Freedom from Anger: Understanding It, Overcoming It, and Finding Joy

Anger is a powerful emotion, expressing itself in righteous indignation and sometimes in destructiveness. Sumanasara, a Theravada Buddhist monk, offers advice for understanding and taming anger. For him, this emotion is fundamental in human activity; it manifests in numerous ways, including boredom, malice, envy, and remorse. Because anger protects the ego, giving into it is hard to resist. Sumanasara emphasizes, however, that becoming angry is a choice, and to make that choice is to be a “failure” and a “loser.” Sumanasara allows no room for anger as a natural or instinctive emotion, because such a concession is an avoidance of the work needed to overcome it. Readers used to gentler teachings from writers in other Buddhist traditions may be caught off-guard by his sharp tone. While Sumanasara is clearly trying to emphasize that choosing anger is a serious danger to oneself and others, readers may feel like they have been lightly scolded by a disappointed parent. Nevertheless, Sumanasara’s guidance is a firm but gentle paternal hand, offering thoughtful meditations on anger and the choice between destructive rage and happiness. (June)