Impossible Anger: Ancient Wisdom for Eliminating Upset from Your Life

Impossible Anger: Transforming Your Relationship with Upset

In an age where stress and conflict seem to escalate, DCI’s Level 10 course “Impossible Anger” offers a radical perspective: it is possible to remove the root causes of anger entirely. As Geshe Michael Roach explains, this is not about “managing” anger — a term he considers misleading — but reaching a state where anger simply cannot arise. This groundbreaking program goes beyond irritation control, addressing the deep-seated causes of upset, jealousy, and resentment, and showing how to eradicate them completely.

The Vision Behind “Impossible Anger”

“If you take this course for a few weeks, you’re on your way to a place where nothing can upset you and nothing can get you angry.” (2:55)

Geshe Michael invests significant time in naming each DCI level, aiming to distinguish it from generic programs on emotions. He rejects the idea of “anger management,” emphasizing that true change comes from eliminating the underlying seeds of upset. Drawing from 2,500 years of Asian wisdom, he describes anger as a form of insanity — a hallucination — and explains that by understanding its true nature, we can remove it entirely.

Ancient Sources and Rare Translations

The course draws from a library of ancient Asian texts in eight distinct languages, translated by a dedicated team over decades. Many of these works differentiate between various “flavors” of anger, from simmering resentment to explosive rage, offering remedies tailored to each type. This includes intermediate treatments for everyday situations and ultimate methods that clear the mind at its deepest level.

“Jealousy is actually a kind of hatred and a kind of anger… it’s called slow-burning fuse.” (10:22)

Jealousy, in this tradition, is not separate from anger but a quieter, more insidious form — the wish to see others lose what they have so you might gain it. This perspective reframes many daily frustrations as forms of anger we might not normally recognize.

Understanding Anger as a Hallucination

“All anger by definition involves a major hallucination.” (12:38)

From the standpoint of ancient wisdom, the person or situation you are angry at is “not really there” in the way you perceive it. This insight forms the ultimate method in the course — seeing through the illusion so completely that anger becomes impossible. Eliminating anger in this way not only frees up immense amounts of time but also protects the countless seeds of good fortune planted in one’s mind.

Two Approaches: Ultimate and Practical

The manual offers two complementary approaches. The ultimate method uses deep philosophical insight to dissolve anger permanently. The practical method provides step-by-step strategies for reducing smaller upsets, creating the clarity needed for deeper change. Participants are encouraged to identify their personal “specialty” in anger from among ten types described in the manual, then apply the specific antidotes provided.

Lessons from Real Life

“I never saw him lose his temper — even after a million-dollar loss with no insurance.” (25:27)

Geshe Michael shares a powerful example from his business life: working for 19 years with a partner who never once lost his temper, even under extreme stress. This role model, combined with the guidance of his teacher, demonstrated that calm under pressure is achievable. Such examples show that the course’s principles are not theoretical, but can be lived in high-stakes situations.

The Cost of Anger

“Anger is a stupid ugly guy and he doesn’t deserve my golden lifetime.” (36:37)

Anger wastes irreplaceable time. It multiplies itself, turning minutes of irritation into hours or days of distraction. Removing anger is not just about emotional well-being — it’s about reclaiming the most precious resource we have. It also ensures that thousands of potential future upsets become “non-events,” as their causes are eliminated in the present moment.

Destroying Good Seeds

In seed-system terms, anger can destroy millions of good seeds for future happiness. The course teaches methods to protect these seeds, reinforcing that mastering patience is a safeguard for one’s long-term well-being.

Why Study Anger Now

Though the world may feel more violent in recent years, historical perspective shows progress. Geshe Michael reflects on the ongoing “incest of great minds” — how profound ideas are preserved and amplified by generations of moral geniuses. He suggests that humanity can evolve beyond primitive methods of conflict through the consistent application of wisdom and the seed system, making lasting peace possible.

Key Moments