Peace of Mind: How To Oust Anger From Our Lives

By Shashin

Most of us experience anger in some form or other almost every day. Anger is a negative emotion; it can cause violence, it can ruin relationships, it can lead to serious illnesses and it is known to kill. Yet, few make the effort to try and overcome this emotion. So anger continues to affect millions worldwide.

As children, we are taught to contain anger. An angry child is asked to be quiet. This is the conventional approach. As a result, the anger is suppressed. When we are angry and we try to appear as though we"re not, we are in effect masking the emotion. Children throw tantrums - an expression of anger - and get rid of the discomfort. Grown-ups on the other hand end up bottling it within. So the negativity gets buried deeper and deeper into the unconscious. Expression and suppression of anger, in the final analysis, are both injurious to health - to the individual, as well as to the community. Many of us are edgy and nervous, and could explode at the slightest pro-vocation. This could eventually lead to a nervous breakdown.

Anger impacts our body in several ways. Angry people are more likely to suffer from high blood pressure, hypertension and cardiac diseases. Very hostile persons are especially susceptible to life-threatening stress-related disorders. Negative emotions like anger tend to release harmful toxins in the body.

Angry outbursts lead to chain reactions. Angry reactions help perpetuate violence.

It is important to first admit the fact to ourselves that yes, we do lose our temper now and then, especially when under stress. That is the first step to help us overcome the emotion. After an angry outburst, we either regret it or try and justify it. Strangely, though, most of us somehow manage to rein in the urge to express anger when we know it could lead to a disastrous situation like losing a job, relative or friend. Whether we are angry with someone or someone is angry with us, each outburst takes its toll on both parties. Recently, metros have witnessed the horrors of road rage, where stress and vexation have led to violence and even killings.

Once Buddha was sitting on the bank of a river and a man came and spat at him. Enraged, Buddha'sdisciples sought his permission to punish the insolent intruder. Gently wiping his face the Buddha thanked the man for giving him the opportunity to test if anger could overpower him. Buddha requested him to come again whenever he had an urge to spit.

Buddha'sresponse shook the offender. He had acted deliberately to outrage the Buddha and had failed. The Enlightened One'scalm face and compassionate eyes haunted him. Unable to forgive himself, early next morning the man fell at the Buddha'sfeet and cried for forgiveness. Pointing to the flowing water Buddha asked him to forget it, as it was past. To be a Buddha means to be in a state of awareness. True to his name, he did not react. The visitor realised Buddha was a normal man and no avatar, who had meditated for several years to transcend the ego and had attained a realised state. Tears rolled down his eyes and he was transformed. We can derive inspiration from this story to try and overcome anger.

Meditation is a great enabler. Osho said: "The religious man tries to understand, not to control. He becomes more meditative simply watches, tries to understand what anger is, and in that very understanding he transcends. He becomes a witness, and in his witnessing the anger melts as if the sun has risen and the snow has started melting".

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See also: Peace of Mind, Peace on Earth, Life and Beyond, Love and Happiness, Body Mind and Soul

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