Awakening to Anger

Wondrous Joy in the World

Awakening to Anger

Did the Buddha ever get angry?
How did the Buddha teach his disciples not to be angry?
There are many short stories about anger (krodha, in Sanskrit) in the Buddhist scriptures.
Let us explore together the Dharma gate of being unmovable in suchness.

■ Hsu Tsui-Ku (許翠谷)
 
The Murderer Who Learned Not to Be Angry

In the Buddha's time, there was a terrifying murderer who struck fear into everyone's hearts. Misled by a heretical teaching, he killed countless people, cutting off the fingers of his opponent's right hand and stringing them together into a necklace he wore around his neck. Because of this, he was called Aṅgulimāla (meaning "the one with a garland of fingers").
Later, Aṅgulimāla was moved by the Buddha's compassion. He laid down his weapons, renounced violence, and became a monk, receiving the name "Ahiṁsā", which means "Harmless."
Because of his past atrocities and the harm he incurred upon many people, Aṅgulimāla was hated by many. Whenever he went out to collect alms, people would attack him like a rat crossing the street. As a result, he often returned to the monastery battered and bleeding. Each time this happened, the Buddha would gently comfort him, encouraging him to be patient. Yet, Aṅgulimāla never felt anger or resentment.

He said:

"A water expert knows how to guide the flow of water;
 an arrow maker knows how to straighten an arrow;
 and a wise person knows how to discipline the mind.
 Some can only be tamed with rods and whips,
 but I have been tamed by one who used neither.
 My name is Ahiṁsā, the harmless one.
 Once I was a killer,
 but now I truly live up to my name—
 I harm no one."
 
Since taking refuge in the Three Jewels and being reborn through the path of awakening, no matter what kind of humiliation or insult Aṅgulimāla suffered, he truly never again gave rise to even a single thought of anger or hatred. In addition, he never intentionally harmed any living being because this was his sincere vow.
 
According to the Majjhima Nikāya 86, known as the Aṅgulimāla Sutta, one day while Aṅgulimāla was on alms round in the city of Śrāvastī, he saw a woman suffering greatly in childbirth. Deeply moved, he thought to himself, "Indeed, living beings truly suffer!" When he returned to the monastery, he told the Buddha what he had seen. The Buddha instructed him:

"Go back to that woman and say to her:
 
Sister, since I have gone for refuge to the Three Jewels, nurturing my Dharma body and wisdom life, I have not intentionally taken the life of any living being.
 By the truth of these words, may you be safe!
 May your child be safe!"

Aṅgulimāla did as the Buddha instructed, and miraculously, both the mother and child were safe.
With a vow of truth arising from a mind completely free of anger and the intent to harm, Aṅgulimāla helped the woman relieve her suffering in childbirth. "Put down the butcher's knife, and become a Buddha on the spot." Aṅgulimāla's transformation stands as the perfect illustration of the Dharma gate of being unmovable in suchness.
 
The Yakṣa Who Fed on Anger

Imagine you're dining at a restaurant. You step away for a moment, and when you return, someone has taken your seat and is even helping themselves to your food! What would you do? Would you flare up and argue in anger, or could you shift your mind and let go of irritation?
In the Saṃyukta Āgama (SĀ 1107), the Buddha told a similar story:
Long ago, there was an extremely ugly yakṣa (a type of spirit). One day, as he passed by the Palace of Trayastrimsa Heaven, he noticed that the throne of Śakra, the Lord of Trayastrimsa Heaven, was empty. Seeing no one around, the yakṣa boldly sat down on it. When the deva youths saw this, they were furious:
 "How dare you, vile yakṣa, sit in the seat of Śakra!" "You wretched monster! Get down immediately!"
Their angry shouts filled the hall. Unexpectedly, the more they scolded and raged, the larger and more radiant the yakṣa grew, and the more at ease he appeared. It turned out that this was an "anger-eating yakṣa," the spirit who feeds on others' wrath!
 
The deva youths, determined to drive the yakṣa away, grew angry and yelled furiously. But the result was quite the opposite. Seeing that their fury only made things worse, the deva youths had no choice but to seek help from Śakra, the owner of the seat, and told him everything that had happened.

Śakra, who had long cultivated loving-kindness, merely smiled upon hearing the story. Surrounded by the other deva youths, he approached the yakṣa calmly. Adjusting his robe, exposing his right shoulder, and joining his palms, he gently said:
"The noble one, I am Śakra." He repeated this three times. The moment the yakṣa saw Śakra's respectful and kind demeanor, his body began to shrink, like a balloon slowly deflating until he finally vanished without a trace. After returning to his seat, Śakra told the deva youths: "Do not be angry; when you see anger, do not respond with anger.
Do not give rise to evil with evil; destroy pride and arrogance. One who neither harbors anger nor harms others—such a person is among the noble."

Our anger is like the anger-eating yakṣa; harsh words and resentment only feed it. When we face unpleasant people or situations, if we can guard our minds well and respond with compassion and tolerance, the discomfort within us will gradually subside. When the yakṣa finds nothing left to eat, it will simply disappear.
 
Does the Buddha Ever Get Angry?

When faced with insults or unreasonable behavior, most people find it hard not to be provoked by harsh words or actions. But what about the Buddha, who has attained complete enlightenment? Could he ever feel anger?
According to the Saṃyukta Āgama (SĀ 1152), during the Buddha's time there lived two Brahmin brothers who were very close. One day, the elder brother renounced the worldly life and became a disciple of the Buddha, which made the younger brother deeply resentful toward the Buddha.
One day, the younger brother, Bharadvāja, went to Anāthapiṇḍada's park at Jetavana to argue with the Buddha. As soon as Bharadvāja saw the Buddha, he began to hurl provocations. The Buddha, however, remained silent and calm, simply listening. Seeing that his insults had no effect, Bharadvāja became even more enraged. He grabbed a handful of dirt and threw it at the Buddha—but a gust of wind blew it back, covering himself in dust instead. Ashamed and confused, Bharadvāja demanded: “Gautama, why don't you get angry?”
 
The Buddha took the opportunity to teach him, saying: "One who knows how to discipline the self will not give rise to anger. An angry mind is like a runaway horse. It loses all reason and easily does things that bring regret. And when anger arises, the first one to be scorched by its flames is oneself. It's like the handful of dirt you just threw. The wind blew it back onto you. Thus, giving in to anger is truly a foolish and pointless act."
The Buddha went on to say that the one who does not return anger for anger is the greatest tamer of all. When we understand the reason behind another person's anger, we can stay calm and bring forth right mindfulness. By not letting the battle even begin, both we and the other person benefit.




 

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Resource: Issue 352 of Humanity Magazine, Dharma Drum Publishing Corporation
Photo: 菊子
Translation: Olivia 
Editing: Keith Brown, YKL