Anger.

 As sentient beings, we experience and translate experiences differently. This is due to our previous experiences. We go round in circles, as these previous experiences filter our view. This is why generosity, discipline, patience, perseverance, concentration and transcendent knowledge are so important, as they cut through our habitual patterning.

 This happens especially when we become dogmatic, when we hold onto our concepts. When we meet others, who also have their dogma, we become frustrated and angry. This is normal for sentient beings, who are governed by the emotions.

 When our fixed picture is disturbed, anger – and other emotions – arises. Meeting another’s projections is bound to bring up emotions. This is logical!

 The antidote to this is to recognise the spontaneous presence of mirror essence. This mirror essence merely reflects, and does not get involved. It is the conceptual mind that causes a reaction, and confusion arises. The purpose of mirror essence is to remind us that all reflections are merely temporary appearances.
Mirror essence is absolute reality. The reflections, being temporary events, are relative reality.

 The antidote:
The moment anger arises, there is a recognition of a distraction in the mind, and the mind is illuminated for an instant. This sharp brilliance can either remind us of our true being – pure awareness – or it can create aggression. Anger can therefore express hatred or express love.

 If we were totally confident in our view of our true nature, then anger could never take hold.

Subtly, in the very first instant, there is an re-awakening – pure awareness. The following instant, there is a reaction. We invariably miss that first instant. I first noticed this years ago, when my senses were alerted and I didn’t yet know why. There was a shimmer in my peripheral vision, and then a smell. The next moment, I realised my toast was burning! I related this story to one of my teachers, who asked, “What were you doing in the first moment?” I said, “Nothing,” thinking that the moment of noticing was the awareness of essence. He replied, “No. Doing nothing was essence – and not the noticing – because in the noticing, you had moved away from essence. It was the noticing that took you back to essence.”