Anger is one of the three mental poisons, along with attachment and ignorance, which lie at the root of all afflictive emotions and are considered primary causes of suffering in Buddhist teachings. Anger often arises when attachment does not get what it wants.

Anger manifests as a distorted mental state that exaggerates or falsely projects negative qualities onto people, objects, or situations. Unlike the exaggeration of positive attributes in greed, anger involves aversion—pushing away what is perceived as undesirable. This mental poison clouds judgment, destroys inner peace, and often leads to harmful actions through speech and behavior that damage relationships and cause regret.

Buddhist teachings recognize anger as a form of suffering that compounds itself—the initial trigger may be small, but anger amplifies it, creating additional pain. The antidotes to anger include patience (khanti), loving-kindness (metta), and understanding that anger hurts the one who holds it more than its target. By recognizing the arising anger, practitioners can apply mindfulness to observe it without being overwhelmed and gradually transform reactive patterns into compassionate responses.

To work with anger, Buddhist teachings encourage recognition and investigation of how it affects the mind and relationships, as well as the gradual transformation of reactive emotions into wisdom and care.

Anger is one of the three mental poisons, along with greed and ignorance, that distort our perception, fuel suffering, and obstruct clarity. In Buddhist teachings, it is seen as a reactive state that exaggerates negativity and arises when desires are not met.

Observe how anger appears in your body and mind during daily life. When irritation arises, pause and name the feeling. Reflect on what triggered it and whether your expectations or attachments played a role. Try applying a contemplative strategy, such as mindfulness of breath, a shift in perspective, or recalling someone else’s good qualities, and notice what happens to the anger. How does it feel to stay present with it without acting on it?

• How might unmet desires or expectations contribute to feelings of aversion or irritation?
• What strategies help you transform reactive moments into opportunities for clarity and care?
• How does anger obscure our ability to see things clearly?

Analyze anger as a mental state that projects exaggerated negativity onto situations or people, and evaluate how it arises from unmet desires and leads to further confusion and suffering; then implement contemplative practices such as mindfulness, patience, and perspective-taking to recognize triggers and gradually transform reactive habits into balanced responses that support emotional clarity and compassion.