In Roland Merullo’s marvelous book “Breakfast with Buddha” a harried and overwhelmed American middle-aged man is talked into driving a Buddhist monk across the country. As the beginning of the journey, everything upsets the driver: traffic, talk-radio hosts, politics, his sister, and even the mellow monk who just appreciates everything he encounters with peaceful equanimity. At key crisis points in the narrative, the monk asks the driver, “Why so angry?”
Who benefits from the mosque/ground zero controversy? No one. Just a lot of angry people demanding the other side see things their way. Anger has a feel good power and can be powerfully addictive, but it is ultimately harmful to all.
Rather than fight, ask yourself, “Why so angry?” You may find there is nothing to be angry about.
Do not yell, “You’re wrong!”
Anger causes suffering.
So…why so angry?
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