Global Sangha Discussion
This group is for Phakchok Rinpoche’s global sangha to get together and discuss various topics. This is... View more
Reactive vs responsive.
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Reactive vs responsive.
Here’s a little something from the archives…
In this short video, Erric Solomon, the co-author with Phakchok Rinpoche of Radically Happy, explores a topic that to many of us may be more relevant than ever. It’s about our reactions and our responses to events. What happens as you experience what you perceive as negativity, problems and suffering happening in the world? Here, Eric reminds us of the importance of coming into the present moment rather than just getting angry or despairing. Reacting and responding are two very different behaviours. Erric suggests that our wisdom responses can come from a place of deep caring and kindness.
What do you see as the underlying difference between a reaction and a response?
Is there a mediating factor, some kind of influence you can have on your behaviour to steer away from reactivity and towards responsive actions?
Do share any personal experience you’ve had (successful or otherwise!) of this dynamic from your own life.
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3 Replies
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Hi Eric. Can you go into more detail about responding with care and kindness? Perhaps some tips?
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Great and timely message. I know many, including practitioners, including myself who despair at times of the things we are seeing and hearing in the world today.There seems to be no light at the end of the tunnel. But as Eric hints at here..maybe we are that light at the end of the tunnel and by responding to events with wisdom and compassion instead of fear and judgement there is a hope, there is a way through…
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Hi Marvin,
Thanks for your question. In one way, you can say that the purpose of Buddhist practice is to interrupt our habitual way of interpreting and reacting to the world, including our thoughts and emotions. When we are able to this our own innate nature is “experienced.” This nature is wisdom and it’s expression is a kind of compassionate responsiveness to the needs of others.
In the video, I mention that the more we can “come into the present moment”, the more we are able to interrupt our habitually conditioned (karmic) way of reacting and instead are more easily able to respond through the insight and wisdom of our naturally compassionate nature. So any practice you do will facilitate transcending our habits.
By practicing shamatha meditation, we become more familiar with being present and less judgmental. Building on the stability of shamatha practice we can practice toglen (giving and receiving) or metta (loving kindness) which will deepen the process. Ngondro, Sadhana and Ati yoga when properly practiced will accelerate this process further.
In our tradition, the best method is to cultivate our devotion to our teacher. This can profoundly change not only how we relate to our teacher, but how we relate to ourselves and everyone else. It is like throwing gasoline on a small fire. Our wisdom nature will blaze and interrupt & purify subtle and stubborn forms of clinging that we have been cultivating for lifetimes. As this process matures in our mind, bodhicitta becomes predominant in our thoughts and deeds.
Hope this helps!
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