Anger 2

Which is the greatest power for change? The world looks different now compared to only 200 years ago, and which are the causes that made it better?
There are two alternative powers, anger and equanimity. Equanimity is the quiet analysis.
Anger has been tried, in wars, and in the organised social conflict between capital and workers. Equanimity has also been tried, in the millions of minds trying to make things better, from cleaning the home to building space telescopes.
We have a romantic idea that anger is the best.
It might be different for different persons. If we can use equanimity - reason - for getting what we want we do that and there is no trouble.
If someone can not use argument, the raw will to change might manifest as anger. Eventually it will be organised within equanimity.
Anger is a spontaneous reactions in mind. When it is there it is a reality. But that does not make it justified or constructive.
Dealing with anger is not an easy task, however.

To be and not to be 2

The reality is in thought and name...
There are four names called the immeasurables. They are compassion, love, joy and equanimity.
Our understanding - our thoughts - of these words decide our quality of life.
These words can have negative meanings. Compassion might mean charity, where an inflated I throws a few coins to the others, the destitute and inferior ones.
Love can mean self love, or it can be very trivial as love for certain shoes and color shades.
Joy is negative when it is joy over the mistakes and shortcomings of others. Equanimity is negative when it is uncaring.
But the four names can also have very exalted meanings. Compassion can be the will to help all others to get rid of all suffering for ever. Love can include all. Joy can be the joy over success of others. Equanimity can be the coolness we need to see clearly always.
There is no other reality, than the reality in our thoughts when we define these words.

Optimism

Buddhist psychology is extremely optimistic, in its trust in the ability for mind to change. We can even turn into Buddhas. This is in contrast to Hinduism, which led to the caste system.
Among the eleven positive sides of the human mind, two are of particular importance. They are non-ignorance and equanimity.
One very optimistic side in Buddhist psychology is that it assumes that all problems are caused by ignorance, and that all ill will is an expression of ignorance.
To root out ignorance is not a simple thing, as mind from the beginning is contaminated not only by false information and prejudices, but also is the victim of a constant deception caused by the senses and the feelings. However, all ignorance is adventitious. Mind itself can never be polluted.
Equanimity is needed in order to withstand the storms that can appear in mind when we sort out the bad and dissolve it.
Non-violence is the outcome of the positive sides of the human mind.
Buddhist psychology can be studied in books like Mind in Buddhist Psychology by Herbert V. Guenther & Leslie S Kawamura or on Internet at Tibetan Library org