Dealing with Anger? Being Mindful?

DaltheJigsaw

Dealing with Anger? Being Mindful?

Jeffrey

I think the first step is to recognize that you can do a lot of harm when you are intoxicated with anger. This will temper your anger and avoid the most negative situations which just mold and shape your anger more entrenched.

Then I think I have almost a sadness and a hopelessness about my anger. Within that there is a drifting or movement to relax. With patience sometimes a warmth comes up and wisdom about the situation.

I have practiced for ages in response to anger. As I have improved I see more and more how anger is ingrained in me and shapes me. And my life.

santhisouk

It arises, it remains, and it eventually passes.

metta

Jeffrey

When my anger turned to sadness and blockedness after a long time and I had worked with this a bit some genuine emotion and gratefulness in life came. Sometimes.

Still_Waters

In meditation, we learn to be mindful of our thoughts and emotions without clinging to them, allowing them to pass. With enough practice, it is possible to deal with anger this way. Charlotte Joko Beck, in "Everyday Zen," describes this as follows:

"I am not implying that there will not be upsets. What I mean is that when we get upset, we don't hold onto it. If we become angry, we are just angry for a second. Others may not even be aware of it. That is all there is to it. There is no clinging to the anger, no mental spinning with it."

Alan

TheLastGambit

I think many of our reactions have become habbit for people. Those quick to anger are those who have let theirselves become angry in the past and continue to do so -- as habbit -- in the now. It's my belief that just as with any other habbit, being aware -- being mindful -- that your falling back on this habbit is one step closer to overcoming this anger; this theory in mind, you must also ask yourself: why am I angry right now? Am I really angry?

Just as with any other habbit, anger is one that is difficult to break free of but gets easier with time and practice.

poptart

Thich Nhat Hanh deals with this subject very well in his book Anger. He says he treats his anger like a suffering child. When you are angry turn your awareness inwards to deal with your own pain instead of directing it outwards at its cause.

DaltheJigsaw

Thich Nhat Hanh deals with this subject very well in his book Anger. He says he treats his anger like a suffering child. When you are angry turn your awareness inwards to deal with your own pain instead of directing it outwards at its cause.

I like that!
Thanks!
And thanks everyone for commenting!

buddhacoe

Thich Nhat Hanh deals with this subject very well in his book Anger. He says he treats his anger like a suffering child. When you are angry turn your awareness inwards to deal with your own pain instead of directing it outwards at its cause.

I like that!
Thanks!
And thanks everyone for commenting!

'Thich Nhat Hanh' Great teacher!

aura

Anger creates impenetrable walls.
Mindfulness levels impenetrable walls.

It is a conscious choice to live within impenetrable walls,
but some call it security.
Others call it prison.

Jeffrey

nice aura. and useful

BuckyG

When I apply sati (mindfulness) to the arising of anger I inevitably uncover fear and/or sadness. :buck:

DaltheJigsaw

When I apply sati (mindfulness) to the arising of anger I inevitably uncover fear and/or sadness. :buck:

Fear and Sadness?
Hmm... Why so?

DaltheJigsaw

'Thich Nhat Hanh' Great teacher!

He is great!
Thank you!

BuckyG

Fear and Sadness?
Hmm... Why so?

You're guess is probably as good as mine. I'm not sure it matters though, because when I'm noticing sadness and/or fear I'm already on my way to release and cessation of that sadness and/or fear. Does that make sense?
:buck:

DaltheJigsaw

Fear and Sadness?
Hmm... Why so?

You're guess is probably as good as mine. I'm not sure it matters though, because when I'm noticing sadness and/or fear I'm already on my way to release and cessation of that sadness and/or fear. Does that make sense?
:buck:

It's starting too!
But I wonder if that is due to mindfulness or due to something else?

BuckyG

Hi LeonBasin,
If by "it," you mean fear and sadness, I still don't know or believe I need to. If by "it" you mean release and cessation, it's not due to "something else" but something more: bodhipakkhiyādhammā practice.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bodhipakkhiyādhammā :buck:

DaltheJigsaw

I meant fear and sadness.
Thank you for the link!
Are you practicing Zazen?

BuckyG

I meant fear and sadness.
Thank you for the link!
Are you practicing Zazen?

You're welcome for the link.
I probably don't practice zazen in what you'd consider a formal way currently, but I have. It was a key ingredient for overcoming a personal problem I'd be happy to have a private conversation with you about.
IMO, fear and sadness, like all forms of dukkha, are always due to tanha (craving/desire) and uapadana (clinging/grasping). :buck:

BeachHouseGuy

Anger can be useful if you use it for something productive, depends.

BuckyG

:buck:
hi girlikesam
On Anger:
http://newbuddhist.com/discussion/comment/205041#Comment_205041 :buck:

BuckyG

Ajahn Sundara: Untangling the Tangle Q & A: Great stuff here on Anger starting around the 7:30 mark: http://www.audiodharma.org/talks/audio_player/343.html :buck: