Dr. Vijai S Shankar MD.PhD.
Published on www.academy-advaita.com
The Netherlands
27th October 2017
Anger (1)
“Poison”
Anger is expressed by human beings. Anger is expressed either vocally through words or physically. Humans do not wish to express their anger but, nevertheless, they do express anger.
Humans resort to many means to prevent anger expressed by them. There are even anger management courses that anyone could attend. They may not express anger at the course, but there is no guarantee that they will not express anger elsewhere or for the course itself.
Divine blessings through prayer, a request for peace is made to God, but not a request for anger not to be expressed by them. They may be at peace while praying or while in a temple or church.
Humans, however, are not at peace while at home even though they pray at home. This is because anger is expressed at home with family or with friends in different situations by them.
Every spiritual book of every religion advocates that anger is to be avoided. Many read spiritual scriptures at home or in spiritual classes, but they nevertheless express anger at home at times or regularly.
Peers, friends, teachers and philosophers too advise not to express anger and that anger is not good. Anger breaks and does not build. Anger divides and does not unite.
But, despite all the various provisions and opportunities for humans not to express anger, anger is nevertheless expressed by humans. Families are divided and not united due to anger. Families are broken and not built due to anger.
So what could the deep understanding of anger be that would prevent anger from being expressed is the question that humans should ponder upon. Superficial understanding of anger suggests that anger is needed and is essential as well.
The deep understanding of anger is: anger is a poison you drink expecting to destroy the other, but anger destroys the one who expresses anger and not the other. When this deep understanding happens, man or woman lives in peace. Houses are built and not destroyed and families are united and not divided. Unconditional love unites a family and builds a house.
Author: Dr. Vijai S. Shankar
© Copyright V. S. Shankar 2017
Editor’s Note:
There is no lack of awareness of anger amongst human beings. It is a very common experience that may be regretted when it has subsided, justified though it may have seemed at the time. We know it is damaging, especially within a family, yet it may persist for a generation. Deep understanding of the destructive nature of anger that prevails even while the anger itself is arising, allows for unconditional love and unity.
Julian Capper, UK.
German Translator’s Note:
Compassion appears weak and less powerful than anger. The appearance is only to the conditioned mind, not to a wise mind. The wise understand that, as Dr. Shankar states it in this powerful article “Anger“, “anger destroys the one who expresses anger and not the other“. Compassion, therefore, first and foremost helps the one who expresses compassion, besides helping the other too. Being compassionate naturally enables to keep a calm and open mind and to preserve one’s own inner peace. The wise understanding of anger as presented by Dr. Shankar is the key to inner peace which will eventually lead to more outer peace too, with everybody we interact compassionately with.
Marcus Stegmaier, Germany.