Abstract

             This thesis entitled “A Study of the Way to Anger Inhibition Based on the Buddhist Integration” has three objectives: 1) to study the anger in Buddhist scriptures, 2) to study the Buddhist methods in inhibiting anger in Buddhist scriptures, and 3) to propose the Buddhist integrated ways to inhibit anger. This is a qualitative research done by studying documentaries and interviews.

             In the study, it was found that anger is the ill-mental state caused by internal and external factors giving rise harm to others. There are two traits of anger as follows: 1) the anger is precipitated by itself; it is caused by none named ‘Asaṁkhārikacitta’, 2) the anger is precipitated by external factor; it is caused by someone named ‘Sasaṁkhãrikacitta’. As far as the anger is concerned, it becomes the cause of scolding, gossips, quarrels, and vengeance leading to the great deal of destruction.

             In the Buddhist scriptures, the Buddhist methods to prevent are of: 1) speaking with mercifulness, 2) empowering one’s mind as the earth, 3) igniting one’s mind like space, 4) keeping one’s mind cool like water, 5) making one’s mind humble like a sack made from a cat’s skin, and 6) enduring and restraining one’s mind.

             In this research, the Buddhist integrated ways to inhabit anger gained by interviews of Buddhist scholars and general people were of six approaches as follows: 1) the inhibition of anger can be done by counting number 1-10, 2) the inhibition of anger can be consciously done through meditation practices, 3) the inhibition of anger can be done by changing one’s emotion through the sightseeing of environment, 4) the inhibition of anger can be done through the four sublime states of mind, loving kindness, compassion, sympathetic joy and equanimity, 5) the inhibition of anger can be cultivated through recalling Dhamma and the Buddha’s qualities, and 6) the inhibition of anger can be reduced by means of one’s mindfulness. Out of six methods, the first, the inhibition of anger done by counting number, is mostly deemed to be the effective method and being always applied by religious scholars and general people because such a count somehow leads to the amelioration of anger by bringing in immediate mindfulness and awareness.

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