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The Buddha compared anger with picking up hot coals with one's bare hands and trying to throw them at the person with whom one is angry. Who gets burned first? The one who is angry of course.
Ayya Khema
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Interpretation

What this quote means

Anger harms the angry person more than anyone else.

This quote by Ayya Khema illustrates the self-destructive nature of anger. It highlights that when we harbor anger, we are often the ones who suffer the most, akin to picking up hot coals; it is an act of self-harm more than an offense to the target of our rage.

Themes

AngerSelf-HarmWisdomSufferingMindfulness

In practice

Example use cases

During a workshop on emotional health, a speaker shared this quote to illustrate the dangers of holding onto anger.

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