Seeing the Beliefs that Cause Anger

And Processing my Reactions to Injustice

Reaction

Sometimes I’ll read, watch or hear about something that has happened that stirs intense anger in me. My mind labels the situation as unjust, wrong, terrible, horrible, abusive, a serious problem and I’ll have intense emotional reactions to it.

Tonight I was watching this YouTube video by Johnny Harris about the exploitive nature of the deep sea fishing industry and it left me feeling so incredibly angry about what is happening. I’ve been passionate about environmental issues for many years and it still really affects me when I see what humans are doing to the planet.

I stood up in a rage after watching the video, shoulders were incredibly tense, jaw locked in place, I paced back and forth, immense anger coursing through my body. I’ve heard this information many times before but it still triggers something deep within me.

Processing

I start to notice I’m holding my breath and this helps the body begin to calm down a bit. I focus on giving the body some much needed deep breaths. I sit back down and start to process what’s going on.

I give the mind space to vent: “This is terrible! I hate how destructive humans are to each other, animals and the natural world. We don’t deserve to keep living on this planet. This is never going to end! Humans capacity for violence and destruction never seems to change.”

I take a few more deep breaths.

“Is it true that this is terrible?” I inquire.

A sudden laugh erupts out of nowhere.

I feel a bit shocked. It seemed so undeniably true that this situation is “terrible.” The intense anger felt utterly justifiable. But somehow the conviction in the label “terrible” that I’m placing on this situation is loosened now. There is more spaciousness, there is more neutral observing of what is. The anger mysterious transforms into a joyful innocent presence, that doesn’t have any agendas for life to be a certain way. I’m just here, watching what is.

Truth

The mind thinks it knows what should and shouldn’t be happening. The mind thinks that it understands the nature of reality, that it can determine what is ultimately good and bad, what is just and unjust, that it is capable of guiding humanity to perfection, peace, happiness and prosperity. The mind thinks that it is in control.

Yet what a surprise to realize that this confidence it has in itself is not actually true.

When questioning the mind with inquiry, it starts to lose its power. And what happens the mind ceases to be in charge?

Silence, stillness, presence, being.

The presence that preceded the rising of thought and remains after it passes begins to be noticed. This presence is seen to have existed before all destructive acts and remains after the dust settles. The mind thinks that there is something intrinsically damaged by destructive acts. But this is found to not be true through inquiry. Presence is unconquerable, undiminished, unscathed, free of all blemishes and wounds. Form is constantly changing and can never be the source of “safety” that the mind is searching for. Presence is found to be the wholeness that the mind has actually been seeking.

Anger is caused by the beliefs of the mind, pure and simple. It’s a beautiful reflection calling attention to ideas like “right and wrong,” “good and bad,” “should and shouldn't.” Anger is an indicator that I’m not aware of the peaceful presence that is our true nature.

And how intriguing it is to discover that peace has been here all along and that no matter how destructive humans can be at times, due to our temporary ignorance, peace still remains.

(And with all that said, will I continue to maintain a vegan diet and not support the deep sea fishing industry? Probably so.)