One way to consider provocation is to see it as a test. All the difficulties that life delivers are opportunities for the development of patience. Sometimes we seem to fail the test, but even if we don't fully pass the very difficult tests, at least, I think, we start to apply the Dhamma.
We know that only the Dhamma is really useful: that only the correct understanding of Khandhas (the five aggregates), dhatu (elements), ayatana (bases), the four noble truths and the paticcasamupada will eventually, gradually lead to complete patience in any situation. When we feel irritated, depressed, 'out of sorts' it is like a flashing light to remind us about what is really important. And so there is, maybe, just a moment of reflecting on the Dhamma or awareness of a reality. But because the brief moments of sati(awareness) and panna(wisdom) are interspersed among many more moments of dosa(aversion) they may seem insignificant. And yet they are there, they are been accumulated. These moments condition more moments in the future so that understanding and patience grow. However, wanting to have patience quickly is both a contradiction in terms and in practice.
Patience may be developed with different degrees of understanding and it is true that any type has its advantages. But if we only accumulate the type of patience that is not associated with satipatthana we may feel contented and relaxed but for sure the kilesa (defilements) will be just as strong -conceit, wrongview etc. Take the Brahma gods for example: they abide for uncountable periods of time during which aversion never arises. Some people might think that the anusaya(latent tendency) of dosa is lessened because of this long absence at the appearance stage. But no, not so, a life or two later and dosa(aversion) is back crying and screaming.
I find I mind less and less about dosa(aversion) these days. Primarily because I know it is only a momentary dhamma, a reality. It has arisen to show its nature. It reveals accumulations. It can be understood. It is the Dhamma.This is not said to excuse any exhibition of anger or in any way meant to suggest that dosa is benign. Dosa is what it is - it is the reality which is harsh - it is dangerous to ourselves and others. But what is often forgotten is that it is easy to have dosa (aversion) towards dosa - we should learn to have patience, even towards our kilesas(defilements).
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