Abstract
How is Moral Pain Different from “Righteous Indignation”? Simple anger is a reflex when something or some person obstructs our plans, and we may even kick the ground through frustration. Anger proper is based on a belief that there is an offence committed to oneself and the desire to set the offence right or retaliate. Indignation is the anger over a moral principle we cherish, for example, a friend who spreads gossip about one’s weaknesses breaking the basic ingredients of a genuine friendship, which calls for good advice rather than damaging gossip. There can be complex social issues like the raping of young girls in India recently—what do we do with our anger ? It is not just a concern that benefits an individual far away from the scene but it touches deep human values in an objective way. I cite below a personal story which was a blend of moral pain and moral anger.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Abbreviations
- A:
-
Anguttara Nikaya (Gradual Sayings)
- D:
-
Digha Nikaya (Further Dialogues)
- M:
-
Majjhima Nikaya (Middle Length Sayings)
- S:
-
Samyutta Nikaya (Kindred Sayings)
References
Cayoun, B. (2015). Wellbeing and personal growth. Oxford: Wiley.
Chodron, P. (2007). The places that scare you (p. 12). Boston: Shambhala.
Dalai Lama, & Ekman, P. (2008). Emotional awareness. New York: Times Books.
Davidson, R. J., & Begley, S. (2013). The emotional life of your brain. New York: Penguin.
Hanh, T. N. (2001). Anger: Buddhist wisdom for cooling the flames. London: Rider.
McRae, E. (2015). Metabolizing anger: A tantric Buddhist solution to the problem of moral anger. Philosophy East and West, 65(2), 466–484.
Nyanaponika Mahathero. (1986). The power of mindfulness. Kandy: Buddhist Publication Society.
Wallace, B. A. (2007). Contemplative science. New York: Columbia University Press.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2017 The Author(s)
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
de Silva, P. (2017). Moral Pain. In: Emotions and The Body in Buddhist Contemplative Practice and Mindfulness-Based Therapy. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-55929-2_11
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-55929-2_11
Published:
Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-319-55928-5
Online ISBN: 978-3-319-55929-2
eBook Packages: Behavioral Science and PsychologyBehavioral Science and Psychology (R0)