Buddhism, at the core of its teaching, is concerned with the relief from suffering, and arguably trauma in par- ticular. Yet, recognition of potential complications in mindfulness practice related to previous trauma raised a need for contemporary trauma-informed Buddhist prac- tice. Anger is one aspect of trauma, and Buddhist ap- proaches to anger can be categorized into three broad ap- proaches: cognitive-attentional contemplative techniques, mindful awareness of anger, and heart-anger. These ap- proaches have various advantages and potential pitfalls in the context of trauma. Polyvagal theory can support Bud- dhist practice with anger, including using the cognitive-at- tentional practices combined with mindfully held anger or heart-anger. The practical application of Buddhist ap- proaches to anger in a trauma-informed framework will be explored, using the Plum Village style of practice as a case study.
