Another Way To Approach Fear And Anger
Marguerite Theophil
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A good number of us may cope with pain and fear by trying to ignore it all, hoping it will disappear. Or, as much of Western mythology teaches us, we can boldly `confront' fears and obstacles, in order to overcome them.However, in many Eastern traditions we are offered a somewhat different, rather surprising way to deal with fears and challenges. We are encouraged, whenever possible, to courageously choose to understand and `befriend' them.Stories that different traditions pass on contain wise approaches to some tough things that life tosses us. Let's look at a story adapted from Buddhist tradition about a demon who fed on the fear and anger of those of the human world, where there was no lack of food for him. It was all too easy to grow big and fat on easily provoked family quarrels, religious, communal or national hatred. He became even more ambitious and thought: “Shouldn't I move up from humans, and try with the devas, the shining ones?“ He decided to choose the realm of the 33 devas ruled by King Sakka, because, he knew that the inhabitants were far above petty and selfish quarrels but though they were from a higher realm and therefore better than humans, only a few of them had really completely eliminated the shackles of fear, ill-will and aversion.
Fortunately for him, he arrived there when King Sakka was away . Finding no one in the large audience hall, the demon seated himself on Sakka's empty throne, waiting quietly for things to occur, which he hoped would bring him a tasty, satiating feast.
When the first devas entered, they could hardly believe their eyes a disgusting monster sat on the royal throne, drooling and grinning.Recovering from their initial shock, they immediately began to wail and shout: “You awful demon! How dare you sit on the throne of our ruler? What insolence! Such utter disrespect! You should be cast headlong into the lowest hells, straight into a boiling cauldron! Get out! Get out!“ The demon continued to stay where he was, laughing at their tantrums, growing more elated as their anger increased.
Moment by moment gorging on their fear and anger, he grew in size, in strength, in power, in fearsomeness. And the anger he absorbed into his system started to ooze as a smoky-red, stinking, glowing mist that kept the devas at a distance and even dimmed their natural radiance.
Suddenly a bright glow appeared at the other end of the hall growing into a dazzling light from which the deva-king appeaka approached, unshaken by what red. Sakka approached, unshaken by what he saw. The smoke screen created by the anger of the devas parted as he slowly and politely approached the usurper of his throne, saying: “Welcome, friend! Please remain seated, relax. I can take another chair. May I offer you our hospitality?“ While Sakka spoke these genuinely friendly words, the demon, being denied his nourishment, rapidly shrank and finally disappeared, leaving behind only a faint whiff of smelly smoke which soon dissolved.
The story suggests that often an unexpected, more interesting, kind, adventurous, often playful approach to many issues is called for, one that develops our capacity for alternative solutions, not our immediately reactive fear.
The results can really surprise us.We could end up realising the `enemy' is weaker than we imagined; we could uncover and release past hurts; come to an understanding of the roots of our habits; find out gentleness is often strength; learn to trust our inner wisdom more deeply .
Fortunately for him, he arrived there when King Sakka was away . Finding no one in the large audience hall, the demon seated himself on Sakka's empty throne, waiting quietly for things to occur, which he hoped would bring him a tasty, satiating feast.
When the first devas entered, they could hardly believe their eyes a disgusting monster sat on the royal throne, drooling and grinning.Recovering from their initial shock, they immediately began to wail and shout: “You awful demon! How dare you sit on the throne of our ruler? What insolence! Such utter disrespect! You should be cast headlong into the lowest hells, straight into a boiling cauldron! Get out! Get out!“ The demon continued to stay where he was, laughing at their tantrums, growing more elated as their anger increased.
Moment by moment gorging on their fear and anger, he grew in size, in strength, in power, in fearsomeness. And the anger he absorbed into his system started to ooze as a smoky-red, stinking, glowing mist that kept the devas at a distance and even dimmed their natural radiance.
Suddenly a bright glow appeared at the other end of the hall growing into a dazzling light from which the deva-king appeaka approached, unshaken by what red. Sakka approached, unshaken by what he saw. The smoke screen created by the anger of the devas parted as he slowly and politely approached the usurper of his throne, saying: “Welcome, friend! Please remain seated, relax. I can take another chair. May I offer you our hospitality?“ While Sakka spoke these genuinely friendly words, the demon, being denied his nourishment, rapidly shrank and finally disappeared, leaving behind only a faint whiff of smelly smoke which soon dissolved.
The story suggests that often an unexpected, more interesting, kind, adventurous, often playful approach to many issues is called for, one that develops our capacity for alternative solutions, not our immediately reactive fear.
The results can really surprise us.We could end up realising the `enemy' is weaker than we imagined; we could uncover and release past hurts; come to an understanding of the roots of our habits; find out gentleness is often strength; learn to trust our inner wisdom more deeply .
