Think of anger. Anger is the mind that wishes to harm and hurt. Patience is the mind that holds back from harming or hurting. Anger is most difficult to deal with; patience is most difficult to develop. Patience is the only thing that defeats anger.
Don’t be disappointed if you can’t do it right away. Even after years of practice you may find that you’re still losing your temper. It’s all right. But you will also notice that the power of anger has weakened, that it doesn’t last as long, and does not as easily turn into hatred.
If patience comes easily to you, wonderful. If not, how do you go from anger to patience?
- Gelek Rimpoche, from "The Real Enemy" (Winter 2001)
I read this and my first thought was Tonglen. I looked down and it was right below this post.
ReplyDeleteI think you have to accept that you are angry first.