Grumpy, Not The Dwarf
Antietam National Battlefield - Don't let it get this bad.
Things just don’t feel right, the coffee isn’t quite right, though not terrible. Your skin doesn’t seem to fit, or maybe you just can’t get moving no matter how important the need is.
So what do you do. I could say you could chant Odaimoku, but I’m guessing you already thought about that. Thought about it, but maybe didn’t actually do it because you’re just that grumpy. Maybe your grumpy is more the rebellious, obstinate kind. The kind of grumpy that is determined to make sure you stay grumpy.
Ok, you can stay there, I won’t push. But you know you can’t really stay there, not forever. It’s just like those days when you wanted to stay home from school and hide under the covers, or maybe stay home from work and hide under the covers. You just can’t do it forever. Eventually, if nothing else you have to get up to go pee.
“Deeply attached to the view that the self exists, they will aggravate their anger.” (Lotus Sutra, Chapter III)
Sometimes the grumpiness goes away once we get started on our day. Being with others who won’t give in to our attitude can help, but of course not always. My partner used to make a joke of it saying I was starting to get a maditude, usually that was enough to break the cycle.
“A man of wisdom who controls his mind as previously stated will be peaceful.” (Lotus Sutra, Chapter XIV)
This is a good time to start chanting, even if only quietly to yourself. Being with good friends, taking a short break, stepping away for a moment, all can help loosen things up a little, give you some space to settle back into to being not-grumpy. We may not want to do these things, perhaps we are even too grumpy for this. But by letting the grumpiness rule us instead of taking concrete actions over it, we miss a wonderful opportunity to train ourselves as well as show others the benefit of Buddhism.
“World-Honored One! I have never seen anyone like you before. Your teachings have these inconceivable, wonderful merits. The practices performed according to your teachings and precepts are peaceful and pleasant. From today on, I will not act according to my own mind. I will not have wrong views, arrogance, anger or any other evil thought.” (Lotus Sutra, Chapter XXVII)
