Anger: A Destructive Emotion

Bhikkhu Visuddhacara

Do you get angry? Of course, all of us, undeniably do. Now and then we may get irritated, annoyed, peeved. We get angry or exasperated with this person or that person for one reason or other. There are many things and conditions which can cause us to be vexed and annoyed. Usually we get frustrated and angry when we do not get our way. We want things done in a certain way and when it is not done in that way, we get angry, we get mad. Sometimes, we may be expecting something to come about (such as a pay rise), and when it does not happen, we get upset and angry. Then there are people who provoke or offend us. They have a knack of getting on our nerves.

In fact there is no shortage of conditions that can spark off our anger. If were to observe our reactions and responses in the course of a normal day, we would find many occasions when we lost our cool or were on the verge of loosing it. Anger shows in the way we speak and gesticulate, the changes in our facial expressions, the irritation in our voice, the way we snap and raise our voice. And when we lose further control, we might start to shout, yell, kick, slam a door, bang the table, slam down the phone or even physically strike or assault somebody. In extreme cases, people have been known to kill out of anger, or while in the grip of rage, drop dead from a heart-attack!

Our anger may vary in intensity. Some people are hot-tempered: they blow up easily. Others are said to have a mild disposition; they appear to be always cool and calm. Some would nurse grudges long after their anger had passed while others may be more forgiving. Whatever it is, the fact remains that all of us do get angry, the difference being only in the intensity and frequency of the emotion. For even the most mild of persons can show signs of vexation and irritation when his patience is over-taxed, or when he is under too much pressure.

Should we get angry? Is there such a thing as righteous anger? Is it all right to get angry and yell at people, to lose our cool and blow our top? Has anger become a way of life among people in the world? Have we taken it for granted and come to accept it as something natural and unavoidable? When we read today's newspapers, we would find no shortage of anger and hatred in our planet. Reading about all the fighting and continuous warfare in various parts of the world, do we pause to wonder why man can't live together peacefully as brothers as sisters? Why are we so unforgiving, so brutal, so merciless? Why do some kill innocent people to get what they want? Why do countries compete to make nuclear weapons that can destroy everybody in the world? Why is there so much fear and distrust?

Anger starts from our heart, just as love does. It is our firm belief that anger is an evil which should be banned completely from our hearts and minds. It is a destructive emotion that has caused much misery in the world and in our lives. It begins from the mind and it is at the source, the mind, that it must be checked and eliminated. In the preamble to the Unesco Constitution too, it is stated: "Since war begin in the minds of men, it is in the minds of men that the defences of peace must be built." Santideva in his Bodhicaryavatara (The entrance to the Life of Enlightenment), wrote: "How many evil men could I kill? Their number is boundless as the sky. But if the thought of anger is killed all enemies are killed."

Anger makes our life miserable. If we continue to accept anger and make no great effort to curb it, we will continue to live turbulent lives. Everytime we become vexed, annoyed, angry, we begin to burn, mentally. This burning feeling increases with the intensity of the anger. The stronger the anger the stronger we burn. It is a very painful sensation. You can observe it for yourself. The next time you should get vexed or angry, look at the state of your mind and heart, and see for yourself the pain and suffering you are undergoing while being in the state of anger or disturbance.

Anger is an unwholesome state of mind. The Buddha had never allowed for anger of any kind. In Buddhism there is no such thing as righteous anger. All anger, even of the slightest level or duration, is bad. It is like a poison to the mind. Thus the Buddha has exhorted that we should return love for anger. "Hatred can never be overcome by hatred. Only by love alone can it be appeased. This is an eternal law," he said. On another occasion he exhorted: "Conquer the angry by man by love."

In giving a simile to emphasize the point, the Buddha said that even if a robber were to use a saw to cut off our legs and hands, we should not give vent to even the slightest bit of anger. If we were to become even a little angry or annoyed, we should not be following his teaching. Instead, the Buddha exhorted us to radiate love towards the tormentor. "For thus you ought to train yourself," he said: "Undisturbed shall our mind remain, no evil words shall escape our lips, friendly and full of sympathy shall we remain, with heart full of love, free from any hidden malice. And those persons (the robber or robbers, cutting off our limbs) shall we penetrate with loving thoughts, wide, deep, boundless, free from anger and hatred."

Such was the Buddha's perfection in love. Even as a bodhisatta (a Buddha-to-be), he had in countless previous lives, undergone torture and death without harboring an iota of of hate or anger towards his torturers. And in his last life as the Buddha he had always been cool and serene. Never had he lost his tranquillity and equanimity. When the mad elephant, Nalagiri, charged at him, the Buddha was able to subdue the animal by radiating loving-kindness towards it. The Buddha's missionary work of 45 years, with little rest, was an exemplification of compassion and love.

The Buddha is, of course, not the only teacher who preaches love and compassion. All great teachers do so. Jesus Christ said: "Love thy neighbour as thyself." "If somebody strikes you on the right cheek you should turn and offer him the other cheek," Mahatma Gandhi, the great advocate of non-violence, said: "If blood be shed, let it be our blood. Cultivate the quiet courage of dying without killing. For a man lives by his readiness to die, if need be, at the hands of his brother, never by killing him." This brings to mind the story of a monk who was threatened by a fearsome general. "Don't you know," roared the general "I am the kind of person who could kill you without even battling an eye." The monk replied: "And I, sir, am the kind of person who could be killed without battling an eye." Faced by such a stout heart, the general walked off without harming the monk.

Besides being poison to our mind, anger and hatred are also a danger to our physical health. Medical science has confirmed that anger and other unhealthy emotions can contribute to bodily diseases. When we are angry our body discharges certain chemicals that can upset our physical well-being. If such behaviour is habitual, it can be in the long run lead to various ailments, such as stomach ulcers, indigestion, constipation, high blood pressure, heart trouble and even cancer.

On the other hand, a calm and peaceful state of mind is conducive to both mental and physical well-being. We will be healthier, happier and live more fulfilling lives. Some of the chronic ailments, such as indigestion, that may be troubling to us, may clear up. Other illnesses may also be averted. The serenity and radiance of a tranquil mind will be reflected in our physical features and complexion. Wherever we go we will be liked and loved by all. Nobody likes to mix with an angry person or with one who gets angry easily. To give an example, a boss who is always frowning or shouting at his employees, is shunned and disliked. His workers will not think twice of leaving when an opportunity arises. But the boss who is always smiling, kind and helpful, who never or rarely loses his temper, is loved and cherished. For such a boss, some employees would not leave even for a better salary elsewhere.

Furthermore, your virtues will have an influence on all who come into contact with you. You will be an example for others to follow. What better and sincere way can we change the world than by this way of setting an example? Yes, by changing ourselves and setting an example, we are actually contributing positively to a better world. For jus consider: the world is made up of people. People make up the world. If you change the people you are changing the world. And you start with yourself. After all, are you also not one of the people in the world? Thus, when you change yourself, you have changed the world in the sense that there is one more anger-prone person less in the world. If more people change themselves, then the world will be changed to the extent of the number of people who have changed. With more peace-loving people around, the strife and turmoil in the world will decrease.

Recognizing the evil of anger and the harm it can do to ourselves and others, let us dispel anger and radiate loving-kindness. Let us be tender and patient, gentle and helpful. Let us not be harsh. Let us not confuse, bewilder and perplex others. Look around and see there is enough sorrow in the world already. Let us not add to it. Let us instead be a source of comfort and peace; let us be a light unto the world so that all, who come within the circle of our influence, can walk more safely and happily.

Making the determination to curb anger and spread love is a first step. The next question is how do we go about doing it. It is not easy to control our anger when it arises. It takes quite a lot of effort and skill to keep anger under rein. Therefore, in the following pages we will discuss ways of techniques of curbing anger. It mainly involves mindfulness (sati) and wise reflection (yoniso manasikara). By being mindful we can nip the anger in the bud, even as it is about to arise. And applying wise reflection on the many reasons why shouldn't get angry will remind and convince us of the desirability to evict the anger promptly from our mind, to drop it, so as to speak, like a piece of hot brick.

May all beings be happy. May they root out anger and hatred from their hearts and become the embodiment of great love, wisdom and compassion.

Extracted from: "Curbing Anger, Spreading Love" by Bhikkhu Visuddhacara