I appreciate this clarification as I have witnessed and been the subject of "righteous anger" within substack. Im realizing that empathetic people are experiencing vicarious trauma from bearing witness to so much suffering in the world that we are constantly exposed to. Without deep practice and right understanding of the Dharma, the trauma is manifesting as anger, fear, depression, loss of hope, and inability to see goodness.
Thank you for the clarity of this piece. It's really helpful as I've been thinking a lot about righteous anger. As you say there's a lot of pressure to affirm 'healthy anger' and rage due to the circumstances we're living through and I can completely understand where this comes from. As someone who questions its use it's easy to be seen as 'spiritually bypassing' yet I think there's more nuance here and you have helped by pointing to it.
"Spiritual bypassing" has become a cliché putdown these days.
That is not the original intent of the term. The term is grounded in a trauma model of psychological development, based on identifying patterns of attachment—insecure, etc. The originator of the term, the late John Welwood wrote:
“When we are spiritually bypassing, we often use the goal of awakening or liberation to rationalize what I call premature transcendence: trying to rise above the raw and messy side of our humanness before we have fully faced and made peace with it.”
Anyone who has properly studied the Dharma under a qualified teacher will not engage in this kind of behavior. They will be aware of their afflictive patterns and never claim levels of realization they have not achieved. The whole point of the Dharma is precisely to face our “raw and messy side,” because until we achieve a measure of genuine realization, we are only raw and messy. That is what it means to be afflicted.
He also mythologizes Asian child-rearing practices:
"In contrast to the indigenous cultures of traditional Asia, modern child-rearing leaves most people suffering from symptoms of insecure attachment: self-hatred, disembodiment, lack of grounding, chronic insecurity and anxiety, overactive minds, lack of basic trust, and a deep sense of inner deficiency. https://scienceandnonduality.com/article/on-spiritual-bypassing-and-relationship/
First of all, his notion is not born out by any evidence. There is no evidence that Asian child rearing practices produce healthier adults.
He is part and parcel of a movement within western Buddhism that assumes everyone needs to be in therapy in order to achieve awakening. People with these views do not think that the Buddha's understanding of the human mind is sufficient.
I have always felt that the notion of "spiritual bypassing" is redundant for people who have actually received dharma teachings in a systematic way. Also, it seems that "spiritual bypassing" is more than included in the advice in traditional teachings about how to avoid faults and obstacles. Thanks for mentioning this.
Krodha can be mistaken for dvesha from the outside. Only her hairdresser knows for sure. Some practitioners are sattvic in disposition and want to hold hands and sing Kumbaya. Others are rajasic and want to kick ass. I agree that anger is always a poison. It’s just not always clear what the motivation is outside of one’s own mind.
Yes, denial does not help. But recognition always does. When one recognizes the affliction of anger arising in one’s mind, it is an opportunity to liberate it.
I think Garchen Rinpoche’s altruistic prayer is very helpful in these times:
All mother sentient beings, limitless as space—especially those
enemies who hate me, obstructers who harm me, and those
who create obstacles on my path to liberation and omniscience
—may they experience happiness; be free from suffering;
and swiftly may they attain precious, unsurpassed, perfectly
complete enlightenment!
🙏
Well said. That anger as true dharma view seems especially prevalent in Substack dharma circles. I'm going to use "I dissent". Very clear.
I appreciate this clarification as I have witnessed and been the subject of "righteous anger" within substack. Im realizing that empathetic people are experiencing vicarious trauma from bearing witness to so much suffering in the world that we are constantly exposed to. Without deep practice and right understanding of the Dharma, the trauma is manifesting as anger, fear, depression, loss of hope, and inability to see goodness.
Thank you for the clarity of this piece. It's really helpful as I've been thinking a lot about righteous anger. As you say there's a lot of pressure to affirm 'healthy anger' and rage due to the circumstances we're living through and I can completely understand where this comes from. As someone who questions its use it's easy to be seen as 'spiritually bypassing' yet I think there's more nuance here and you have helped by pointing to it.
"Spiritual bypassing" has become a cliché putdown these days.
That is not the original intent of the term. The term is grounded in a trauma model of psychological development, based on identifying patterns of attachment—insecure, etc. The originator of the term, the late John Welwood wrote:
“When we are spiritually bypassing, we often use the goal of awakening or liberation to rationalize what I call premature transcendence: trying to rise above the raw and messy side of our humanness before we have fully faced and made peace with it.”
Anyone who has properly studied the Dharma under a qualified teacher will not engage in this kind of behavior. They will be aware of their afflictive patterns and never claim levels of realization they have not achieved. The whole point of the Dharma is precisely to face our “raw and messy side,” because until we achieve a measure of genuine realization, we are only raw and messy. That is what it means to be afflicted.
He also mythologizes Asian child-rearing practices:
"In contrast to the indigenous cultures of traditional Asia, modern child-rearing leaves most people suffering from symptoms of insecure attachment: self-hatred, disembodiment, lack of grounding, chronic insecurity and anxiety, overactive minds, lack of basic trust, and a deep sense of inner deficiency. https://scienceandnonduality.com/article/on-spiritual-bypassing-and-relationship/
First of all, his notion is not born out by any evidence. There is no evidence that Asian child rearing practices produce healthier adults.
He is part and parcel of a movement within western Buddhism that assumes everyone needs to be in therapy in order to achieve awakening. People with these views do not think that the Buddha's understanding of the human mind is sufficient.
I’m a psychotherapist by profession, and I never cottoned to the the designation, “spiritual bypassing.”
It’s some strange attempt at guilt-tripping dharma practitioners.
Do some dharma practioners go through a phase of excess swagger. Yes, I did. But, it’s short lived.
I have always felt that the notion of "spiritual bypassing" is redundant for people who have actually received dharma teachings in a systematic way. Also, it seems that "spiritual bypassing" is more than included in the advice in traditional teachings about how to avoid faults and obstacles. Thanks for mentioning this.
How does vajra krodha relate to this topic?
Vajra anger isn’t anger. It is compassion that appears angry, but it isn’t. But ordinary people like myself are not capable of vajra anger.
I must admit I sometimes have feelings of “righteous indignation/anger.”
But, I do my best not to act on them in word or deed.
It's hard
Krodha can be mistaken for dvesha from the outside. Only her hairdresser knows for sure. Some practitioners are sattvic in disposition and want to hold hands and sing Kumbaya. Others are rajasic and want to kick ass. I agree that anger is always a poison. It’s just not always clear what the motivation is outside of one’s own mind.
So hard to live up to, esp in these times. We are sentient & feel what we feel, denial does not help.
Yes, denial does not help. But recognition always does. When one recognizes the affliction of anger arising in one’s mind, it is an opportunity to liberate it.
Namdrol,
I appreciate the useful words that have been coming from this space.
I am not very wise Rick, but I do my best.