The Process of the Mind Generating Anger and Abandoning Anger

Ruchun: Today I found that afflictions arose in my mind. I felt my pores open all over my body, my muscles stiffen, my heart tighten, heat surge upward, and my head become tight and dizzy. Various counterattack methods quickly formed in my mind, much like a rooster ready to fight. I really disliked myself in this state, so I immediately sat down, leaned on the table, and forced myself to calm down.

Commentary: This is the external manifestation of anger arising upon encountering circumstances. Is it the conscious mind that becomes angry, or the root mind? When anger arises, the pores all over the body open, meaning the body hair stands on end. Why does it stand on end? Because the energy in the root mind’s heart causes the body’s energy to rush outward, pushing the body hair up. Only the root mind has the authority to do this; the conscious mind cannot. The root mind controls the entire body through the central nervous system in the brain, and can even mobilize every cell and pore. It can also regulate the flow of energy and blood throughout the body. Therefore, when the root mind experiences emotions such as joy, anger, sorrow, or happiness, the entire body cooperates to manifest those emotions. Thus, the root mind certainly possesses the mental factor of anger, along with all afflictions and all wholesome and unwholesome mental factors.

Muscle stiffness is a manifestation of the root mind unconsciously tensing the nerves. The tightness in the heart is a phenomenon of the root mind controlling the heart. Anger is like fire, moving from the heart to the head, so heat surges upward. The tightness and dizziness in the head result from the root mind’s anger inhibiting the normal flow of energy and blood, leading to insufficient supply to the head. Various counterattack methods quickly form in the mind. Here, it is possible that the independent consciousness conceives these counterattack methods, which the root mind then adopts, preparing to strike back. This shows how severe the root mind’s anger is and what actions it can take when angered. This anger arises from the self-nature of the root mind, formed over countless eons. No one may touch one’s own interests; otherwise, anger arises and one prepares to fight, thereby creating evil karma that leads to retribution. This has been the case for countless eons, and without cultivation, it will continue.

Ruchun: I asked myself: What is it now that ties you to affliction? Is it your own mind, the matter, or others? What is its essence? You are now tightly grasped by the aggregates of perception and feeling. This will not do. Although you lack the ability to see through the illusory nature of the five aggregates, you cannot remain so powerless to resist. So, I disengaged my mind from anger and affliction and readjusted my attitude: If others want some, just share a portion. If it is unreasonable, so be it; it is not a big deal. Be kind to others, avoid forming enmity, and let it go. These things are not brought at birth nor taken at death. The Great Wall still stands today, but the First Emperor of Qin is no more. It is not worth hindering my cultivation or creating knots in my mind over such trivial matters. I persuaded myself in this way, and as I did, my whole body relaxed. With an attitude of goodwill toward others, I stopped dwelling on it.

Commentary: This passage describes the process of the conscious mind advising the root mind. Clearly, the independent consciousness understands the principles and is free from anger. It uses the principles it has learned to guide the root mind to abandon anger and understand cause and effect. The root mind accepts this, its mind opens and its understanding clears, and it lets go of anger. Thus, it is positively influenced by the anger-free independent consciousness. Once the root mind stops dwelling and abandons its attachment, the entire body relaxes, and energy and blood return to normal. If a person frequently gives in to anger and rage, their energy and blood stagnate, leading to physical problems and affecting their lifespan. The process of cultivation is like this: using correct principles to guide one’s own mind. Without cultivation, the root mind would constantly fight like a gamecock, leading to endless evil karma and endless retribution.