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FACE TO FACE | EASTERN HORIZON 25

I feel that our entire planet is currently showing the Because we can’t always get what we want, or
terrifying and negative effects of greed’s dominance. because of the three characteristics of conditioned life
Human society will not continue to even exist if this (impermanence, unsatisfactoriness, lack of substantial
balance does not shift quickly and profoundly at this self), we will always have reactions including anger,
time in human history. unless we are an arahant. Thoughtful awareness of
anger can lead to compassionate action. As long as
I think a society can grow with greed and the question anger seems here to stay for most of us, I believe our
to me is not if it is necessary, but given the ubiquity of best approach is to be informed about it. Our practices
human greed, how do we grow together recognizing and of equanimity and insight diffuse anger’s destructive
managing the truth of greed in the hub of the wheel of potential.
life and death? Greed will always contribute to driving
saṃsāra, with all of the unpredictable and varied results Our delusion gives rise to identification with an
that cause and effect, or karma, dictates. immutable self that is an illusion, which in turn
leads to a dualistic polarity of like and dislike, desire

While the Abhidharma conceptualizes an end to all and aversion, in regard to our experience of the
unwholesome roots, it also teaches us about cause world. How can an understanding of Abhidharma
and effect, and the differences between feeling help us to overcome our delusion of a self?
and clinging and grasping. Within those links of
dependent origination, we can work to mitigate greed’s I like this question at the end because I feel the
negative impact. We can practice in ways that allow Abhidharma is uniquely powerful in helping us
the occurrence of feelings of greed without turning overcome our delusion of a self. The Abhidharma
those feelings into selfish or dominating imperatives. contains thousands of lists and pages in many volumes
As individuals and as societies I feel this work is and describes every material and immaterial process
desperately needed at this time. imaginable, and there is not a single pronoun, person,
or agent mentioned. Studying the Abhidharma causes
Anger is an emotion characterized by antagonism a kind of non-verbal infusion of awareness that the
toward someone or something. The Abhidharma skandhas are empty and the self is a construct. When
says that anger is a negative mental factor and process is understood to be ongoing and completely
should be overcome. But psychology says anger can interdependent, we can feel the self as a way to
be a good thing as it can give you a way to express understand part of the process that jumps in to the
negative feelings or motivate you to find solutions. consciousness flow at a point, influences it by intention,
As a clinical psychologist do you agree that all forms and then leaves the processes of the universe at another
of anger should be eliminated or some form of anger point. It’s sobering and invigorating at the same time.
is still essential for humans in their everyday life? EH

My thoughts here are similar to what I said about greed.
I feel that the work for most people I see is to transform
our relationships to pain and not to focus on eradicating
feelings. The suffering inherent in some feelings clearly
decreases when depth psychological or solid Buddhist
practice is applied. When we lessen blame, expectation
and judgment, and view our emotions with clarity and
generosity, feelings lose their power and persistence.
But I’m afraid for most humans the elimination of even
such uncomfortable feelings as anger is not an option.