A Mind in Aversion
Now two other states of mind are a mind in aversion and a mind not in aversion. We may use this one word called “aversion” in English to translate the word “dosa” that is used in Pali. We have to understand that the word aversion here includes all states of anger, enmity, illwill, jealousy, fear, resentment etc. It is a very powerful state of mind which brings about a lot of suffering. Easy it is to fall to this position. When the mind is not in aversion, then you must know that it is not in aversion. So if in the mind at any given time anger arises, then that mind is in aversion. If jealousy arises, then that mind is in aversion. If they do not arise, then the mind is not in aversion. Now one of the great benefits of being at a meditation retreat is that there is not much opportunity for aversion to arise. When the sun is very strong there can arise resentment, when you have tremendous discomfort.
So this resentment is a very powerful defilement. Very subtle, but extremely powerful. We can resent many things. We can resent views, we can resent opinions, we can resent practices, we can resent other faiths. But all that is of no use because what is happening actually is that a defilement is arising in you. And you are going to be in torment and suffering as a result of that. Therefore, one has to control this resentment for which you need the highest level of mindfulness, a calm tranquil mind and resentment is uprooted from its very roots only by wisdom. And it is only when wisdom has gone into a very high level, a substantial depth, that you can uproot this defilement. The one who has uprooted this resentment is called an Arahant. The happier one’s life is if one has destroyed this resentment, living in great contentment, happiness and tranquility. The one who is full of resentment, his mind is very hard. It hardens the mind and finds it very difficult to progress. The mind does not go into tranquility, calmness easily. Therefore, as far as possible control it and for that purpose be mindful and aware. As you go on, aversion will not find a foothold in your mind and it will begin to fade away from one’s mind.
