When emotions have been relegated to the position of having nothing to teach, and instead viewed as something to control, manipulate or get rid of, events can appear as though random. When people do not take responsibility for all of themselves, the result can often be blaming others and acting out on others.

Both Buddhist and Western psychology tells us that our trance of emotional reactivity begins with a universally conditioned reflex: Consciously or not, we continually assess whatever is happening as pleasant, unpleasant, or neutral. The smell of fresh-baked cookies—probably pleasant. A thought about a recent argument—probably unpleasant. The sound