Discourse on
Five Ways of Putting an End to Anger
I heard these words of the
Buddha one time when he was staying in the Anathapindika Monastery
in the Jeta Grove near the town of Shravasti.
One day the Venerable
Shariputra said to the monks, “Friends, today I want to share with
you five ways of putting an end to anger: Please listen carefully
and put into practice what I teach.”
The Bhikshus agreed and
listened carefully.
The Venerable Shariputra
then said: “What are these five ways of putting an end to
anger?
“This is the first way. My
friends, if there is someone whose bodily action are not kind but
whose words are kind, if you feel anger toward that person but you
are wise, you will know how to meditate in order to put an end to
your anger.
“My friends, say there is a
bhikshu practicing asceticism who wears a patchwork robe. One day
he is going past a garbage pile filled with excrement, urine,
mucus, and many other filthy things, and he sees in the pile one
piece of cloth still intact. Using his left hand, he picks up the
piece of cloth, and he takes the other end and stretches it out
with his right hand. He observes that this piece of cloth is not
torn and has not been stained by excrement, urine, sputum, or other
kinds of filth. So he folds it and puts it away to take home, wash,
and sew into his patchwork robe. My friends, if we are wise, when
someone’s bodily actions are not kind but his words are kind, we
should not pay attention to his unkind bodily actions, but only be
attentive to his kind words. This will help us put an end to our
anger.
My friends, this is the
second method. If you become angry with someone whose words are not
kind but whose bodily actions are kind, if you are wise, you will
know how to meditate in order to put an end to your
anger.
“My friends say that not far
from the village there is a deep lake, and the surface of that lake
is covered with algae and grass. There is someone who comes near
that lake is covered with algae and grass. There is someone who
comes near that lake who is very thirsty, suffering greatly from
the heat. He takes off his clothes, jumps into the water, and using
his hands to clear away algae and grass, enjoys bathing and
drinking the cool water from the lake. It is the same, my friends,
with someone whose words are not kind but whose bodily actions are
kind. Do not pay attention to that person’s words. Only be
attentive to his bodily actions in order to be able to put an end
to your anger. Someone who is wise should practice in this
way.
“Here is the third method,
my friends. If there is someone whose bodily actions and words are
not kind, but who still has a little kindness in his heart, if you
feel anger toward that person and are wise, you will know how to
meditate to put an end to your anger.
My friends, say there is
someone going to a crossroads. She is weak, thirsty, poor, hot,
deprived, and filled with sorrow. When she arrives at the
crossroads, she sees a buffalo’s footprint with a little stagnant
rainwater in it. She thinks to herself ‘There is a very little
water in this buffalo’s footprint. If I use my hand or a leaf to
scoop it up, I will stir it up and it will become muddy and
undrinkable. Therefore I will have to kneel down with my arms and
knees on the earth, put my lips right to the water, and drink it
directly.’ Straightaway, she does just that. My friends, when you
see someone whose bodily actions and words are not kind, but where
there is still a little kindness in her heart, do not pay attention
to her actions and words, but to the little kindness that is in her
heart so that you may put an end to your anger. Someone who is wise
should practice in that way.
“This is the fourth method,
my friends. If there is someone whose words and bodily actions are
not kind, and in whose heart there is nothing that can be called
kindness, if you are angry with that person and you are wise, you
will know how to meditate in order to put an end to your
anger.
“My friends suppose there is
someone on a long journey who falls sick. He is alone, completely
exhausted, and not near any village. He falls into despair, knowing
that he will die before completing his journey. If at that point,
someone comes along and sees this man’s situation, she immediately
takes the man’s hand and leads him to the next village, where she
takes care of him, treats his illness, and makes sure he has
everything he needs by way of clothes, medicine, and food. Because
of this compassion and loving kindness, the man’s life is saved.
Just so, my friends, when you see someone whose words and bodily
action are not kind, is someone whose words and bodily actions are
not kind and in whose heart there is nothing that can be called
kindness, is someone who is undergoing great suffering. Unless he
meets a good spiritual friend, there will be no chance for him to
transform and go to the realms of happiness.’ Thinking like this,
you will be able to open your heart with love and compassion toward
that person. You will be able to put an end to your anger and help
that person. Someone who is wise should practice like
this.
“My friends, this is the
fifth method. If there is someone whose bodily actions are kind,
whose words are kind, and whose mind is also kind, if you are angry
with that person and you are wise, you will know how to mediate in
order to put an end to your anger.
“My friends suppose that not
far from the village there is a very beautiful lake. The water in
the lake is clear and sweet, the bed of the lake is even, the banks
of the lake are lush with green grass and all around the lake, and
beautiful fresh trees give shade. Someone who is thirsty, suffering
from heat, whose body is covered in sweat, comes to the lake, takes
off his clothes, leaves them on shore, jumps down into water, and
finds great comfort and enjoyment in drinking and bathing in pure
water. His heat, thirst, and suffering disappear immediately. In
the same way, my friends, when you see someone whose bodily action
are kind, whose words are kind, and whose mind is also kind, give
your attention to all his kindness of body, speech and mind, and do
not allow anger or jealousy to overwhelm you. If you do not know
how to live happily with someone who is as fresh as that, you
cannot be called someone who has wisdom.
“My dear friends, I have
shared with you the five ways of putting an end to
anger.”
When the Bhikshus heard the
Venerable Shariputra’s words, they were happy to receive them and
put them into practice.
Madhyama Agama
25
(Corresponds with Aghata
Vinaya Sutta)
(Discourse on water as an
example), Anguttara Nikaya 111, 186)