Cultivate anguish

Thanissaro Bhikku, in his essay introducing Buddhism to new practitioners, said that we should cultivate feelings of anguish about the illness, aging and death in the world. If I may do so, I would extend those feelings of anguish to the poverty, war, and in general, all the stupid reasons that people hurt each other over. This is delicate act as it can easily be turned to despair. Despair is something that cannot be explained. It can only be felt. I think I may have almost given it to it, but the Bhagawad Geeta brought me back from the brink. Now, Ven.Thanissaro and his talks, and writings on the teachings of the Buddha are give me the discipline, mental equanimity, and clarity to not let the anguish turn into despair. I'm gonna keep cultivating the anguish called "samvega" by the Buddhists, and hopefully the "pasada" too.

One of my favourite tv characters, "General Iroh" said in the 5th episode of the 2nd season :

Never give into despair. Allow yourself to slip down that road and you surrender to your lowest instincts. In the darkest times hope is something you give yourself. That is the meaning of inner strength.

I think that statement is extremely insightful. I think Pasada has also to do with inner strength, and it can definitely be cultivated.

As a side note, Arsenal are really unhealthy for the heart. Don't they consider the physical and mental well being of their fans even one bit? They HAD to wait till the 95th minute! Sarcasm aside, I'm glad for the win. The players showed a little bit of their own "inner strength".

Have a great weekend. 'tis a bad weekend to have ton of work, what with the sun finally out. Hope nobody else has to work through the weekend.