How Buddhism Teaches Anger and Forgiveness

Buddhism offers many insights into the topic of anger and forgiveness. Buddhist teachings suggest peaceful, non-violent ways in order to prevent suffering and anger. The eightfold path teaches ways to relieve suffering and anger. Zen Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh preaches compassion as a way to fully comprehend forgiveness. The Buddhist path is one that offers many ways to show compassion for fellow men, the earth, as well as every day conflicts.

One of the characteristics of Buddhist reality is “dukkha”, which is translated as suffering. The Buddhist understanding of suffering is more of a dissatisfaction or dis-ease with life. This is caused by the constant change that comes with living in the physical world. Even when experiencing a pleasurable time, we are dissatisfied because the moment is fleeting. For example when one homework assignment is completed, we know that soon there will be another. People try to organize their lives but unpredictable things such as death and natural disasters throw life back into a state of disorganization. These things are all examples of dukkha (Ellwood, McGraw, 121-123).

The Buddha stated that to live means to inescapably experience sorrow and dissatisfaction. Each new obstacle needs to be analyzed and understood so a solution can be found. Suffering cannot be avoided but the four noble truths indicate how each person can respond to it (Ellwood, McGraw, 121).

The first noble truth states that to live is to suffer (Ellwood, McGraw, 122). With a body comes decay and pain, and with the mind comes trouble and discouragement. Each day requires us to decide what to do with our lives and what we have to do in order to achieve happiness. Daily life becomes a to-do list which can lead to frustra...

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...he Buddhist principals of nonviolence, compassion, and understanding. His work earned him a nomination for a Nobel peace prize. A life of following the eightfold path and practicing Ahimsa taught him the true meaning of compassion and forgiveness. With that he was able to help thousands of people and show them the true meaning of life. His knowledge of suffering and insight into human nature allowed him to be patient and peacefully make change. Not only did he work to repair things in Vietnam, but he touched many lives and through that his work will continue to be done through others.

Works Cited

Doblmeier, Martin. "Compassion, the Antidote". Sojourners. March 22, 2010

Ellwood, Robert, and Barbara McGraw. Many Peoples, Many Faiths. New Jersey: Pearson

Education, Inc., 2009.