Anger.
- clearstreamzendo
- Mar 24
- 2 min read
This week’s topic for reflection is anger. Anger is one of Buddhism’s three poisons along with greed and delusion. It is said these three poisons are the roots of suffering. Anger is blinding, destructive, and harmful. It can be directed toward others or toward oneself. Greed, anger and ignorance have a close relationship.
It’s not necessary to look very far to find anger these days. In order to see the nature of anger we only need to look at our own. If you can it’s best to pause and look while you’re angry. A few questions to ask are how does it feel physically and where? For me there’s a tightness in my eyes, face, mouth and breath. Ask is there a change mentally? Is there a typical narrative? Is something from your past triggered? If we are familiar with our own anger it will be easier to empathize with and understand others when they are angry.
Anger in its pure form is a powerful, direct, active energy. It counteracts complacency and dullness, or being the victim. It’s responsive not reactive. It’s open and honest. This energy expresses aliveness and caring or compassion. Harmful anger can be transformed into this powerful determination.
Seeing the anger expressed today there is often the desire to oppose it because of the harm it is doing. Opposition requires a response. To oppose anger with anger often makes things worse, not better. What would be a more effective way to protect yourself and others from anger and its destruction?
Anger is a normal human feeling. The problem is when it is self-centered and harmful. Anger is sometimes used as a motivator and tactic to intimidate others. We need to practice taking responsibility for our anger and the harm that it can do. Then find ways to use this determination to make positive change in the world.
Please join us for morning Zoom zazen from 7:00 to 7:30 Tuesday and Thursday, in person zazen at the McNail Riley House Saturday morning from 9:00 to 11:00 and Sunday morning Zoom zazen and discussion of the topic for reflection blog from 8:00 to 9:00 Pacific Time. Here’s the Zoom link:
Meeting ID: 811 6100 3357
Passcode: 278259
Gassho,
Futai
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