How to quell ANGER and to dwell on METTA
- By Bhikkhu K Ñänananda

  1.

"If you restrain yourself like a broken bronze, you have already reached appeasement (nibbana) and there will be no cross-talk for you".
Danda Vagga, Dhammapada.

(Note - A broken bronze vessel does not give out reverberations or echoes, when struck).
2. 'I -see-no-error-made-which-I-could-not-have-made-Myself'
(i.e. given the same amount of delusion).
3.

"An antiseptic" for rash itchings and irritations that may come up while handling the suffering, erring, humanity.

Symptoms : nausea, c-a-r-ping(not coughing), holier-than thou' feeling, stiffness, righteous - indignation.

Contra indications : Discontinue treatment if self-pity sets in.
Directions for use : Just 'rub-it-in' to your self.
4.

"Large-heartedness" - the way to Deliverance of the heart through Metta (Metta cetovimutti).

 (i) Accommodation - No problem
 (Accept them with all their weaknesses)
 (ii) Reception - Cordial
 (Receive them with the warmth of friendship)
 (iii) Atmosphere - Free
 (Let them ventilate their grievances)
5. Switch on to Metta --- for a floodlit scene of a gloomy world.
6.

Veto - all hateful impulses - on the basis of the 5 ways of quelling malice

 (i) Monks, to whatsoever person malice is arisen, towards him loving-kindness (metta) should be developed.

 (ii) "Monks", to whatsoever person malice is arisen, towards him compassion should be developed.

 (iii) "Monks" to whatsoever person malice is arisen, towards him equanimity should be developed.

 (iv) "Monks" to whatsoever person malice is arisen, towards him un-mindfulness and inattention should be exercised.

 (v) "Monks" to whatsoever person malice is arisen, towards him the attitude of taking into account the fact that he is the owner of his own deeds should be adopted - "That venerable one is owner of his own deeds heir of his own deeds, deeds are the matrix for him, deeds are his kin, deeds are his refuge, he will become the heir of whatever deeds he does". Anguttara Nikaya III 184

7. 

The "bad-tempered" are good whetstones for Forbearance.

He works for the weal of both
His own and of the other
who on seeing the other enraged
mindfully calms himself down.
Sakka Samyutta, Samyutta Nikaya 122
8.

Get rid of your worn-out skin !

One occasion for ANGER is injured self-pride. Supposing you make a blunder and your friends are poking fun at you. The best thing to do now, is to have a hearty laugh at yourself - to join with them in poking fun at yourself. Your friends will soon realize that now there is no one to poke fun at - no real object for any malicious delight - for they are now pelting stones at the discarded worn-out skin of a serpent.

He who can curb his wrath
as soon as it arises
like timely antidote will check
snake's venom that so quickly spreads
such monk gives up the
here and beyond
just as a serpent sheds
its worn-out skin.
Uraga Sutta - Sutta Nipata
9. PLEAD - for your client - the Accused, before the prejudiced judge "Anger N'Hate"
10. How best to treat a 'patient' who is angry and hateful towards you :
 i. Bathe him with "METTA" - water - to cool him down.
 ii. Apply fragrant "METTA" - soap - to remove his dirt of hate.
 iii. Use the "METTA" - towel on him - that he may not catch the chill of remorse.
 iv. Sooth him with "METTA" - balm - to cure his irritations and old wounds.
11. Build the bund of Khanti' - (forberance) - well above the level of the marshy wasteland of ill-will and turn the river of METTA to overflow it in cascades.
12. Metta enables you to discover uncut - diamonds where earlier you found mere chunks of charcoal.
13. A word of METTA leaves pleasing overtones for others and serene undertones for oneself.