PREFACE
Anger is a weakness, but people think of it as strength. The
one who does not get angry possesses more inner strength than
the one who gets angry.
A person usually becomes angry when things do not go his
way, when he is misunderstood by another person, or when his
viewpoints clash with another’s viewpoints. We become angry
when we are accused of being wrong, when we think we are
right. Our perception causes us to believe that we are right.
According to the other person, he believes that he is right.
Because we do not know how to reason and because, we have
no foresight or intuition, we become angry.
When we are insulted, we become angry. We become
angry when we incur a loss. In protecting our pride or our greed,
we experience anger. If one is to become free from pride and
greed, he must have awareness (spiritual). Say for instance, your
son-in-law broke your china tea set, would you not control your
temper? If your servant were to do the same thing, should you
not control your temper in this situation as well? Our reactions
vary in different situations (from situation to situation).
Anger can only dissolve if one understands that those who
do wrong by him are merely his nimits, (people instrumental in
delivering the effects of his past karma) and that what he is
experiencing is the result of his karmas from his previous life.
We should be aware of our anger at all times. When
someone is hurt by our anger, we should be remorseful, ask him
or her for forgiveness, and vow never to get angry again. It is
necessary for us to do this. We must do this because the person
we become angry towards will be hurt; he will harbor a grudge
and bind vengeance against us, and therefore, in our next life, we
will have to suffer the consequences.