Anger is a natural emotion, yet it can be harmful if not managed skillfully. The Buddha taught that anger is one of the three poisons (alongside greed and delusion) and can lead to suffering if we let it control us. However, not all people react to anger in the same way.
In Aṅguttara Nikāya sutta AN4.110, the Buddha described four types of vipers. He likened them to the four types of human behaviour when it comes to anger:
- those who anger easily and hold on to it for a long time;
- those who anger easily but let go of it quickly;
- those who rarely get angry but hold on to it for a long time; and lastly
- those who rarely get angry and let go of it quickly.
Anger is an unskillful behavior, but we can learn to manage it wisely with practice. Which type of person are you when it comes to anger? Why do we get angry? What are some effective methods to handle anger?
Listen to Bhante’s talk on the four types of human behavior in anger and how to overcome it with wisdom.
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