Actively remaining identified with (cognitive fusion) one's own, or a nation's difficult history, and thus feeling like an aggrieved victim, is referred to in Buddhist psychology as "feeding the defilements" - a sure way to increase suffering.
Human beings have a timeless tradition of doing exactly this, both individually (depressive "wallowing") and in groups (tribal / national / religious grudges). This predictably causes untold suffering, readily felt as mental tension / distress, and generates innumerable negative spin-offs from absenteeism to war. Nevertheless, there is a payoff of sorts - the feeling of "being right" ("delusion" in Buddhist psychology).
At some point, "victims" eventually learn that there must be a better way ... but this means gradually letting go of a firmly-established (unhealthy, unproductive) way of thinking. Self-centeredness gradually gives way to wisdom."Would you rather be 'right', or happy?"
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| Photo: chrisby www.dpreview.com |
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