ANGER
“Anger” is loss of temperament. It
is violent, offensive, and destructive. It can seldom be constructive or creative.
It loses friends and gains foes and opponents.
Some synonyms of anger are: rage,
fury, indignation, wrath, vexation, ire, outrage, fret and vexation. .
Religions forbid outburst of anger.
In Hinduism it is one of the six internal enemies and a gateway to hell; in
Buddhism it is known as one of the three “unwholesome roots” or poisons that
cause suffering, hinder spiritual progress, and damage not only the one who entertains
anger but also others. Islam believes
that it is a temptation from Satan
(Shaytan) and controlling it is a sign of gigantic strength and piety; in
Sikhism anger destroys inner peace and separates the soul from God; in Christianity although it is considered a
natural human emotion, it becomes dangerous when it leads to sinful actions,
bitterness, or revenge.
Some remedies are: when angry, breathe
deeply; count 1 to 10; respond calmly not impulsively; get away from the triggering
situation; take a brisk walk; listen to some soothing music; use humour that lightens
the mood.
In his book The Path To Tranquility His Holiness The Dalai Lama says: I myself still occasionally
become irritated and angry and use harsh words towards others. Then, a few
moments later when the anger has subsided, I feel embarrassed; the negative
words are already spoken, and there is no way to take them back. Although the
words have been uttered and the sound of the voice has ceased to exist, their
impact still lives on. Hence, the only thing I can do is to go to the person
and apologize, isn’t that right.”
The Chinese philosopher Confucius (died
479 BC) said: When anger rises, think of the consequences.
According to the Roman statesman,
stoic philosopher and dramatist (Died 65 in Rome, Italy): Anger, if not
restrained , is frequently more hurtful to us than the injury that provokes it.
Finally, these words of Plato the Greek
philosopher (5th century BCE) : He best keeps from anger who
remembers that God is always looking upon him.
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G.R.Kanwal
28 February 2026
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