Letter # 28: "Anger"

The ancient texts speak about many psychological issues, including anger. Krishna states: "While contemplating the objects of the senses, a person develops attachment for them, and from such attachment lust (excessive hankering) develops, and from lust anger arises. From anger complete delusion arises, and from delusion bewilderment of memory. When memory is bewildered, intelligence is lost, and when intelligence is lost one falls down again into the material pool." B.G. 2:62-63. "It is lust only, Arjuna, which is born of contact with the material mode of passion and later transformed into wrath, and which is the all-devouring sinful enemy of this world" B.G. 3:37.
Solutions are also given: "One who is not disturbed in mind even amidst the threefold miseries (see my Letter #1), or elated when there is happiness, and who is free from attachment, fear and anger, is called a sage of steady mind." B.G. 2:56
Guru Nanak says: "Man tan nam japoh liv lae ..." meaning "Repeat God's Name, Oh my mind and soul, then grief, pain and fear will leave the heart." Sukhmani Sahib Ashtapadi 22

In my work, I see lots of people who have problems with anger. They either suppress anger excessively or lash out with it. This mismanagement of anger causes harm to themselves and to others. The energy of anger, when controlled appropriately, can enhance health and intimacy. What can we do? We can't all become sages but we can learn to better manage our anger, in psychological and spiritual ways. Click the link below to see psychological anger management tips from the Mayo Clinic:
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/anger-management/MH00102


God Bless; Allah Hu Akbar; May The Forces Of The Universe Bring You Harmony; Hare Krishna; Radha-Swami; and Nanak Naam Chardi Kala Tere Bhane Sarbat Dha Bhalla.

I wish to express my gratitude for your comments, which inspire me to carry on writing. Please forgive my fallibilities in presenting this material. Also, feel free to send this message on to someone that you might think would like to receive it. If you do send it on, my only request of you is that you send it as it is, in its entirety, and to not alter or modify any of the text, references or authorship information. Thus you will help to give credit or liability to where they are properly due.

Jas Bhopal
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“Practicing goodwill makes for a good life."
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References: "The Holy Bible" Online version; "The Koran" as translated by SV Mir Ahmed Ali 2005 ISBN 0-9761870-0-0); "The Bhagavad Gita As it Is" as translated by Srila Prabhupada ISBN 0-89213-268-X; The Srimad Bhagavatum as translated by Srila Prabhupada ISBN0-89213-259-0; "I Am That. Talks With Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj” ISBN 0-89386-022-0; The Dhammapada ISBN-10:1-84483-344-5; The Sacred Sukhmani ISBN 81-7205-098-4; Wikipedia.