Workding With Anger
Question: “What is the best way to deal with anger?”Answer: From the Buddhist perspective, anger is an afflictive emotion that is never justified because it undermines our peace of mind. However, some believe that anger is justified, and even refer to the “righteousness of anger.” Referring to anger as righteous implies that there is something virtuous about it. But how can anger be a virtue when it destroys our happiness and peace of mind? After all, it is impossible to feel angry and happy at the same time. Therefore, we can see that anger is a disturbing mind set.
Anger is an emotion that has no real benefits. When we are angry, are we acting with compassion and kindness toward the source of our anger? Usually we respond to the source of our anger with hostility. The 8th century Indian saint, Shantideva, says, "It is natural for the immature to harm others. Getting angry with them is like resenting a fire for burning." So it is easy to see that we need a radically new way to deal with our anger.
From the Buddhist perspective, the antidote to anger is to apply the virtue of patience. Having the ability to remain calm and not retaliate in the face of provocation is a wonderful ability. Meditation is useful in
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