Show Guide
Understanding Anger
Divisions of Anger
Abandoning Anger
 

*NOTE: During the first airing of The Lotus Heart we incurred several difficulties that impaired transmission. Trying to read from a text and receiving error prompts on my computer made it hard for it to flow smoothly. Sometimes I couldn't be heard and sometimes my computer wouldn't register my voice, therefore there was no continuity within the show. Not to mention it cut me off and then kicked me off of the internet. Needless to say, I went and purchased a new sound card and a new mic/headset system that will preclude any further problems.   
 
The LOTUS HEART is an online talk show that is designed to facilitate a familiarization with Buddhist doctrine and practices. The medium of choice will be group discussion, and on some occasions, interviews with various teachers will also be broadcasted. My function is primarily concerned with moderating the discussions, as well as creating the topic of conversation for each show. For those of you who would like to request a specific area of Buddhist practice for discussion, just email me. The show will be broadcasted every Sunday at 9:30am, unless something unforeseen intercedes and delays airing.

The purpose of this page is to be a topic guide for each scheduled show. Below you will see the subject matter for April 8, 2001's show, if you have any questions or would like to mention anything in advance, just email me ahead of time.        
 
Understanding Anger: Understanding the nature of anger, or more specifically the nature of the mental complex that is trapped by the illusion of anger, has been a difficult part of Buddhist practice for some. Anger can be an intense form of suffering that leads to residual forms of anguish. By comprehending its dependently related parts, you can begin to dissolve its hold on you.      
 
Divisions of Anger: As stated, anger is a deluded mental state that perceives its subject as aversive, exaggerates its nature, and desires to inflict harm upon it because of the manifested antipathy. Anger can be divided into several categories, from subtle to gross types. For example, anger towards an individual who has harmed us, is harming us, might harm us, or all three but directed towards someone we care about. 
 
 
Abandoning Anger: Anger can be dissolved by procuring a direct realization of emptiness. However, at the initial stages one could also analytically meditate upon the compositional factors that comprise anger. From there, we can slowly break down the illusion that traps our state of mind.   
 
 
 
Below are two questions that are being asked for this show. We hope that you take the time and answer these questions, when the show airs, you will be able to type your responses in the questionnaire boxes. Thank you. 

How do you deal with anger in your Buddhist practice?

What makes you angry the most?