For this weekend, I think I just want to post something on Anger and Hatred seeing that there seems to be so much of it in AF recently, well perhaps not hatred but certainly anger.

As Buddhist, how do we deal with anger and hatred?

Dangers of Anger and Hatred

I think the dangers of anger and hatred are very easy to see. We have all seen it in others around us and recognized it in ourselves at one time or another. As rational people, we all recognise subsequently (maybe not at the time) that this is a source of much trouble in our lives, at home, at work and generally in society.

We know getting angry is dangerous but we still allow ourselves to get angry. Why? Perhaps it is because we d not truly undestand the full danger of anger. Let me put it bluntly and all my good Bros know how blunt I am: WE GET ANGRY BECAUSE WE ARE STUPID. This is the sad truth.

The Buddha says:

Bikkhus, there are 7 things that befall the angry man, which pleases the enemy and fulfills his wishes.

What are the 7 things that our enemy would wish on us?

1. Let us be ugly. Because an enemy does not wish his enemy to be beautiful.
2. Let us sleep badly. Because an enemy does not wish us to sleep soundly.
3. Let us meet with loss. Because an enemy does not wish us to meet with gain.
4. Let us have no wealth. Because an enemy does not wish us to have wealth.
5. Let us have no good reputation. Because an enemy does not wish us to be reputable.
6. Let us have no friends. Because an enemy would wish us to be alone and ostracized.
7. Let us at death to be reborn in a woeful state, in an unhappy destination, in hell! Because an enemy will not wish for a happy state of rebirth for us.

This is my abbreviation of the Kodhana Sutta, Anger Sutta. Interested Bros/Sis may read the full translated text. I recommend it as it is worth the time to fully understand the harms which anger does to us.

Read the above 7 things. Do we need an enemy to wish this upon us? We will do these 7 things to ourselves when we allow ourselves to get angry. Or rather our anger does this to us. So we should control ourselves and not get angry.

And as the Buddha says, karma of the mind is the most reprehensible for the performance of evil action.

So What Do We Do about Anger?

As the Buddha explains, anger is Mara's trap and it is set in the heart. The heart is wired to the mind and it is in the mind that this trap is ready to spring. Therefore, we must look to the mind to neutralise this trap.

How do we do this? How do we remove hatred from the mind? We can only do this through the mind. There is no other way.

The Buddha gives 4 factors for dis-arming the trap of anger:

1. Self-Control (Dama)
2. Wisdom (Panna)
3. Energy and Effort (viriya)
4. Right View (Samma ditthi)

Of all, the Right View is most important because without it, we will fail to understand anger in the right perspective and it will harm us in this life and in future lives.

As the Buddha says, the angry man falls prey to anger. Since anger is born within ourselves and we ourselves suffer, we are both unter and prey. But with Right View, we learn self-control, to stop hunting and to cease being a prey.

The Buddha also says the angry man is ruled by anger. We lose control of ourselves when we get angry. It is Mara who rules us and occupies our mind and heart. We must dethrone Mara and this not easy. We need a lot of energy and effort to do this. With self-control and the energy and effort, the wisdom we possess will increase. And this all starts with the Right View. Once we are on this path, the trap is neutralized and Mara is driven away.

As the Buddha says, when anger is stilled, the well-controlled, the passion-free attain Nibbana. This is the ultimate peace when all hatred is stilled.

Let me end by quoting one of my favourite phrases from the Dhammapada:

Not by hatred is hatred ever resolved. By Friendliness is it resolved. This is an eternal truth.

There are those who do not realise that one day we must all die. But those who do realise this settle their quarrels.

We should always reflect, contemplate and remember all these. Above 4, remember the 4 qualities that allow us to banish anger and hatred. Be mindful of the 7 harms which anger does to us, which we allow anger to do to us.

If we can do this, we will all be happy and there would hopefully be peace in our homes, in our personal and work lives and in society in general.

Sadhu x 3

PS: Again, apart from quotes from Suttha and the Dhammapada, the text is entirely mine. Please feel free to distribute freely if you so wish.

Cheers, Drizzt