Anger is Energy

[Adapted from: Lama Surya Das, Thich Nhat Hanh]

Anger is an emotion. It is energy. It is natural. Similar to fear, it has its own wisdom & intelligence as a part of our survival equipment with which we are born. Anger need not to be suppressed. We do not need to get rid of the energy that comes with strong emotions such as fear or anger. Rather, we need to look at our relationship to these emotions. When the energy of anger arises it could be a signal to turn the attention from the object (what is out there) to the subject (our self).

Anger is an energy that we need to hold with tenderness and compassion. The energy of anger comes from within not without. Each time there is the energy of anger we should call upon the energy of mindfulness, compassion, and loving-kindness. We bring the attention to the anger, make room for it, and take care of it. The sun shines on, circulates around, and penetrates the flower. The flower opens up to the energy of the sun. So, too, mindful compassion and loving-kindness do not merely circulate around the anger, they penetrate the anger and open it up to transformation.

Thich Nhat Hanh says when angry, simply bring your attention to mindful breathing, breathing in “I know I am angry,” breathing out “I am taking good care of my anger.” By doing this, you embrace your anger with the energy of mindfulness; this alone will transform the energy of anger. Neglecting anger is to leave a hungry and crying child unattended—it will cry louder.

The energy of anger has some danger if not cared for mindfully. It can ultimately turn to rage, hatred, or violence. With energy of anger lucidity can be lost. You call upon the energy of mindfulness and loving kindness to care for and transform anger.

Lama Surya Das identifies 5 steps to mindful anger management:

1. acknowledge/experience/feel it
2. allow the presence of anger
3. reflect/analyze/scrutinize/cradle it
4. recognize its impermanence, and
5. respond (not react).
   

Response to anger could be one or a combination of:

• letting go,

• responding constructively and or creatively, and

• calling upon the energy of loving-kindness and compassion.

“The true battlefield is the heart of men” Dostoevsky