Anger is the result of an expectation / desire not met!
Gita addresses the cause and guides us to be aware of & to manage the causes, a very proactive approach indeed.
Below are a few references from Gita related to what leads to Anger :
- Chap 2 : v 62 & v 63 mention the 8 Sliding Steps or the downward spiral , where Anger is in centre!
- Thoughts about worldly objects ( usually after we see or hear about them or smell some food!)
- Attachment to the object ( we think about it and then get attached)
- Desire ( I like, I want, I must have)
- Unfulfilled (when we don't get it!!!)
- Anger
- Delusion (reasoning is lost and just the desire & the sorrow of of not happening fills you up)
- Loss of Memory ( forget that did not have, it was a desire and forget learnings that desire is cause of suffering)
- Destruction (one has lost self control, shouting, being upset and so on)
- Chap 2 : v 71 pointer to peace : No to I, Mine, Desire & Attachment. It my thoughts, my expectations & my desires. Being aware that the more I , Me , Mine we have, more are possibilities of Anger & hence delusion etc.
- Chap 3 : v 37 anger is born from Rajas, our own thoughts. Rajas relates to activity and acquisitions. These are closely related to "I did that" or "I have that" or "I want that"...again boils down to "I"
- Chap 4 : v 36 & 38 mentions that worst sinner can also reach God. So despite having had anger & its consequences, there is hope. This is to give hope to all people who have had anger in their lives that they can move on.
- Sensory organs leading to desires and the non fulfilment leads to anger , these are are referred to in
- Chap 5 : v 22 Pleasure derived from sense organs lead to sorrow / anger. First there is effort to fulfil this desire (instead of some other!), then in maintaining the object, then fear of loosing it . Each pleasure comes with related sorrow.
- Chap 6 : v 16 Moderation.
- Chap 8 : v 16 All is perishable. All except Atman is perishable. What we have as well as what we desire will perish.
- Chap 16 : v 21. This verse mentions the 3 Gates to hell, one is Anger (Desire, Anger & Greed )
Buddha has a famous quote "Desire is the cause of all suffering"
In Sikhism, in the Ardaas it says " Kaam, Krodh, Lobh, Moh & Ahankar to bachana" ( Protect me from worldly desires, Anger, Greed, Attachment & Ego)
A Related Story
NAILS IN THE WALL
Make sure you read all the way down to the last sentence.
(Most importantly the last sentence)
There once was a little boy who had a bad temper.
His Father gave him a bag of nails and told him that every time he lost his temper,he must hammer a nail into the back of the wall.
The first day the boy had driven 37 nails into the wall.
Over the next few weeks, as he learnt to control his anger, the number of nails hammered daily gradually dwindled down.
He discovered it was easier to hold his temper than to drive those nails into the wall.
Finally the day came when the boy didn't lose his temper at all. He told his father about it and the father suggested that the boy now pull out one nail for each day that he was able to hold his
temper.
The days passed and the young boy was finally able to tell his father that all the nails were gone.
The father took his son by the hand and led him to the wall.
He said, 'You have done well, my son, but look at the holes in the wall.
The wall will never be the same. When you say things in anger, they leave a scar just like this one.
Once you hurt your loved ones It won't matter how many times you say I'm sorry, the wound will still be there.
A verbal wound is as bad as a physical one.
Remember that friends are very rare jewels indeed.
They make you smile and encourage you to succeed;
They lend an ear, they share words of praise and they always want to open their hearts to us. Show your friends how much you care.
NAILS IN THE WALL
Make sure you read all the way down to the last sentence.
(Most importantly the last sentence)
There once was a little boy who had a bad temper.
His Father gave him a bag of nails and told him that every time he lost his temper,he must hammer a nail into the back of the wall.
The first day the boy had driven 37 nails into the wall.
Over the next few weeks, as he learnt to control his anger, the number of nails hammered daily gradually dwindled down.
He discovered it was easier to hold his temper than to drive those nails into the wall.
Finally the day came when the boy didn't lose his temper at all. He told his father about it and the father suggested that the boy now pull out one nail for each day that he was able to hold his
temper.
The days passed and the young boy was finally able to tell his father that all the nails were gone.
The father took his son by the hand and led him to the wall.
He said, 'You have done well, my son, but look at the holes in the wall.
The wall will never be the same. When you say things in anger, they leave a scar just like this one.
Once you hurt your loved ones It won't matter how many times you say I'm sorry, the wound will still be there.
A verbal wound is as bad as a physical one.
Remember that friends are very rare jewels indeed.
They make you smile and encourage you to succeed;
They lend an ear, they share words of praise and they always want to open their hearts to us. Show your friends how much you care.
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