The Hindrances, Part 3 (Aversion)

Good Morning,

The second major hindrance or obstruction of understanding is aversion. We experience it in many ways: as anger or hatred, fear, irritation, annoyance, or sorrow. It can be one of the tougher hindrances to recognize, but it's overall characteristic is an expression of a "condemning mind." When we experience pain and we want to avoid it or worse we start judging ourselves over it (poor me I am in so much pain) that is aversion. It also comes in the form of bargaining such as - I'll do this because it's good for me, or I'll become aware of this if it will make it go away, again this is aversion.

A typical aversion scenario use to play itself out over and over in my life. Back in my school days there was always this one person in our circle of friends I just could not stand. I did not care for the way they walked, talked, ate their lunch or dressed. Funny thing is I had never spoken with this person or had any real interaction with them and yet my mental projections of them would play themselves out in my mind as these mini dramas or stories. It took me many many years to recognize that what was going on was a form of aversion. I was letting the thoughts or memories of this person trigger an emotional roller-coaster that always took me for a ride.

Just as with desire we need not judge our fear, anger, frustration, contraction, irritation, annoyance, or the many other forms of aversion we experience. We simply watch and note the experiences as they arise, this is the beginning of recognition and acceptance. Recognition without judgement is the toughest part of working with aversion,or any hindrance for that matter. If we can watch ourselves and recognize the feelings and how they feed the hindrance then we are on our way to relinquishing the power they have over us.

Enjoy the day and contemplate this thought: Your entire life has been conditioned by attraction to the pleasant and aversion to the unpleasant: we should not be ruled by them; they are only obstacles in our path.

Peace and Love, Jim