Revenge as a Gift of Evolution It’s all about the stories we tell. After we have been attacked or abused, betrayed or exploited, we can keep our anger alive by rehearsing the offense. We might not be able to control our initial burst of emotion, but we can choose to feed it. By proclaiming our innocence and condemning the other person, we can cling to our resentment for a long time. We can successfully keep forgiveness at bay. While it’s probably better for us physiologically to soothe our anger, there are times we might want to hold onto it. If we’re trying to get away from an abusive relationship, for…
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Gratitude and the Three Buddhist Personality Types
Buddhist Personality Types While reading Jack Kornfield’s book, The Wise Heart, I was reminded of the three Buddhist personality types: greedy, aversive, and deluded. [1] Thinking about this week’s theme of gratitude, I wondered if one of those types is more naturally grateful than the others. If so, I suspected it might be the greedy type. This one takes in the beauty of the world, appreciates sights and smells, lingers over coffee, loves his friend’s remodeled kitchen, and sometimes covets his neighbor’s new coat or car. Taken to an extreme, this type can end up stealing, seeking power, or getting lost in pride or addiction. I figured the aversive type, on the…