Reconsidering the power of anger as a positive and necessary tool for achieving spiritual liberation and social change.
For many Buddhists, anger is often thought of as a root cause for suffering and lasting, negative repercussions. In American culture at large, anger--particularly among men of color--is delegitimized, demonized, or "supposed to be" suppressed. In this book, social activist and Kagyu lama Rod Owens offers a different understanding. For Owens, anger is one of the most important aspects of his personal identity as a Buddhist, social activist, African-American, and gay man. When denied or repressed, unconscious anger can have a negative impact with destructive repercussions. But when recognized and used mindfully, it can be a positive source of vitality, courage, and dedication as one travels the path of spiritual and social transformation. Anger serves as protectorate role as a bodyguard for our personal pain and suffering. When recognized and handled with
