Seventeenth Chapter: Dhammapada
Seventeenth Chapter: Dhammapada
On Anger
221. Give up anger, give up pride, and free yourself from the worldly bondage. No sorrow can touch those who try not to possess people and things.
222. Those who hold back their anger–a speeding chariot, are real charioteers. Others merely hold the reins.
223. Overcome anger by peacefulness, overcome unkindness by kindness, overcome greed through generosity and falsehood by truth.
224. Do not yield to anger. Give freely even if you have but little: this will lead you to gods.
225. The wise do not hurt any living being and are self-controlled. They enter the state of peace beyond sorrow.
226. Those who are watchful, who observe themselves day and night, and strive continually for Nirvana, enter the state of peace beyond all selfish passions.
227. There is an old saying: “People blame you if you are silent, they blame you if you speak too much and they blame you if you speak just enough.” No one in this world escapes blame.
228-230. There never was and there never will be anyone who receives all blame or all praise. But who can blame those who are wise and good and meditative? They shine like a coin of pure gold. Even the gods praise them, even Brahma the Creator.
231-233. Use your body for doing good, not for doing harm. Train it to follow the Dharma. Use your tongue for doing good, not for doing harm. Train it to speak kindly. Use your mind for doing good, not for doing harm. Train your mind to love.
234. The wise are disciplined in body, speech, and mind. They are well controlled indeed.
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As I Understand It:
Anger is everywhere. When we indulge in anger over and over again it becomes a habit. Angry mind is out of control. After a burst of anger we suffer. But while we are angry we feel in command, a few moments of anger makes us feel good. Yet, after we have vented our pent up emotions we feel fragmented and hurt. At the moment of rising anger watch it and see it subside down. Re-channelize it’s energy, it is powerful.
Watching and guarding anger each time it rises, also becomes a habit. Practice it.
Cultivate not getting angry as one cultivates kindness and patience, by practice. Through practice we can eradicate anger from our personality. When angry thoughts are erased from the mind, it gains a state that has positive energy that can be used for spiritual growth.
The Buddha urged his disciples to give up anger.
Those who free themselves from anger, conquer suffering.
Where anger is absent, suffering dare not come.
Pay attention to your intentions and practice guarding your mind, tongue and limbs.
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Suggested Reading:
The Dhammapada: The Path of Perfection, Translation and Introduction by Juan Mascaro, Penguin Books. 1973. Penguin Group, England.
The Dhammapada, Translated for the Modern Reader by Eknath Easwaran, Nilgiri Press. 1985. Blue Mountain Center of Meditation, California.