| | RE: Emotions Answer 11/26/08 8:23 AM as a reply to Chris Marti. This is an interesting question, one that I've often pondered for the very reasons that people mention here: emotions are a central feature of our existence. In order to add to the conversation I would invoke the simple 3 trainings model, not as a ridgid divider but rather as a helpful means of making theoreticaly and practical distinctions. Emotions are clearly involved in all three trainings, ethics, concentration, & insight. W/r/t concentration and insight the various techniques are fairly clear about how to work with emotions. With concentration we largely avoid them in favor of the primary object and in insight we treat them like any other object, noticing the 3 characteristics in emotions. Where do they arise (do they have a physical manifestation, a mental manifestation)?, How do they persist? How do they change? What mind states accompany or follow them? What thoughts accompany or follow them? is there clinging, aversion, or lack of seeing associated with them? Emotions are objects, like everything else, worthy of our investigation and containing the seeds of wisdom and insight.
In the realm of ethics, my personal opinion is that the Buddhist framework, while generally helpful, is massively lacking. The precepts and suggestions regarding wholesome actions and thoughts are useful, but I've personally found Western psychology and practices associated with that to be far more helpful when looking at emotions. The contemporary notion of neurosis and shadow-work all stems from Western psychology, and is largely lacking in Buddhist psychology. Personally, I've started dabbling in particular shadow practices that work with unwanted behaviors, feelings, etc. that are based on NLP technologies. I've found them extremely helpful in actually changing particular patterns of unhelpful emotional responses.
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