Anger

A punishment you give for someone else’s mistake

No one ever likes feeling agitated or angry. If we don’t feel compassion when we see others’ mistakes, we are bound to get angry at them and eventually at ourselves. A little knowledge about us, about our mind, our consciousness, and the root of distortion in our nature will help. Our breath has a great lesson to teach us, which we have forgotten. Breathing techniques and meditation are very effective in calming the mind. Then we can make our anger expensive and our smile free.

The Surprising Secret About Anger

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Righteousness

The root cause of anger is righteousness. If you think you are not right, you cannot get angry. And if two people are angry at each other, they both think they are right. You talk to them individually or separately, you will find they are right in their way. Now, righteousness is a perception.

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Deep desire

The second reason is when you have a deep desire and it doesn't get fulfilled,  you get frustrated. That frustration causes anger.

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Tiredness

The third reason is when you are tired, you're physically and mentally tired, and you have not relieved the stresses that you have been carrying.

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Perfection

The fourth reason is that you have a desire for perfection so you get angry at imperfection. You want everyone to fit into your concept of perfection, it’s not going to happen. It’s definitely going to trigger anger inside of you.

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Make your anger expensive and your smile free!

Anger is a distortion of your true nature and it doesn’t allow the self to shine forth fully. You may remind yourself a hundred times that you shouldn’t get angry, but when the emotion comes, you are unable to control it. It comes like a thunderstorm.

Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Tips to Get Rid of Anger

exercises

Exercise

 Often people who don’t do much physical activity, get more angry. All that Rajas is stuck in the body. They’re stuck in the head. You must go for long walks. Run on the treadmill, and exercise. Yoga is a very good alternative for this. Practice Sun Salutations. Then you get so exhausted. You have no energy to get angry.

Meditation_Mind and Breath- A Deep Connection

Breathe and meditate

Take a deep breath, and calm down. Regular practice of pranayama and meditation definitely provides you with the needed strength to overcome anger.

Children and teens - Happy girl smiling with open arms looking at the sky

Broaden your vision

This world cannot be so perfect, so broaden your vision. Give some room for imperfection. Don't hold on to this only “I am right”.You accommodate others’ points of view also. You cannot make everyone the way you want them to be. Unpleasant things are bound to happen. When it happens, you should have the strength and courage to move on. 

Accept people, things and situations as they are.

healthy food habits to maintain wellness

Watch your food

If you're a Pitta type of person,  you’re prone to anger. Make sure you have your food in the first quarter of the day. Have something to eat within two hours of sunrise. If you don't, then Pitta shoots up. Morning breakfast is absolutely essential for Pitta types. Don’t take too much of that Tabasco sauce & hot chilli sauce.  Don’t fast too long and eat on time. Your food can put more fire into you. Your pitta goes out of balance then you’ll be in a perpetual state of red alert.

When your pita is balanced you will not lose your temper for no reason.

What to do when someone else is angry?

When someone is upset you also don't get upset at the same time. Let them have their time if someone is yelling and shouting. It is their time, give them their time. You be a spectator. Not one who is a participant in that show. Another time you lose your temper and you shout. You show your anger. So, the problem comes when everybody becomes an actor, there is no spectator. Take turns to get angry. Have fun. Humour is the antidote to anger. When you are centered, humour automatically will be there. 

Also when someone is losing their temper without a reason, know that their pitta is high and help to calm them down. Give them some ice cream, milk, something that cools down the pitta is necessary.

Should I never get angry?

Anger is not bad. If it stays only for a few seconds, it is okay. It should stay, only as long as the line that stays when you draw it on the water. Once in a while, if anger comes up, don’t start blaming yourself. One thing that can be very detrimental on the spiritual path is self-blame. Showing anger itself is not wrong, but being unaware of your anger only hurts you. Sometimes you can show anger purposefully. For example, a mother gets angry at her children and can act tough or shout at them if they put themselves in danger.

Anger can also help in taking up challenges which otherwise you may not do. It can be a great motivational spirit here. But without the bitterness. If there is bitterness that anger has caused within you, it's going to eat you up inside. Anger is like that fire which can give you warmth, and which can burn you too. Look at the consequences of getting angry. Are you happy with the decisions you have made or the words you have spoken in a state of anger? No, because you lose your total awareness. But if you are completely aware and are acting angry, that is fine.

 It will take some time for you to get to that level, where anger does not even touch you. It will keep coming in different shades and intensities. Till that time, keep doing your practices - Sudarshan Kriya, pranayama, and meditation will help.