ANGER

Anger (kodha) is the feeling of negativity experienced when one's desires are frustrated. The Buddha said that because of anger's ability to churn up the mind, it is one of the most destructive of all human emotions. The Saundrànandakàvya  says:  `Another person in this world may not be harmed by a mind of hateful intentions, but the person with such a mind is burned up immediately. Therefore, you should choose love and compassion towards all living creatures, rather than hatred and aggression.'

Buddhist psychology recognizes numerous expressions and intensities of anger Ý mild irritation, annoyance, bad-temperedness, exasperation, fury, resentment, umbrage, etc, and offers a wide variety of techniques to deal with them. It is, of course, necessary to hold anger in check, but beyond that one has to deal with its roots. There is a strong relationship between anger and desire Ý the stronger our desire, the angrier we get when that desire is frustrated. Thus, the first step in coming to terms with anger is modifying desires. Anger will, however, only be completely eliminated when the ego or sense of self is understood.