Aversion

In Tibetan Buddhism, aversion is the mental habit of pushing away or resisting what we find unpleasant. It is one of the "Three Poisons" (the root causes of suffering) and manifests as anger, fear, frustration, and hatred. It is the counterpart to attachment.

Aversion traps individuals in a cycle of suffering (samsara) by preventing them from accepting reality as it is. It limits the ability to see clearly, leading to impulsive reactions rather than thoughtful responses.

Tibetan Buddhism offers several methods to overcome aversion:

• Developing Patience and Compassion: Practices like Tonglen (taking in the suffering of others and sending out compassion) help dissolve the ego-driven resistance that causes aversion.

• Mindfulness: Instead of acting on or suppressing negative feelings, practitioners are taught to simply observe aversion with mindful curiosity until it dissipates naturally.

• The Four Immeasurables: Cultivating boundless joy, equanimity, loving-kindness, and compassion directly counters ill-will and jealousy

The snake represents aversion (anger) as one of the three poisons in the Wheel of Life. That keeps you in the cycle of existence according to Tibetan Buddhism.