Management of anger

BY RAJAH Kuruppu

ANGER is an evil emotion that causes substantial damage to oneself and others. While anger can lead to stress and tension, in some cases, it happens the other way around. Those who find it difficult to cope with strains in life, burst out in anger.

With the increase in the tempo of life in recent decades, instances of acute anger have also been significantly on the ascendent. At times, the anger is short-lived but within that time, if not properly managed, could lead to considerable harm. Some anger is of a long lasting nature like smouldering fire.

The liabilities of anger would be accepted by all rational beings. A strong sense of anger would deprive the control of oneself and could result in action, verbal or physical, that one would regret later.

Hence, the oft-repeated advice not to take action when one is overwhelmed by anger but to wait for it to subside. It is said in Buddhist literature, that some living beings see by day and others by night but a being in deep anger cannot properly see either by day or night.

Uncontrolled anger could result in violence and could even end in murder. It could also ruin one's personal family life as well as one's own health.

Speech or action in a fit of anger has led to serious developments such as the disintegration of long standing and very cordial associations and the break up of even closely knit families.

One's actions dominated by intense anger could lead to other events that cause irreparable damage to relations which may not be overcome in the lifetime of the protagonists.

It becomes an intense conflict most devastating to the physical, mental and material well-being of both parties.

Although, it is true that the connection between anger and good health has not been precisely established, it is generally agreed that it would weaken the immune system of the human body and consequently the greater vulnerability to sickness.

Moreover, it would increase the stress hormone levels of the body and make one more liable for stress and strain.

This could be observed from the facial and bodily changes that occur in a person in intense anger with the face turning colour and a tendency to shiver or at least the shaking of hands.

A Buddhist approach to overcome anger would be the appreciation of its very adverse effects mentioned above and develop a firm determination to contain it whenever it arises.

Here, the mindfulness of thoughts (Cittanupassana) would be helpful to become aware of the anger in its initial stages. The earlier one is alive to the beginnings of anger the easier it is to contain and control it.

If anger has been provoked by unjust speech or action, one could practise informally the meditation on the breath (Anapanasati) observing the in and out of the natural breath which would reduce the tension.

Then, one could reflect that the unpleasant feelings caused by unjust speech and action would be the result of one's own unwholesome actions of the past, in this life or previous lives, under the law of Kamma, the law of cause and effect.

Thinking thus could extend compassion rather than hatred for those immediately responsible for unfair action.

The more important battle is within one self, an internal struggle to overcome the rising anger and maintain a calm and balance of state of mind. Anger would only aggravate the unfortunate situation.

Thus, the serious management of anger has assumed great importance in recent times with the galloping pace of life being more conducive to evoke anger.

In these circumstances, religious dignitaries, preachers, leaders of society and the media both print and electronic, could play a positive role in highlighting the liabilities of anger and exhorting people to make every effort for the meaningful management of this unfortunate emotion for their own welfare and the good of society.