#kelsang imagine

[gladerwolfstarkimagines]

Imagine being one of Avatar Kuruk’s companions who he persues endlessly but it’s no use...you’ve fallen for his kind airbender friend Kelsang

Warning: Acephobic perceptions (which are shut down of course) also probably don’t read this if you like Kuruk or Jianzu.

To say you were one of Avatar Kuruk’s companions pained you every time. You preferred to say you were just employed by him because none of the other spiritual advisors wanted the job and as the youngest the task fell to you.

Why did you hate Avatar Kuruk so much?

Because he propositioned you more times than you could count and had an ego the size of the spirit world. You’d rejected him multiple times and yet Kuruk always came back. He’d told you numerous times it didn’t have to mean anything. It would just be fun and casual. 

On his latest and current attempt he claimed he just wanted some warmth as he drifted off to sleep. In reply you told him to jump in the fireplace. Kuruk raised his hands in surrender and backed away, Jianzhu chuckling as he followed him out. It was always worse when Jianzhu was there, he egged Kuruk on and the situation went from mildly annoying to downright frustrating. Hei-ran shot you a small smirk "you know with a tongue that sharp you’d do well in the Fire Nation". You shrugged "great" your mood ruined by the avatar. It only took one interaction with Kuruk to ruin your whole day and it happened everytime. Hei-Ran noticed and sighed "you know he doesn’t mean anything by it don’t you?" she asked "I took it personally at first too but that's just Kuruk’s way. Men will be...". "If you say men I swear to god I'll backhand you all the way into the spirit world" you said sharply. He ran raised an eyebrow "I was gonna say idiots but fine, hold onto your hate". You scoffed "I have every reason to. He burns through women like a trainee firebender with candles. He hunts animals for sports and only turns up at events if alcohol or women will be present. He misuses his title and propositions me every time he gets drunk even though I’ve told him every time I will never ever sleep with him. Your anger for Kuruk was deeper than an ocean. You, being his spiritual teacher, of course understood why he neglected his avatar duties in the human world but you didn’t let that excuse his treatment of women or animals. As soon as someone took their trauma out on someone else unfairly, that’s when your pity ended.

You’d broached the topic with Kuruk before but he didn’t see the harm. It was just harmless indulgences he claimed but you didn’t see it that way. How many women had he perused who were in relationships just to leave them when it was convenient for him? How many women had he left pregnant and never helped with the child financially, physically or emotionally. You knew Kuruk never slept with the same woman twice, unless he was too drunk to remember and he didn’t exactly leave a contact me if with child card after he left so you could only imagine the chaos he had left behind in those womens’ lives. Not to mention how wrong it was for him to use his status on people in this way. While you knew Kuruk would never forced anyone to spend the night with him the power he held over them worried you. How many might feel obligated or pressured to return the Avatar’s advances? Kuruk’s reputation was well know and you’d seen many towns parade their young women right infront of him, hoping he’d actually fall in love with one or them and stay. How many of those women fully wanted to be used like that? How many women knew what they were getting into? The more you thought about it the more it angered you. 

You friend Hei-Ran however always knew how to capture your attention. "So you're looking for a kind responsible man who doesn’t indulge in alcohol or other addictions, who cares for animals greatly...hmmm I wonder who comes to mind". You blushed immediately but pretended you didn’t know what Hei-Ran meant "I don’t follow". Hei-Ran rolled her eyes "Kelsang" she said simply and that name alone sent a shiver up your spine. "What about him?" you asked trying to keep your voice as calm as possible. "Seriously?" Hei-Ran asked "you're going to pretend you don't know what I mean? Act like you're not in love with him?". You babbled "that's crazy! Kelsang is just a friend. Just because we both get on doesn’t mean we’re a couple!". "I never said you were a couple, you're too scared to ever get to that stage". "I'm not scared!" you cried "and you're one to talk, you’ve never told Kuruk how you feel". Hei-ran’s smile vanished "so one second you're berating me for liking Kuruk and the next you're telling me I should tell him everything?". You shook your head "no all I'm saying is if you're going to come for me then take a look in the mirror". "So you admit how I feel about Kuruk is how you feel about Kelsang?" Hei-Ran asked and you tensed realising what you’d just done. "I never said.." you started but Hei-Ran just shook her head "one of the first thing we teach in the Fire Nation is to know when to admit defeat. You could do a lot worse than Kelsang". "Who's worse than me?" a familiar voice asked and you both froze. Hei-Ran recovered swiftly "Kuruk and Jianzhu of course! Y/n was just saying how you're the best man she knows and I couldn’t argue with her". You and Kelsang both blushed and looked anywhere but at each other. "I'm off to bed" Hei-Ran said smugly leaving you and Kelsang alone. The airbender was very tall but always had a way of looking small and adorable when embarrassed. "You’re too kind to say that about me" he said softly "I’ve done things that I'm not proud of". You nodded "I know but the fact you're not proud of them tells me you still have a conscience unlike Jianzhu and Kuruk. You did those things out of necessity, because there was no other option, not because you enjoyed them or wanted to. My statement stands. You're a great guy Kelsang". The young airbender blushed and you smiled "want to play some pai sho?" changing the subject. Kelsang shot you a grateful smile and nodded "you can go first" .

You and Kelsang sat together and lost track of time as you always did in each other’s presence. You’d become engulfed in one other and the world would just pass by without any notice. You didn’t realise how late it really was until Kuruk stumbled into the room. You jumped at the noise and Kelsang frowned "you went out drinking again?". Kuruk nodded a large grin on his face. Apparently after your rejection he decided more drinking with Jianzhu was a good idea. Kelsang mirrored your unimpressed expression and Kuruk laughed "ow come on, it was some harmless fun and it's a way for me and Jianzhu to bond! You should join us sometime instead of stating in with your book and tiles". Kelsang went to reply his idea of fun suited him perfectly well when Kuruk grinned "although considering your company I can see when you’d prefer this. A toasty little room with y/n. Playing pai sho by the fireplace...it’s the start of every innocent house call I've ever paid". You rolled your eyes "why does that not surprise me". Kuruk took your reply as encouragement and came to join the two of you. You tried to ignore him but he sat beside you and watched every move you made. "You know I could help you win it you wanted" he whispered leaning in far too close for your liking. "I'm okay thanks" you replied and Kuruk just chuckled watching you from under his eyelids like it was all some big game of cat and mouse. It made your skin crawl. Kelsang noticed and cleared his throat making Kuruk look at him "why don’t you go sleep off the hangover you're bound to have tomorrow?" he asked. Kuruk smiled "sure...if y/n joins me". You groaned "Kuruk I have told you a thousand timed I will never ever want to come to your bed". Kuruk just smiled "why? We’re both attractive young people in the height of our prime. Why not form our own spiritual connection?". 

Your rejected Kuruk so many ways before and none of them had worked. You’d told him you didn’t find him attractive which he didn’t believe. You’d told him you thought it was unprofessional you being his teacher to which he replied he’d done many unprofessional things with lots of high ranking people. You pointed out there was a 6 year age gap which made you uncomfortable, Kuruk said age was but a number and you acted way more mature than him anyway. You told him you didn’t do one night stands and he told you it could be more nights if you wanted. You’d insulted him, yelled at him and even tried reasoning with him but none of it worked so you tried your last card. 

"I will never want to sleep with you because I'm asexual!" you cried. Silence settled and after a pause Kuruk laughed "you're what?". You sighed "asexual. It means a person who feels little or no sexual attraction". "That's not a thing, sex is a fact of life" Kuruk smirked. "Well clearly not for everyone" you replied. "So are you some sort of monk?" Kuruk asked and Kelsang glared "Kuruk!". "No I'm not a monk" you snapped "monks are celibate but have sexual attraction they suppress. I don’t have any to suppress. I'm not celibate I just don’t have sex and don’t ever plan to". Kuruk frowned "never!" Kuruk cried like it was the worst thing in the world "what a boring existence". "Kuruk!" Kelsang scolded him again but Kuruk waved him away "no come on Kelsang you're an air nomad but you have to admit this is taking it a bit far. Everyone likes sex and does it". "Well some asexual people still have sex" you shot back "but I don’t because the idea disgusts me". Kuruk frowned "wait so does this mean you've never had sex before?". "Kuruk that's enough!" Kelsang yelled and you all froze having never heard the man raise his voice. "Asexuality is a valid sexual orientation and it is not up to y/n to answer your ignorant questions. Her lifestyle is hers and I think it’s beautiful. You of all people should refrain from judging her especially in this aspect". You stared at Kelsang awestruck and Kuruk looked down red faced. He quickly stumbled to his feet, almost over balancing due to his alcohol intake but when he was upright he glanced back. "Sorry y/n" he muttered and left. You watched him go before turning back to Kelsang "thank you" you said quietly. "You don’t have to thank me" he said softly "Kuruk was being an acephobic ass. If he ever bothers you again just let me know and I'll handle it" he said moving the next pai sho tile as if you’d never been interrupted. You nodded still kind of shook and played on in silence.

Kelsang was the next to speak "also thank you for sharing your orientation with us. It was very brave to do and I meant what I said to Kuruk. Your asexuality is beautiful and valid". You were quiet for a while and Kelsang hesitated "y/n are you..". "Thank you" you said your voice shaking as you tried not to cry. "That means a lot". Kelsang reached across the table and squeezed your hand "no problem". You looked into those kind eyes and couldn’t help expressing your feelings. "I was worried to tell you in particulat". Kelsang frowned worry coating his face "why? Have I done something insensitive in the past?". You shook your head "no just aces face a lot of rejection given how oversexualised our society is. Especially those of us who are sex repulsed and aren’t willing to compromise on that aspect. I was scared to tell you because I like you...". Kelsang sat up straighter and you stared at the ground "but not only was I unsure if you liked me back, I wasn’t sure if youd be happy living a sex free lifestyle with me...and people think normal dating is hard" you finished trying to joke but it came out as more sad than funny. "Y/n look at me" Kelsang said suddenly and you looked up to find him still holding onto your hand a smile on his face. "I like you too". Your heart leapt "you do?". He nodded "i do. You have such a big heart and the way you care for every animal you see is so wholesome. I love how you're optimistic but not naive and how you never hesitate to educate someone or point of they're being ignorant. Your morals align with my own and I just get lost every time I'm in your presence. I'd love to date you if that's the sort of relationship you’d like. If not we can work our something else". You couldn’t believe this was happening but you had to make sure one thing was clear. "And about my asexuality is that something you're okay with?". "Y/n of course it is! I love you not just what you can do or compromise for me. Your sex aversion is not an issue for me at all. I'm more than happy expressing our bond in non-physical means and I always preferred the emotional parts of a relationship more than the physical anyway. In that aspect I think we'll be very happy because I've never felt connected to anyone like I feel to you". "You're...I...I'm so happy" you cried and flung yourself into the large airbender’s arms. You were rather muscular and tall but it was nothing for the giant of an airbender who caught you easily and hugged you closely. "I am too" he smiled kissing the top of your head "I'm the luckiest airbender alive...also Pengpeng is going to be so happy when I tell him! He likes you more than me". "I can’t imagine anyone not having you as their favourite" you replied turning to stare up at the airbender and Kelsang smiled "that's odd because I wasnt going to say the same thing about you".  You blushed even more and relaxed into Kelsang’s arms feeling safe and valid. Maybe being one of Kuruk’s companions wasn’t too bad...as long as Kelsang was there too.

 _____

So yes I’ve read the Kyoshi Novels and no I don’t think that excuses Kuruk’s behaviours...but enough about him! 

Kelsang was one (and there were many) of my favourite parts of the kyoshi novels. I have a thing for really confident girls (Azula and Kuvira) or really adorable guys (Bolin) and hence this imagine was born. 

Also I realise Kelsang is older but this was obviously back when he was a young airbender so don’t worry I’m not crushing on a 60 year old man!

#kyoshi #avatar #avatar kyoshi #rise of kyoshi #shadow of kyoshi #avatar imagine #kelsang #rok kelsang #sok kelsang #avatar kelsang #air nomad #avatar kuruk #heiran #kelsang imagine #kelsang x reader #jianzhu #avatar heiran #avatar jianzhu

[a-crack-in-the-universe]

I finished reading Shadow of Kyoshi a few days ago and now I have thoughts about Kuruk and his Team Avatar. 

Spoilers from both The Rise of Kyoshi and The Shadow of Kyoshi under the cut.

First of all - his friends.

In all honesty, his friends sucked, except for the fire sage. They were horrible people except for Kelsang. I think they were kind of shit people to begin with, just that the chaotic time after Kuruk’s death made them worse than they already were.

I mean, Jianzhu was allegedly a good person before Kuruk died and he became so influential in the Earth Kingdom. But, he massacred a shit-ton of people at some point after Kuruk’s death, even if they weren’t innocent, and shows no remorse for it at all. He becomes known as the Gravedigger and is hated and feared by the daofei. He later abuses Yun, turning him into a trained killer, and does unspeakable things in order to possess and control the Avatar. The fact that Yun or Kyoshi was his old friend’s reincarnation didn’t seem to matter to him.

Hei-Ran had the highest number of “accidental” kills in the Fire Academy. And she also played a role in the abuse Yun went through, who again, they all thought was Kuruk’s reincarnation.

Kelsang is the least worst, mostly because he showed remorse for the dirty shit he did to keep peace in the Earth Kingdom, and didn’t take part in abusing Yun (he probably didn’t even know about it). He even tried to protect Kyoshi from Jianzhu and paid for it with his life. He was mostly just a terrible friend. I mean, what kind of close friend reacts to their friend’s love confession poem by making him destroy it? It’s unbelievably cruel. And even if he didn’t mean to cause a massacre through his air-bending, he still is culpable for those deaths and Tagaka was right to hate him for what he did.

Now - their friendship with Kuruk. I don’t think any of them were that close friends with him. Maybe they were true companions to the Avatar, but not true close friends to Kuruk. Hell, the fire sage looked like he was a better friend than the three of them. They stuck with him during the good times, but when he started secretly spiralling (ie. getting drunk, partying, womanizing) they apparently just assumed that he was being lazy and selfish and purposefully not doing his duty as the Avatar. 

At the very end, they view him as a disappointment of an Avatar and think negatively about him. Jianzhu thinks about his death as “the only time he was ever early for anything”. Hei-Ran complains about Kuruk’s fire sage friend ruining him. Kelsang also doesn’t share any positive memories of Kuruk, as far as I can tell--the only memory he shares is the time he yelled at Kuruk and made him destroy the love poem he wrote.  

Contrast this with how Rangi and Kyoshi’s friends thinks about Kyoshi. “You may be the Avatar, but there is only one Kyoshi”. Rangi is focused on Kyoshi becoming the best Avatar she can be, but she clearly cares about her as an individual as well. She and Kyoshi’s other friends care about her well-being, insisting that she look after herself properly. We see the same thing with Aang and his friends, and Korra and her friends. They all love and care about their Avatar as a person first and Avatar second. 

I do not see that in Kuruk’s Team Avatar. To me, it just looks like Kuruk’s friends were mainly focused on training him to be a good Avatar and didn’t know him that well as a person, at least not enough to care unconditionally about him. So when he seemingly started shirking his Avatar duties and doing what they coined “being Kuruk”, they were disappointed and treated him like a failing Avatar first instead of someone who needed help.  

I cannot imagine the Gaang or Korra’s friends treating Aang or Korra the way Kuruk’s friends treat Kuruk.

Finally, Kuruk.

Kuruk is a total sweetheart and his friends didn’t deserve him. Is he flawed? Yes. Did he make mistakes? Hell yes. But he’s also actually a very sweet guy who tried to do his best with the situation he found himself in. 

He loved his friends so much. In his flashback passages, you can clearly see just how much he loves them and it’s so heart-breaking how they end up believing the worst of him. And he chose to keep his spirit hunting secret from them, to protect them from what the dark spirits had done to him.        

They really didn’t deserve him. I do wonder if Kuruk might have been a bit blind to their worse flaws? Or maybe he just loved them anyway. 

And that’s pretty much all I have to say about this right now. I’ll probably write up more of my thoughts later, about Kuruk’s relationship with Kyoshi and Yangchen, why I think Kelsang behaved terribly during the love poem incident, and about Hei-Ran’s reaction when Kuruk is found sleeping with that maid during the severe illness he receives after killing one of the dark spirits.         

#I really don't like Kuruk's Team Avatar #except nyahitha #nyahitha is cool #the rise of kyoshi spoilers #the shadow of kyoshi spoilers #trok spoilers #tsok spoilers #avatar kuruk #hei-ran #jianzhu #kelsang #nyahitha

[circlique]

The Book of Forbidden Bending Styles: Part 3

A few sessions ago, Kelsang found a book of forbidden bending techniques in the airbenders’ library. Since the whole island was facing imminent destruction and he couldn’t afford to be encumbered with a bunch of books, he ripped pages out of the book to carry with him. Our DM, Z, actually went to the trouble to type these pages out.

This chapter covers bloodbending. Whoever wrote this was especially unhinged, I think. Aren’t we lucky that Klo has mostly been exploring bloodbending for healing purposes?

Part 1 / Part 2 / Avatar DND Masterpost

Chapter 7: Bloodbending

For ages, my family has been ostracized for our legendary power. I used to think it was because they feared us. But now I think it’s jealousy. Whereas Mindbending with it’s “elegant” subtly can “control” people, Bloodbenders can literally control another being’s body. No fancy manipulation or intel gathering. People are envious that at any moment, I could make the Village Chief jump off the roof of a building, and no amount of willpower can overcome that urge. They should be thankful I can demonstrate as much restraint as I have, that I allow them to live. But all of that will come to an end soon. We will rewrite society to how it should be. And you can help by mastering this incredible art. Unlike Mindbending, ANY Waterbender can learn how. Sure, you have to be a powerful bender, but anyone can grow strong with practice and the correct guidance, and there’s no one more suited to the task than me.

Let’s start with theory. Bloodbending works by manipulating the water in a person’s body. Blood is the easiest part of a human to manipulate because it is 92% water. But the less-imaginative Bloodbenders stop at controlling movement. There are many properties of water than can be manipulated and they all have different effects. We will divide this into two parts: Ways to incapacitate enemies and ways to help yourself with Bloodbending.

Waterbenders can control the temperature of water. Ever had your blood boil? Believe me, I’ve met many a sailor who found it a joyously unpleasant experience. Same thing with freezing. If you want to kill someone instantly, freeze their blood. Literally, that’s all it takes. Even if you immediately melt that water, the expansion of the ice would cause hemorrhaging in the brain and would destroy most cells in the blood, destroying your victim’s ability to transfer oxygen around the body. But of course, what’s the fun in just straight up killing people? If someone is pissing you off, just lower their body temperature a little, or increase it to make them sweat. The way they squirm is absolutely worth any verbal abuse you tolerate from them. Oh, need to capture someone? Redirect blood flow so that less makes it to the brain. They’ll faint in seconds. Or cause blood to collect somewhere such that the area swells to the point that it explodes. It’s incredibly funny when it’s someone’s head. That one usually kills them. You can also give them a heart attack by stopping the flow of blood all-together. Man, you can kill people a lot of ways.

Let’s see . . . non-lethal techniques . . . Giving you their treasure chest isn’t usually lethal, but that’s boring. Ooo, if you make their tear ducts boil, you can induce blindness. That doesn’t kill them usually. In combat, you can Bloodbend their attacks slightly so they miss. If you’re subtle about it, you can make them think that they just suck or you are just that good. If you’re really good, you can make a shield out of human corpses. Like make them float around you as you so they take the brunt of all attacks. My nanny was so good at Bloodbending. Once I saw her control 12 corpses at once. Made them walk and everything. She had them go around terrorizing this town and we looted all their houses. It was LEGENDARY!!! Oh, if someone is being annoying, you can Waterbend the water off the back of their throat so they lose their voice. Great way to shut someone up. I guess that’s not really blood bending. I think my favorite kill was when this guy was trying to cause a mutiny. So, I found a rusty nail and slashed his arm. Dude started laughing all tough at that weak attack. That was until I exsanguinated him. You ever dried a grape in the sun for a few days? Imagine that happening to a body in seconds. For fun, I made it rain with his blood. And just like that, no more mutinies!

Ok, that’s fun and all, but Bloodbending is really useful when you use it for yourself. Let’s say another Waterbender stabs you with an ice knife and you are bleeding out and you don’t have enough time to heal. You can blood bend your OWN blood. Not just that, you can reduce swelling on injuries, increase blood flow to injuries that need healing, keep yourself warm in a blizzard. Oh, want to slap someone really hard? Use Bloodbending on your own arm to swing it faster than your muscles can flex. That’s a good way to assert dominance. Also, let’s say you are fighting in a place that has limited water. You can make a small cut on your hand and use some of your own blood to Waterbend in defense. Also, animals are made of blood. So if you’re riding an ostrich horse and it’s trying to buck you, just Bloodbend it to stop. Animals respect strength . . . or at least they don’t stand up to the alpha. This can be super helpful if you want to get somewhere fast. Just blood bend like 5 lionhawks to carry you wherever you need to go.

Oh, I didn’t say how to Bloodbend exactly. So the form is a little complicated and I suck at drawing, but basically you need to swing your arms up from your waist to you shoulders and let you hands dangle like a puppeteer. All movements should keep arms extended and high up, with changes in direction left and right for movements.

Oh, one thing to be careful about. Don’t try to bring someone back to life with Bloodbending. The act of drawing their soul back from the Spirit World brings a malicious spirit with them. I know it’s dumb, but unlike laws of society, you can’t break laws of the universe. I did meet someone who severed ties with the spirit. She (end of page)

#avatar #atla #lok #bloodbending #avatar dnd

[selflessanatta]

Turning Anger into Peace: The Transformative Practice of Patient Acceptance, https://selflessanatta.com/turning-anger-into-peace-the-transformative-practice-of-patient-acceptance/

New Post has been published on https://selflessanatta.com/turning-anger-into-peace-the-transformative-practice-of-patient-acceptance/

Turning Anger into Peace: The Transformative Practice of Patient Acceptance

Identifying the causes of anger and mastering the art of patient acceptance to conquer anger.

In the Buddha’s Third Noble Truth, he taught that true cessation of human suffering exists.

The suffering of jealousy ceases with the practice of rejoicing.

See: The Joyful Cure: How Rejoicing Leads to the Cessation of Jealousy

The suffering of attachment ceases by meditating on impermanence.

The suffering of negative Karma ceases by practicing purification and moral discipline.

And the suffering of anger ceases with the practice of patient acceptance.

Eckhart Tolle’s Pain Body

For most people, anger comes easily, and meditating on anger is nearly effortless. Once anger takes over, it becomes self-sustaining.

Eckhart Tolle identified this phenomenon and gave it a name, the Pain Body.

He found the concept useful because it allows people to disidentify from anger and pain, which facilitates managing symptoms more effectively.

What is Anger?

The following is adapted from How to Solve Our Human Problems by Geshe Kelsang Gyatso.

Anger is a focused mind that identifies an animate or inanimate object, finds it unattractive, exaggerates its bad qualities, and wishes to harm it.

For example, incels, involuntarily celibate men, are angry at women.

They identified the objects of their anger, women who reject them.

They find these women’s rejection unattractive, immediately transforming the woman they desired into a woman they claim not to be attractive.

They exaggerate these women’s imagined bad qualities. And often, these incels want to harm the women who reject them, often through fantasies of subjugation and even outright violence.

In its milder forms, this anger expresses itself through vile comments on internet forums and the consumption of degrading pornography.

In its destructive forms, it comes out in acts of terrible violence against women.

The many faults of anger

Anger, jealousy, and attachment are all disturbing states of mind that cause suffering.

These emotions make everyone afflicted engage in negative actions that lead to untold suffering for themselves and others.

Further, these emotions block any progress on the spiritual path leading to happiness or peace of mind.

Anger is a painful state of mind, a source of tremendous suffering.

Anger makes people tense and uncomfortable.

Anger makes it difficult to sleep, and even when sleep comes, it isn’t restful or refreshing.

Anger makes it difficult to enjoy activities, other than violence and cruelty, inflicting pain on others for petty revenge.

Angry people often lose their freedom of choice, driven to action without concern for consequence.

Angry people live in a state of perpetual victimhood, blaming others for their misfortunes and even the anger itself.

Anger destroys relationships.

Anger makes most people wish to retaliate against those perceived to be the cause of harm. The desire to retaliate often causes people to expose themselves to unnecessary personal danger. Actual retaliation harms others and fails to calm the angry mind.

Anger leads to personal conflict, generally causing damage to both parties. Even the victor in violent conflict is often bloodied and weakened.

Angry people have no friends. They exploit acquaintances and servants for specific needs, but every interaction becomes transactional, devoid of connection or closeness.

Anger transforms people into enemies.

Angry people make enemies of anyone who fails to submit willingly to their demands.

Angry people portray others as evil for resisting their will.

Angry people must always be vigilant against potential attacks from rivals, as enemies of their own creation always surround them.

Angry people die alone, forsaken and forgotten, shunned by all who previously cared for them.

Angry lies we tell ourselves

Most people blame others for their anger as if the other person is the cause for their internal emotional state. In fact, most people don’t question the “fact” that other people cause their anger.

It’s a lie. Each person is responsible for their own reaction.

Anyone who fails to take responsibility for their anger is completely powerless to overcome it.

They become a victim in their own mind, trapped in their angry thoughts, and they project their weakness and victimhood onto everyone else.

Perhaps another person has behaved inappropriately, acted in violence, stolen personal property, or committed any of a number of egregious acts. That person’s behavior may be the trigger for anger, and the anger may seem justified and appropriate to the situation.

However, justifiable anger based on injustice or another person’s behavior is still not the cause. The actual cause is a reaction within the person, and that person has a choice—feel angry, or practice patient acceptance and overcome the anger.

The facts remain that anger still has the full list of negative effects, even if it seems completely justified and appropriate to the circumstances.

Negating and overcoming anger when confronting injustice doesn’t make someone weak or more prone to be victimized. It makes them stronger and more resilient when negative Karma comes their way.

Anger is not protection

Many people carry their anger as a sword or a shield. They want others to fear their wrath as an inducement to behave appropriately.

Some people even use anger to manipulate others, forcing people to comply with their wishes out of fear of retribution, believing anger makes them powerful.

Sadly, many people bludgeon their way through life, manipulating everyone they encounter with their anger, and they wonder why no one likes them or believes they are a good person.

Anger is the defining characteristic of an asshole.

While this makes some people imagine they are safe and protected, this safety is an illusion. People who are determined to act in bad ways are seldom deterred by someone’s angry temper.

In fact, many people will intentionally provoke angry responses to get opponents and rivals to act rashly and commit mistakes. Provoking an enemy to act impulsively is mentioned in The Art of War, by Sun Tzu.

Other Manifestations of Anger

Anger is like fire. It starts as a spark, and if fed with confirming thoughts, and given enough time, it grows into an inferno.

However, like large fires in nature, it can grow out of control and consume everything and everyone in its path.

Buddhist practitioners seek to squelch fire at the initial spark. They abhor and avoid all manifestations of anger, including rage, spite, resentment, aggression, and harmfulness.

Many other negative states of mind, spring from anger, each has its own characteristics, and each is disturbing in its own way.

Rage is uncontrolled anger.

Resentment is formed when anger is sustained without forgetting it. The end goal is to create the desire to retaliate.

Spite is when anger has hardened into resentment, and the person wishes to speak harshly.

Aggression is an increase in anger that motivates the desire to harm others either physically or verbally.

Harmfulness is the mental state that wants to see other beings suffer, the opposite of Compassion.

Patient acceptance overcomes anger

Patient acceptance is the practice of enduring hardship, suffering, and insults without becoming disturbed or reacting with anger.

It serves as a direct antidote to anger and aversion, by maintaining a calm and composed attitude towards life’s difficulties.

It involves tolerating harm or discomfort without resentment, and understanding that anger only leads to further suffering.

It’s one of the most challenging, and yet most rewarding practices on the Buddhist path.

Practicing patient acceptance requires mindfulness and awareness of one’s mental state. By being aware of the rise of anger or frustration, practitioners can observe these emotions without taking action based on them, understanding anger’s impermanent nature.

Advanced practitioners seek to stomp out the fire of anger at the initial spark. The longer the fire is allowed to burn the more it will consume and the harder the flame is to extinguish.

When anger arises, practitioners remind themselves of the many faults of anger as outlined above. This practice is rooted in the recognition that suffering is part of existence and often a result of one’s karma; practitioners learn to accept and endure it without negative emotions.

Most who practice patient acceptance also make vows against retaliation. Besides preventing negative actions leading to bad Karma, the vow against retaliation quiets the mind as revenge thoughts become pointless wastes of energy.

Patient acceptance must be applied in everyday situations, from enduring minor inconveniences to facing significant hardships or dealing with difficult people.

Angry people view patient acceptance as a sign of weakness, but anyone who sincerely practices patient acceptance quickly recognizes it takes much more strength to endure than it does to lash out in anger and false bravado.

Patient acceptance turns challenging situations into powerful lessons for developing patience, compassion, and wisdom.

Patient acceptance is closely linked to compassion (karuna). By enduring suffering without anger, one cultivates a deep sense of empathy for others who suffer and a desire to help alleviate their suffering.

Cultivating patient acceptance brings long-term benefits, such as inner peace, resilience, and a more profound ability to cope with life’s challenges.

Patient acceptance is a fundamental practice in Tibetan Buddhism and is considered one of the six perfections (paramitas) that a Bodhisattva should cultivate on the path to enlightenment.

~~wink~~

Anatta

[scuffedcd]

I remember having to go down the line of teachers at my high school graduation, shaking hands with each one. When I came to my art teacher I assumed he would go in for a handshake but he surprised me with a hug, and told me he was proud of me. It was the only moment in my graduation when I felt I may cry.

#personal #rambles #reading kyoshi fics and i just #cant help but imagine kelsang giving kyoshi a hug and telling her hes proud of her

[teaminstinctinwonderland]

Its hard not to consider sometimes, what would have happened if kuruk had told his friends about the dark spirits.  

Imagine, all of them doing it as a team.

kelsang’s spirituality

Jianzhu using his intellect to find new ways of dealing with them.

hei ran always having her friend’s backs

#Kuruk #avatar kuruk #jianzhu #kelsang #hei ran #kyoshi #avatar kyoshi #avatar yangchen #rise of kyoshi #shadow of kyoshi #atla #legend of korra

[dykelittlemy]

baby rangshi comp >:”)

ik they probably didn’t meet til they were older but imagine if they met a bit after kelsang adopted kyoshi😭little rangi would have definitely given aoma the smack down and gotten in trouble KMFHSKDHAK.

#rangshi #kyoshi #rangi #avatar kyoshi #kyoshi novels #rangi sei'naka

[somethingwritey]

How is the Rangshi long fic coming? Id love an update on ittttt!

Hello! I'm so glad you're still thinking about my Rangshi fic! It's currently around 20k at the moment—definitely getting a bit carried away!

Because you asked, here's another little out-of-context snippet ;)

-----

“Do you think the spirits would mind if I assassinated a world leader?”

Jinpa jerked his head up at the question, risking a glance behind him at her. Kyoshi knew she must be a sight to behold, laying out across the wide saddle and staring up at the darkening clouds. In her hands, she opened and closed a fan in time to her pounding pulse.

“I don’t think that’s listed as an Avatar duty,” Jinpa stammered, thoroughly taken aback by her proposal.

“Bummer.”

Jinpa was quiet for a few moments, no doubt trying to edge around the subject towards her reasoning. “I take it that meeting with the Fire Lord went… poorly?”

Kyoshi propped herself up on her elbows to stare him in the face. She hoped he could read how absolutely stupid that question had been. She’d emerged from the Fire Lord’s palace by stomping, causing tiny earthquakes as she marched over to the stables. That should’ve been indication enough.

“He’s out of control.” Kyoshi shivered—Rangi’s absence making itself very apparent just then; she could always be counted on for a little extra warmth while traveling.

Kyoshi went back to staring at the sky.

Zoryu’s words about the Firebender still echoed in her ears, doing more to chill her than the night air ever could. She wished she could put more distance between Rangi and the Fire Lord, despite being hidden away in Yokoya.

For a terrifying moment, she wondered if Zoryu somehow knew. If he could see the girl in her cotton shift, laid out on the infirmary bed with her hands knotted in the sheets. If he had discovered a way to look at the bruises on her face and the way her breath still rattled slightly whenever she breathed. Maybe this whole meeting had been a distraction, a diversion to take Kyoshi away from the infirmary and Rangi. Maybe, it was too late.

“Jinpa!” Kyoshi felt her heart pounding in her ears. “Fly faster!”

She worked herself up as they flew, imagining horrific scenes of injury and destruction—rivaling the iceberg or North Chung-Ling - only this time, it would absolutely be her fault. If anything happened to Rangi, the Flying Opera Company, even Hei-Ran and Atuat, she would be to blame.

Kyoshi gripped the edge of the saddle, her knuckles turning white from the effort. She watched the ground grow closer and closer as Yingyong spiralled into a descent. Her chest tightened with every drop in altitude, and once, she almost slipped over the edge and plummeted the last several feet to the ground.

“Quiet evening.” Jinpa seemed on the whole unaware of her own personal panic. He landed Yingyong with ease and dismounted, walking around the side of the bison to assist Kyoshi like he always did.

She didn’t wait for the monk to make it over to her. She tumbled from the saddle, falling hard onto the ground and scrambling back up to her feet.

“Kyoshi!” he yelled after her in disbelief.

She didn’t turn around, stumbling towards the infirmary to what she knew would be waiting for her. Blindly, she pushed open the door and tripped over the doorway, panting and gasping for air, to find -

No evidence of violence. No ransom note or bodies or trails of blood. Just Hei-Ran and Atuat sitting in a few chairs with bowls of noodles, with the rest of the Flying Opera Company still bedridden, but looking more vibrant than before. Even Rangi looked, on the whole, unchanged, propped up in bed. Someone had even taken the time to put her hair back up in its usual topknot.

“Well,” Hei-Ran said dryly, taking in Kyoshi’s haggard appearance. “Are you being pursued by wolfbats? Lion vultures? Spider snakes, perhaps?”

Kyoshi’s face flushed red, and she tried hard to catch her breath - smoothing down her skirts to remove the ruffles.

“Did the monk get eaten?” Atuat asked calmly, taking another bite of her noodles. Clearly, the two women were enjoying the joke at Kyoshi’s expense.

Rangi covered her mouth, looking as though she was trying to keep a straight face for Kyoshi’s sake and failing at it. Kyoshi glared at her.

“Not you, too.”

A little snort escaped Rangi’s fingers, and her eyes went wide.

“Some bison ride you must’ve had,” Kirmia ventured, surveying Kyoshi’s windswept state. “What did happen to that Airbender of yours?”

Kyoshi gestured out the door. “Probably unsaddling Yingyong,” she told them all, still somewhat out of breath. “I, uh, just needed to check something.”

“The Fire Lord put you on edge?” Hei-Ran put down her bowl of noodles, staring hard at Kyoshi.

She forced herself to look back calmly. The last thing she wanted was to let everyone know that she’d gotten worked up over some unfulfilled threats. And now that she was here, even Kyoshi could tell how stupid she’d been. The infirmary was the safest place for Rangi right now, surrounded as she was by Hei-Ran and Atuat and unable to make any wrong move the Fire Lord could use to justify an attack.

Kyoshi forced a smile, relaxing her shoulders the best she could. “Nothing of the sort.” She tucked her fans back into her belt. “The meeting was simply to confirm what he already knew. Pretty big waste of time, actually.”

Hei-Ran was still studying her skeptically, probably trying to pinpoint the reason for Kyoshi’s sudden change in demeanor. Kyoshi dared to look over at Rangi again.

Her expression mirrored her mother’s, lips slightly pursed and head tilted to the side. If Kyoshi didn’t want Hei-Ran to discover the true nature of her meeting with Zoryu, she definitely didn’t want Rangi figuring it out.

Rangi’s station meant everything to her, and she took her job very seriously. If she knew that her own Fire Lord was pondering possible ways to strip the girl of her life - or worse, her honor - she would lose it.

Kyoshi had already seen how Fire Nation citizens treated their disgraced ranking officials. Hei-Ran had been pitied, patronized, pet like an animal. If anyone were to take that tone with Rangi, well, Kyoshi couldn’t promise that she would be able to keep her Avatar State in check.

“Care for some noodles?” Atuat gestured to her own bowl, holding it up for Kyoshi to see.

There was no way Kyoshi could turn down food. She hadn’t eaten since… well, Kyoshi couldn’t quite remember the last time she’d eaten, and she could feel Rangi staring daggers at her.

“Yeah,” she smiled at Atuat. “Noodles would be great.”

////

It was three days before Rangi was able to stand.

Atuat worked on her the best she could, trying to heal the internal damage caused by Yun. She told Kyoshi that bits of his earth dagger had broken off inside her wound, causing irritation and leaving a large possibility for infection. It didn’t help that Rangi was a terrible patient.

“I can get up,” she kept insisting. “I’m fine!”

When Atuat finally let her try, Rangi leapt at the opportunity, getting to her feet much too quickly and nearly doubling over from lingering stiffness and pain.

“Careful!” Kyoshi cried, hovering nearby. The outburst earned her stares from both Rangi and Atuat.

When Rangi straightened up again—slower this time—Kyoshi could see the imprint of the bandages under her shift - wrapped generously around her torso like battle armor.

“Are you sure she should be doing this?” Kyoshi asked Atuat, probably only fueling Rangi’s determination. “She’s still got bandages on! What if she starts bleeding again? We can try again tomorrow! Or next week!”

“Kyoshi, what’s your problem?” Rangi narrowed her eyes.

She was being far too overprotective, Kyoshi knew. She should back off. Let Rangi manage her own recovery. But even though it was inviting Rangi’s wrath, Kyoshi didn’t want her Firebender’s stubbornness to impede her healing process.

Rangi needed to take it slow. Make sure she didn’t make things worse with her rush to get better. As much as Kyoshi wanted to see her girl back on her feet, she knew it wouldn’t benefit either of them if it happened too quickly.

That’s what Kyoshi told herself as she watched Atuat support Rangi and instruct her to gently raise and lower her arms - stretching out her muscles. Kyoshi just didn’t want Rangi to overextend herself. To tear open her wound. To hurry an infection along. Her concern was born from love and care, not selfishness.

Or cowardice.

As if to poke holes in her reasoning, Hei-Ran entered the tent, arms crossed. “Jinpa told me your meeting with the Fire Lord ended… abruptly.” She glanced over at Atuat and Rangi for the briefest of moments. “Rangi, straighten your shoulders. Injuries don’t excuse bad posture.”

Rangi huffed, but obediently did as she was told. She respected her mother’s authority, whether she liked it or not.

Kyoshi picked her next words carefully. Lying to Hei-Ran was never a good idea, but neither was letting on just how badly the meeting had actually gone. “I think… the messages of both parties had ample time for sinking in.”

The words could’ve come straight from Yun’s mouth—vague with just the right amount of high-brow language. Maybe she wasn’t a hopeless cause after all.

Hei-Ran seemed surprised by the response as well. “I see. And what message did the Fire Lord impart on you?”

Shit.

Kyoshi tried to think on her feet. “Politics,” she said at last. “The importance of… political relations.”

“Sounds like the stuff Jianzhu used to preach,” Rangi offered, crinkling up her nose at the mention of the departed sage.

Hei-Ran sniffed dismissively at the mention of the man who’d nearly poisoned her to death. Kyoshi wondered inwardly if the woman ever mourned Jianzhu, despite everything. He had once been her close companion, after all.

Every one of Hei-Ran’s old friends were gone, she suddenly realized - swallowing hard. Kuruk. Kelsang. Jianzhu. The once-inseparable gang hadn’t stayed that way for very long. Hei-Ran was the sole survivor.

Killed after hunting dark spirits.

Murdered by Jianzhu.

Murdered by Yun. And me.

What terrible fates had been waiting for the previous Avatar team, often at the hands of each other. Was that what waited for her? For Rangi? For Wong and Kirimia? Was every Avatar doomed to bring failure and annihilation to the people who loved them most?

“Atuat,” she said sharply, turning to look at Rangi who’d made good progress accompanied by the Waterbender. “That’s enough for today.”

“Yes, Avatar.”

As Atuat moved to help Rangi back to bed, Rangi protested - an angry haze settling over her face as she watched Kyoshi move towards the door.

“What?” Rangi twisted in Atuat’s grip, trying to break free, to run after her. “Who let her call the shots around here? Kyoshi, don’t you dare walk away from me! I’m not through talking about this!”

Kyoshi didn’t turn around. She couldn’t.

“Fine! Go clear your head! See if I care!”

And then Kyoshi made it out of earshot.

She would delay Rangi’s recovery as long as she possibly could, drag it out until the spirits themselves were begging the Firebender to get back on her feet. Because at least here in the infirmary, tucked away in Yokoya, she had people to keep her safe. She couldn’t get herself thrown into another life-threatening situation while she was still recuperating from the last one.

Kyoshi wouldn’t be the reason for Rangi’s obliteration.

And neither would Zoryu.

---

more coming soon! my commissions are open (and so is my ask box!)

#rangshi #atla #rise of kyoshi #kyoshi x rangi #longfic #writing commissions #fanfic #shadow of kyoshi #kyoshi #avatar kyoshi #avatar the last airbender #rangi x kyoshi #fan fic #fic update

[herglowinggirl]

I’m thinking about it again. I’m thinking about how Rangi is the greatest force of good in Kyoshi’s life; and how Kelsang was the greatest force in Kyoshi’s life, and neither of them were ever complicit in Yun’s training as an Avatar. It keeps coming up to me the idea that Hei-Ran apologizes for her actions but does not truly change; she has the best of intentions but stills tells Kyoshi that sometimes she must get her hands bloody and go places where Rangi won’t go and it seems like good advice until ultimately it culminates in arguably the greatest mistake Kyoshi makes in the novels, which is harming near-innocents when she kidnaps Chaejin and his mother (and leaving Rangi in the dirt as Hei-Ran watches). Leaving Rangi behind almost always culminates in disaster in the Kyoshi Novels.

I want to talk about how Rangi is always the one to keep Kyoshi moving towards the future, and demands Kyoshi improve herself and take care of herself while even after Jianzhu’s death, people are still asking Kyoshi to give up her humanity and who she is just like they asked Yun and trained him to be a monster and told him to get his hands dirty because the world was dirty, while Rangi continues to demand from Kyoshi honesty and goodness because she believes that the world can be better, that Kyoshi can make it better without becoming worse. Rangi is literally the protector of Kyoshi’s honor and humanity. She’s a shit bodyguard - she walks out of the mansion while Yun is training to yell at bullies, falls asleep first surrounded by criminals, starts fights, lets a criminal hold a knife over Kyoshi’s head while she sulks several feet away, and becomes a huge emotional liability for Kyoshi (if she had lost the lei tai, I loathe to imagine what would’ve happened) but she is the only one whose intention is to ever really protect Kyoshi, not the Avatar, but Kyoshi, and I’m thinking about how Kyoshi was that person for Yun. 

#z.txt #kyoshi's center is literally rangi and rangi's heart is literally kyoshi's like i can't deal with this anymore guys i- #kyoshi novels spoilers

[theotherace]

Hi! 📂 :)

Kanto was an only child, and a lonely one at that, and always thought if he ever had children, it would have to be at least two, but when his wife leaves him and Lin, he's a little glad Lin is just one kid. And when he meets Toph, and they form their family, he couldn't imagine himself with a son other than Kelsang, even if the kid never calls him dad.

#atla #avatar: the last airbender #kanto #his father's weight au #kantoph #still contemplating if suyin exists in this universe

[kyoshi-lesbians]

Imagine this: an AU where Kyoshi bends air without realizing she's also an Earthbender and Kelsang trains her in the ways of the Ait Nomads.

am imagining. kyoshi living with kelsaang at one of the air temples, growing up in a community where she is accepted, where parentage is much less important than mentorship, where she learns her heritage and learns bending in a constructive way from the very beginning and fuck it lets imagine she still hangs out with yun and rangi since she goes with kelsaang when he visits yokoya..... head in my hands

#HEAD IN MY HANDS. #like learning her heritage absolutely #but the way that a community like those at the air temples was exactly? what she needed? #and she was so close but so far to having that #and kyoshi learning air nomad culture in a way that is removed from her feelings about jesa..... omph. yeah. yeah #kyoshi #kyoshi novels #kelsaang #l-egionaire #asks

[incorrect-kyoshinovels]

Rangi: Imagine if someone handed you a box full of all the items you've lost throughout your life.

Lek: My will to live? Haven't seen you in years!

Kyoshi: Wow, my childhood innocence? Thank you for finding this!

Kirima: I knew I lost that potential somewhere!

Lao Ge: My moral code, is that you?

Rangi:

Rangi: I was going to show you this cool trunk of Kelsang's but holy fuck do you need therapy.

#incorrect atla #incorrect trok #rangi #lek #kyoshi #kirima #lao ge #kelsang

[sifuhotthem]

When do you think Kuruk wrote his poem for Hei Ran? Was is after he read Jianzhu’s letter and the imminence of his death combined with her marriage and proximity to a stability than would have never let her love Kuruk back, stirred up the fire already burning in his heart and it hurt so much he had to do something about it. Or did he already write the poem, during the rare moments of peace he had: some verses during the sunset, after he and Nyahitha set their camp; others during an healing session, because fire made him feel closer to her (“so why isn’t she here, if she’s so deserving of your love?” Nyahitha snorted “Don’t waste your healing session with your aching love. Apparently, I cant cure a broken heart and that’s killing you too”). Or maybe, he wrote those verses in a simpler time, when there were no spirits to haunt nor cold to feel: imagine the irony, if he planned to read them to Hei Ran in the spirit world, once he mastered the skill with Kelsang. What he started for winning his friend’s hearth, lead him to lost her respect (and little she knew, he was protecting her).

#avatar kuruk #kuruk #hei ran #jianzhu #nyahitha #avatar the rise of kyoshi #the rise of kyoshi #avatar the shadow of kyoshi #the shadow of kyoshi

[circlique]

Heck

Neither "heck" nor "hell" appear in my wip. :( So I give you this little passage with the word "demon" instead.

"Only Kelsang remained. Water lapped at his collarbone, and then his chin. It was all he could do to keep his head above water, let alone focus on this demon of a test he’d been given. He tried to imagine a string attached to the top of his head, pulling him higher and higher, and when the water began to tickle his nose, he finally moved to stand on his desk---only to find that his ankles had been inexplicably shackled to its legs."

#ask game #send me a word and if it appears in my wip i'll post the line in which it appears #i also wrote 337 words towards my wip for this ask!

[selflessanatta]

The Toll of Anger: Why Getting Angry Isn't Worth It, http://selflessanatta.com/the-toll-of-anger-why-getting-angry-isnt-worth-it/

New Post has been published on http://selflessanatta.com/the-toll-of-anger-why-getting-angry-isnt-worth-it/

The Toll of Anger: Why Getting Angry Isn't Worth It

Overcome anger by recognizing its many faults and practicing patient acceptance.

Whenever I get angry, I recognize it immediately. Most people do. Anger leaves little doubt when it arises, and it manifests in obvious ways.

Many people become angry, but then do little or nothing to manage it, believing it’s a natural reaction that should be allowed to run its course.

Unfortunately, anger behaves like fire, and a wiser choice is to put out the flame when it’s merely a spark.

Anger grows and spreads like fire, and once it becomes a raging inferno, it’s much harder to extinguish.

Most people erroneously believe anger is caused by other people or events as if they are helpless victims of their own reactions. In truth, anger is always a reaction, and the angry person has the ability to choose not to be angry—if they learn how to control their own anger.

What is anger?

The following is adapted from How to Solve Our Human Problems by Geshe Kelsang Gyatso.

Anger is a focused mind that identifies an animate or inanimate object, finds it unattractive, exaggerates its bad qualities, and wishes to harm it.

Whenever people become angry, they instinctively meditate upon it.

They think about who or what they believe makes them angry.

They find other confirming thoughts and feelings that strengthen and reinforce their anger.

They negatively characterize the (incorrectly perceived) outside source of their anger.

And they want to do something about it—usually something bad.

For example, if a driver cuts me off, I get angry.

I find that driver’s behavior unacceptable because he or she endangered me.

I imagine they are a rude, careless, and inconsiderate ass.

I want to let them know how awful they are, even at the risk of escalating the incident to violence.

Actually, I used to react that way, but I don’t behave that way anymore.

With proper mental discipline, I cut off the angry thoughts, and remind myself to feel compassion for the driver who is suffering due to their selfish behavior. That simple technique works quite well.

My anger subsides.

I’ve become so well-practiced due to my frequent commuter traffic experiences, that the entire process happens in a nanosecond. The spark of anger finds no dry tinder to ignite.

Why does anger arise?

Have you ever wanted something and not obtained it?

Anger arises.

Have you ever obtained something you did not want?

Anger arises.

Have you ever lost something you valued?

Anger arises.

As should be obvious, the above conditions happen thousands of times per day with things both large and small.

Anger has little concern for scale or magnitude.

There is always ample opportunity to become angry, and many people are angry nearly all of the time. Their only respite is in the brief moment when they obtain exactly what they want, exactly when they want it, and they don’t lose it.

Of course, that satisfaction is fleeting as their mind will naturally move on to obtaining the next object of their desire.

In addition to the major causes identified above, several additional factors contribute to the emergence of anger:

Ego-Centrism: The strong identification with one’s self or ego can lead to anger when one perceives a threat or challenge to their self-importance or self-image.

Grasping at Permanence: The misconception that things should remain fixed or permanent can lead to frustration and anger when confronted with the impermanence and change inherent in life.

Judgment and Criticism: Holding harsh judgments or criticizing oneself or others can generate anger, as it creates an environment of negativity and hostility.

Impatience: Impatience and a lack of tolerance for delays or obstacles can trigger anger when one’s desires are not immediately fulfilled.

Unrealistic Expectations: Unrealistic or overly high expectations of oneself or others can set the stage for anger when these expectations are not met.

Fear and Insecurity: Fear and insecurity can underlie anger, as individuals may use anger as a defense mechanism to protect themselves from perceived threats.

Anger serves a purpose—or so people think

Many people form habitual patterns of responding to challenges or frustrations with anger, often due to past conditioning or learned behaviors.

People are prone to form resentments and keep anger alive because they believe expressing their anger gets them what they want. This is the dark art of manipulation.

People sometimes express anger when their lover doesn’t please them, especially if their anger coerces their lover into doing what they want.

People sometimes turn their anger into determination to get what they want, no matter the effort or the consequences involved.

If people are continually rewarded for their anger, it becomes a hammer they use to bludgeon their way through life.

Anger is a scorched-earth approach that ruins interpersonal relationships.

Anger is often simply clueless

A lack of mindfulness or awareness can prevent individuals from recognizing the arising of anger in themselves, allowing it to escalate unchecked.

Even professional psychologists recommend techniques like distraction, humor, or exercise to manage anger rather than actually stopping it.

This merely allows anger to run unchecked in your subconscious mind. When the humor comes out, it often takes the form of biting sarcasm with the hidden intention of inflicting emotional pain.

Sometimes, individuals may find it challenging to identify and express their emotions accurately. They may use anger as a catch-all emotion to cover various underlying feelings, including sadness.

Anger masks sadness

Anger can often mask underlying feelings of sadness.

Anger can function as a defense mechanism to protect individuals from the vulnerability of experiencing sadness.

Anger can be a more immediate and outwardly directed response to a distressing situation.

Some people perceive anger as a sign of strength or control, whereas sadness may be associated with weakness or loss of control. While this may be true in military combat, it’s a poor strategy for frustrations in their interpersonal relationships.

Societal and cultural norms often encourage the expression of anger over sadness. This is the herd mentality of weakness disguised as strength. Strong men cry when they are sad.

Anger can serve as a mask or protective layer over underlying sadness, making it less apparent to others. This can be especially true in situations where individuals want to avoid appearing weak or dependent on others for support.

Why no one should become angry

Anger is a destructive emotion. Buddhist practitioners are instructed to stop anger the moment it starts. It’s wise for anyone to consider doing the same.

The primary technique Buddhists employ is to remember the many bad qualities of anger and the regrets caused by acting with an angry mind.

The faults of anger can be broadly categorized into spiritual, psychological, and social consequences.

Relationship Consequences:

Distorted Perception: Anger clouds judgment and leads to distorted perceptions, causing individuals to see situations and people in an overly negative or hostile light. Anger narrows one’s perspective and makes it difficult to empathize with others’ suffering or show compassion.

Impedes Rational Thinking: Anger impairs rational thinking and problem-solving abilities, making it difficult to find constructive solutions to conflicts.

Interferes with Communication: Angry outbursts hinder effective communication, preventing individuals from understanding and resolving issues with others.

Destructive Actions: Anger often leads to impulsive and harmful actions, both in thought and behavior, which can have serious consequences for oneself and others.

Damages Relationships: Anger erodes trust and damages relationships, as it creates an environment of fear, resentment, and hostility.

Leads to Regret: After the anger subsides, individuals often regret their actions and words, causing guilt and remorse.

Cycles of Suffering: Anger perpetuates cycles of suffering by leading to more conflict and negative emotions.

Individual Consequences:

Harm to Health: Chronic anger and hostility are linked to various health issues, including high blood pressure, heart disease, and weakened immune function. Tibetan Buddhism recognizes the interconnection of mind and body, and thus views anger as harmful to physical well-being.

Waste of Energy: Anger consumes mental and emotional energy that could be better used for positive purposes.

Reinforces Ego: It strengthens the sense of ego and self-importance, as individuals often believe their anger is justified.

Obstacle to Inner Peace: It obstructs the cultivation of inner peace, which is a central goal in Buddhism.

Obstruction to Spiritual Progress: Anger is seen as a major obstacle on the path to enlightenment. It directly opposes the cultivation of compassion and loving-kindness, which are central to Buddhist practice. Anger can destroy the merit accumulated over long periods of spiritual practice in just a moment of intense rage.

Reputational Damage: When one frequently succumbs to anger, it can harm their reputation and how others perceive them. It might lead others to see the individual as unstable, untrustworthy, or dangerous.

Creation of Negative Karma: In the Buddhist view, actions driven by anger create negative karma, leading to future suffering. This is particularly significant in the context of the belief in rebirth, where the consequences of one’s actions can affect future lifetimes.

Impairment of Wisdom: Anger clouds judgment and impairs wisdom. It can lead to impulsive, irrational decisions and actions that one might later regret.

In summary, anger is a deeply harmful emotion that affects one’s spiritual journey, mental and physical health, social relationships, and moral integrity.

Whenever anger arises, Buddhist practitioners remind themselves of the many problems of anger as outlined above. Usually, that is sufficient to prevent anger from growing stronger and leading to rage, spite, resentment, aggression, or harmfulness.

Practice patient acceptance

Overcoming anger fully involves the practice of patient acceptance, an attitude that allows individuals to navigate life’s challenges with grace and equanimity.

Patient acceptance involves embracing reality completely and wholeheartedly, exactly as it is, and not wanting anything to be different.

Instead of resisting or rejecting anger, patient acceptance encourages individuals to face it directly. It involves not struggling against life’s difficulties but learning to coexist with them.

Equanimity is a mental state of balance and calmness, regardless of external circumstances. It requires mindfulness, the practice of being fully present in the moment and observing thoughts, emotions, and physical sensations without judgment.

Patient acceptance involves refraining from reacting impulsively to difficult situations. Instead, individuals are encouraged to pause, reflect, and respond with wisdom and compassion rather than reacting with anger or aggression.

Patient acceptance involves recognizing that difficult situations, like all things, are temporary and subject to change.

Patient acceptance encourages letting go of rigid attachments and allowing things to unfold naturally.

Like the Serenity Prayer, patient acceptance involves acknowledging that some things cannot be changed and learning to work with the circumstances as they are.

Ultimately, the practice of patient acceptance leads to inner transformation. It allows individuals to develop resilience, emotional stability, and a deeper understanding of themselves and the nature of existence.

With patient acceptance, even the most challenging circumstances need not lead to anger and its many harmful consequences.

~~wink~~

Anatta

[innsjovide]

any ways no one's gonna make kuruhitha headcanons but me so i might as well write them down

basic stuff kuruk is bi, nyahitha is gay

homophobia isnt isn't much of a big deal in the fire nation (at least during the time nyahtiha's alive) so he's not too bothered about showing it

homophobia is a big deal in the northern water tribe (a legacy that lasted up until unalaq) but kuruk's entire solution to that problem was 'the nwt chiefs cant be mad about things the nwt chiefs don't know' with a bit of 'i'm the avatar i can do what i want' thrown in

they first started dating only months after they met, when kuruk was 23 and nyahitha was 25. by then the others (jianzhu kelsang and hei-ran) had met nyahtiha once and were quite surprised to find out they were dating

hei-ran and nyahitha had a rivalry that was almost always one sided but switched between them on who was angrier with the other depending on what was happening in the fire nation at the time, what kuruk was doing, and the time of day

jianzhu didn't like nyahitha (something something 'he's a bad influence kuruk please don't hang out with him [jealous ex boyfriend]), he and kelsang actually got along fairly well

they did not have a meetcute. they had a meet-ugly. it was a mess. (canon already did a wonderful job of portraying this so i will not have to go in depth)

their first relationship was friends to lovers in the best way-: friends with benefits hookup to actual romance

their first time together was short and brief and beautiful, but tainted in the shadow of reality. they would share kisses in the bhanti tribe library before remembering why they were there. in his later journals (the ones he wrote when reflecting on his life), kuruk wrote that 'remembering it is like staring at a painting of a fire- taking in all of the beauty and none of the destruction."

nyahitha, on a few long nights where he was sure he might loose his lover, considered proposing. he even handmade a betrothal necklace of blue and gold only to keep it in a box as soon as it was finished. he couldn't do that to kuruk

neither of them expected their relationship to last. after a few years of imagined paradise, they drifted apart into their own miseries. they remained friends (it wasn't like they really had anyone else, especially in kuruk's case) and just focused on their own lives, trying to maintain a semblance reality. nyahitha was preparing to take on the role as high sage, and kuruk had his avatar thing going on. there wasn't much time for them to pursue a relationship on top of anything

coincidentally, that was around the time hei-ran got married. kuruk couldn't handle it all going on at once. it was healthier that they just stayed apart, at least for now

after the whole ummi debacle, kuruk vanished for a few years, and everyone simply presumed him dead. by this time nyahitha had moved away from bhanti island and gotten himself a small apartment in the capital, a simple space enough for a couple. it was always too big for him

in his final moments, kuruk showed up at nyahitha's house to die. (i already wrote this in a fic so read it). it was there and then that he confessed his (ironically) undying love for nyahitha. nyahitha could barely utter his reciprocation without crying

#kyoshi novels #kuruhitha #avatar kuruk #nyahitha #kuruk x nyahitha #angst #headcanons #writing #i will pioneer this ship make no doubt of it #im just. soft now #congrats u get this instead of me doing what i said i would #ship