Acharya Shantideva, The Way of the Bodhisattva
Fellow philosophers,
This week we’ve been doing the tough, philosophical work of examination.
We’ve been examining the above text and a modern teaching based on its ancient wisdom yes, but we’ve also been examining ourselves—a difficult work which requires a lot of self-compassion, bravery, and intentionality.
For what it’s worth, I’m proud of us for sticking with it and choosing to look these topics in the eye.
For our last day in this series as we consider contemplation, I want to provide us with a few minutes to enter into a contemplative space and compassionately observe ourselves.
I’ve provided the text above as a starting point, and will also leave a few questions below to ponder.
According to Pema Shodron, the above text is challenging us with an interesting logical conundrum.
Essentially, Shantideva is either positing that people are either inherently bad—in which case we shouldn’t be angry when they act poorly to us—that would be like being angry at fire for its heat.
On the other hand, if people are inherently good, then we must extend to them the compassion we desire in our moments of temporary fear, anger, anxiety, or lashing out.
In this way, he creates a bit of a puzzle in which our logical minds find anger a difficult emotion to validate.
The point is not to make us feel bad for our anger (remember, self-compassion!) but to connect with our logical brain that anger isn’t very effective in helping us to achieve the outcomes we really want in life.
With that, I’ll post a few question to ponder below, and I’ll see you tomorrow for our weekend roundup.
Until then,
Matt
Extra questions to contemplate
What stimuli provoke feelings of anger or vulnerability?
What does my anger do to me, or others?
Does this emotion help me to accomplish my goals?
Does this response hinder my goals?
In fact, what are my goals?
Am I showing myself compassion? If not, what is preventing me from choosing this path?
Am I showing others the same compassion?
The Way of the Bodhisattva Text:
file:///Users/matthewmalcom/Downloads/Bodhisattvas_way_English.pdf