Dalai Lama's Recent Statement on Emotions

"Buddhism is more about human emotions. In the course of that exploration, it will become obvious that most disturbances are stimulated not by external causes but by such internal events as the arising of disturbing emotions. The best antidote to these sources of disruption will come about through enhancing our ability to handle these emotions ourselves. Eventually we need to develop an awareness that provides the ways and means to overcome negative, disturbing emotions ourselves,” added Dalai Lama.

The Dalai Lama delivered this message this week and it was another example to me of how helpful it is to develop some kind of practice that brings balance to our emotional states. Focusing (as identified by Dr. Gendlin) is what I would call a Buddhist type practice in that it encourages us to go inward and "say hello" to what troubles us. Repeatedly practicing this helps us to develop a strong observer self, a place of internal balance.

I would add to the Dalai Lama's statement only one thing: when there has been trauma, difficult emotions arise from that trauma. And so external events do cause disturbing emotions, but only when the initial unwanted event happens. The difficult emotions that subsequently arise are then due to our "re-playing" of the event. Without appropriate attention, we can stay stuck in initial traumatic responses. Buddhism and Focusing are supportive methods to help us get perspective, and to eventually help us resolve difficult states.