Dvesha (Buddhism)
Dvesha (Sanskrit, also dveṣa; Pali: dosa; Tibetan: zhe sdang) - is translated as "aversion", "aggression", or "anger". It is defined as a fear of getting what we don't want, or not getting what we do want.[1] Dvesha is identified as one of the three poisons.
Traditional definitions
Alexander Berzin defines dvesha as:
- A subcategory of anger: anger directed primarily, although not exclusively, at limited beings. One of the three poisonous emotions and attitudes.[2]
Contemporary explanations
Mingyur Rinpoche states:
- Every strong attachment generates an equally powerful fear that we’ll either fail to get what we want or lose whatever we’ve already gained. This fear, in the language of Buddhism, is known as aversion: a resistance to the inevitable changes that occur as a consequence of the impermanent nature of relative reality.
- The notion of a lasting, independently existing self urges us to expend enormous effort in resisting the inevitability of change, making sure that this “self” remains safe and secure. When we’ve achieved some condition that makes us feel whole and complete, we want everything to stay exactly as it is. The deeper our attachment to whatever provides us with this sense of completeness, the greater our fear of losing it, and the more brutal our pain if we do lose it.[1]
See also
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