If desire increases through pleasure

And anger increases through pain,

Why are those with pleasure not ascetics?

Why are the ascetics those with pain? [6.126]

Desire’s activity is acquisition;

Anger’s activity is conflict.

As wind is to all the elements,

Confusion’s activity is nurture. [6.127]

Desire is painful because of not getting,

Anger is painful through lack of might,

And confusion through not understanding.

Because of this, these are not recognized. [6.128]

Just as it is seen that bile

Does not occur with phlegm,

One sees that desire, too,

Does not occur with anger. [6.129]

Desire should be driven like a slave

Because severity is its cure,

And anger looked upon as a lord

Because indulgence is its cure. [6.130]

First there is confusion,

In the middle there is anger.

And later there is desire,

In three stages during the day. [6.131]

Desire is no friend, but seems like one,

Which is why you do not fear it.

But shouldn’t people particularly

Rid themselves of a harmful friend? [6.132]

Desire arises from causes and

Also arises through circumstance.

Desire arising through circumstance

Is easy to deal with; not the other. [6.133]

Anger is lasting and certainly

Makes one do grave non-virtue.

Thus constant awareness of their distinctions

Will bring to an end disturbing emotions. [6.134]

As the tactile sense [pervades] the body

Confusion is present in them all.

By overcoming confusion one will also

Overcome all disturbing emotions. [6.135]

When dependent arising is seen

Confusion will not occur.

Thus every effort has been made here

To explain precisely this subject. [6.136]

They always like “Claiming the Earth,”

Are extravagant , greedy and fastidious.

Characteristics such as these

Are seen in people with desire. [6.137]

Buddhas told these with desire

That food, clothes and dwellings are all

To be avoided and to remain

Close to their spiritual guides. [6.138]

Through anger, those who are powerless

Only make themselves look ugly;

But one who has power and is merciless

Is said to be the worst. [6.139]

It is said unpleasant words

End previously done ill deeds.

The ignorant and unwise do not

Want to purify themselves. [6.140]

Though unpleasant to hear

They are not intrinsically harmful.

Thus it is fantasy to think that

What comes from preconception comes from elsewhere. [6.141]

Just as it plainly says

The abuser should be punished,

Likewise why should one who speaks

Pleasantly not be rewarded? [6.142]

If that for which you are reviled

Is known to others though they are not told,

And anger at the speaker is unreasonable,

How much more so toward those who lie. [6.143]

Abuse from inferiors

Does not ensure escape.

Abuse from inferiors thus should be

Seen as isolated and trivial. [6.144]

If harming others is not even

Of the slightest use to you,

Your approval of useless aggression

Is just an addiction. [6.145]

If through patience enormous merit

Is acquired effortlessly,

Who is as foolish as

One who obstructs this? [6.146]

Aggression especially

Does not arise toward the powerful.

Why then do you approve of

Aggression which defeats the weak? [6.147]

Whoever is patient with the source

Of anger develops meditation.

Saying you fear the source of

Good qualities is just foolish of you. [6.148]

Who has gone to the next world

Having ended all disparagement?

Therefore consider contempt

Preferable to ill deeds. [6.149]

Disturbing emotions will never

Remain in the mind of one

Who understands the reality of

The abiding and so forth of consciousness. [6.150]