May your spiritual companionship be true! (Part 2)

Yesterday, we discussed that when greed arises, we should not identify with it but observe its arising and passing away. Similarly, when a spark of anger arises, if we identify with that anger, we should indeed be afraid. But when a little anger arises, recognize with faith that it is merely a mental formation (saṅkhāra) appearing in your mind due to coinciding conditions. When you observe it with wisdom, as you have faith, the anger becomes impermanent (anicca). Thus, anger is the arising and passing away (udayabbaya), and wisdom is the Path (magga). It no longer sends you to the lower realms. Why? Because your association has become correct. If you associate with clinging (upādāna), it's dangerous. If you associate with kamma, it's also dangerous. But now, by associating it with wisdom, even your enemy becomes a benefactor. Greed and anger were once enemies, but now, through associating them with faith and wisdom, they become friends and help you realize the Path. Therefore, you need not fear any unwholesome state; what matters is having right association. Have faith that greed, hatred, and delusion will continue to arise as long as the Path has not yet eradicated them. Have faith that they will arise within your own body. When they arise, associate them with faith and wisdom: Faith accepts their arising, and wisdom observes until they pass away. This observation is the Path. The Buddha also taught: "When a mind with anger arises, he knows: 'A mind with anger has arisen'" (sadosaṃ cittaṃ sadosaṃ cittanti pajānāti). It is said that even by observing an angry mind, one can reach Nibbāna. So, you only need to change your association. Don't let anger associate with sorrow (soka), lamentation (parideva), or mental suffering (domanassa). By adjusting your association like this, enemies become friends who serve your benefit – helping the Path to arise. That’s why right association is crucial. When something arises, recognize it as having arisen. Have faith that the Buddha taught this is how it will be. This is faith (saddhā). With faith, observe with wisdom. When observed with wisdom, you see impermanence (anicca), you see arising and passing away (udayabbaya). Seeing this, the craving (taṇhā) that arises through dependent origination (paṭiccasamuppāda) no longer feeds clinging (upādāna). Instead, it serves the Path (magga). Dependent origination stops without revolving further. This cessation of dependent origination happens because of right association. Thus, when should you observe? Observe when it arises. When it arises, associate it with faith and wisdom and observe – that's all that's needed. When greed arises, observe the arising and passing away of the greedy mind. When anger arises, observe the arising and passing away of the angry mind. Have faith in whatever arises within the body. Have faith that it will arise as long as the Path hasn't eradicated it. With faith, you know it has arisen. Associating it with wisdom, you know it passes away. Faith knows the arising (the existence). Wisdom knows the passing away. Thus, you know arising and passing away (udayabbaya). Faith knows arising, wisdom knows passing away – so you see arising and passing away. Therefore, don’t fear the arising of greed. Don’t fear the arising of anger. Fear only wrong association. As long as the Path hasn’t eradicated them, greed and anger will arise when conditions meet. Even if they arise, don’t associate them with clinging or sorrow. Associate them only with faith and wisdom. When associated with faith and wisdom: faith knows the arising, wisdom knows the passing away. These two know arising and passing away. Thus, arising-passing away is impermanence (anicca), and faith-wisdom becomes the Path (magga). The Path cuts off so that clinging (upādāna), kamma, and defilements (kilesa) do not follow craving; it cuts off so that sorrow, lamentation, and defilements do not follow anger. This is the power of the Path (kilese mārentīti maggo). Although it's said that doing unwholesome deeds leads to the lower realms, one who associates them with faith and wisdom does not go there. Only one who does not associate rightly will go. People often fear what they shouldn't (the mere arising) and don't fear what they should (wrong association). Don’t fear the occurrence of the unwholesome; fear only wrong association. If association is wrong, dependent origination will revolve as usual, leading to the lower realms. If association is right, dependent origination ceases. Even that very unwholesome state that would send you to the lower realms no longer does so. A thought of greed arises. It too is just a mental aggregate (khandha). If not yet eradicated, it will arise. Being an aggregate, it arises – a little aggregate of greed appears. Faith believes: "As long as not eradicated by the Path, it must arise." If you see greed merely as greed, it feeds clinging. But if you associate it with wisdom and see it as impermanence, it serves the Path. Without seeing impermanence, the Path cannot arise. Seeing impermanence serves the Path, so impermanence connects to the Path. Craving no longer connects to clinging. Why? Because of right association. With right association, you meet it with impermanence and the Path. When impermanence is seen, you no longer perceive the greed-aggregate as "I". You perceive only impermanence. Perceiving "I" sends you to the lower realms through wrong view (diṭṭhi). But perceiving it as impermanence – knowing it as impermanent – destroys wrong view. Although greed and wrong view usually arise together, because association has become right, greed no longer sends you to the ghost realm, and wrong view no longer sends you to the lower realms. Therefore, even when greed arises, don’t fear. Just associate it rightly. The moment you see impermanence and arising-passing away, the wrong view of perceiving anything as permanent or substantial falls away. This is solely because association has become right. Whatever Dhamma arises within the aggregates, if you associate it with faith and wisdom, don’t fear any unwholesome state. Every unwholesome state must become mere impermanence. Thus, conclude: Don’t fear unwholesome states; fear only wrong association. With right association, enemies become friends. Ven. Dr. Pāramī