Page 3 of 3 FirstFirst 123
Results 21 to 24 of 24

Thread: Anger

  1. #21

    Re: Anger

    Namaste,

    Much thanks to EM for once again providing a thoughtful and thought-
    provoking thread, and to all who have posted such considered replies;
    while I will not try to categorically answer the listed questions, after
    letting the topic steep for a bit, I would like to share some ideas.

    To my mind, "anger", in and of itself, is neither good nor bad; for the
    embodied, it is the emotion that translates an instinctual reaction,
    one of defense- the organism's attempt to send the message,
    "I am not prey!"

    Even when anger is felt over one's family being threatened,
    or a child feels anger at a rock they have stubbed their toe on,
    I feel this holds true; the first is an example of an individual's natural
    expansion of their sense of "I" to include relatives (and the spousal bond is
    extremely strong in this regard).

    The second, while a reaction to an inanimate object rather than another
    sentient being, is still instinctually motivated, both directly, as a response
    to physical injury, and as a response that reflects our "human" nature, in
    that we have always lived in groups. Having always been highly socialized,
    we all carry a base-level sense of "being under observation", and
    there is an instinct to offset any appearance of weakness.

    This translates into the more complex manifestations wrought by our
    brains; and the ego (which is like Raktabija, in seeming to multiply its power
    with every injury ) jumps in quite quickly for many, to establish a
    powerful foothold in its neverending quest to obscure Self with it"self"...

    In early youth, one will question the intent or responsibility of others or
    oneself, in a novel situation resulting in "hurt feelings"- "Did I make a
    mistake?" "Was I at fault?" etc.

    The ego, if permitted, has tendency to shorten, and too often eliminate entirely,
    these inner "conversations", and externalize responsibility- to declare
    "This will not be tolerated!" and put the intellect to work at rationalization
    and justification.

    Yet I reiterate- anger itself is just what it is, not intrinsically good, or bad.
    I am reminded of sunyata07's signature; there is always a point at
    which someone makes a choice, and sadly, for many that choice was one
    made long ago, the choice to ignore any inner voice, other than the ego's.
    The experience of anger as an emotion is to be expected as natural
    for the average person- it is how it is dealt with, how it is expressed,
    what thoughts, words, and deeds progress from it, that is of concern.

    Clinging to anger, bitterness, grudges- this is like drinking poison, hoping
    your enemies will die from it.

    For those reading who might be thinking, "But what of Divine anger?", it
    is not like comparing apples and oranges... more like comparing apples and
    photosynthesis.

    I apologize for once again meandering here and there, and thank those
    who are patient enough to wade through these words of mine!

    JAI MATA DI
    || जय माता की ||

  2. #22
    Join Date
    September 2007
    Location
    Canada
    Age
    70
    Posts
    7,191
    Rep Power
    5038

    Re: Anger

    Quote Originally Posted by JaiMaaDurga View Post
    For those reading who might be thinking, "But what of Divine anger?", it
    is not like comparing apples and oranges... more like comparing apples and
    photosynthesis.
    Vannakkam JMD: I really liked this part in particular. We certainly don't need to be excusing our own behaviours based on metaphorical lessons in myth. Thanks for a well-thought out post.

    Aum Namasivaya

  3. #23

    Re: Anger

    What my personal view on anger is, it is an emotional poison that grips around you slowly as it take roots in you. It is a dangerous state of mind that requires strong will and mindfulness to control it. How many of us often gave way to anger with thoughts that may lead to physical harm? Whether upon oneself or to another? We can see such display in our every daily life. Fights, murders, quarrels etc etc. Myself too, often at times anger control my mind but I am glad that whenever I am about to see the 'red', I would close my eyes and picture my lord Vinayagar in my mind. Most of the time it works with me smiling at the other party or simply walk away.
    'Whenever a devotee wishes, with unwavering faith, to worship me in a particular form, I take that form.'
    - Bhagavad Gita 4.1

  4. #24
    Join Date
    July 2012
    Age
    59
    Posts
    639
    Rep Power
    0

    Re: Anger

    Quote Originally Posted by Eastern Mind View Post
    Vannakkam: I believe some days seekers and sadhakas, including me, get ahead of themselves. Surely we have no hope of understanding the Self without at first having an inkling or two about ourselves. As with AA and many other self-help ideas either within the context of Hinduism, or not, usually a must on a personal level is an admission that you at least suffer from occasional bouts of the stuff.

    Certainly I see a lot of irony some days ... "I'm so mad that my sadhana was interrupted!"

    Lately I've been reflecting on anger: it's negative effects, its colour, what causes it, how to learn to harness it, it's variance in degrees, and more, within the context of a project I've been working on.

    Of course it varies from the subtlety of a snide remark, to revenge, to rage, and comes in all kinds of ways like shunning, physical, emotional, and seems to be one certain way of either working out or accruing karma.

    Some examples: When in India I witnessed a shopkeeper berating his employees to the point where if he'd have been on the west, someone may have stepped in. Certainly a cop would have.

    I had to walk out of a classroom full of kids one day for fear of doing something stupid enough to lose my job.

    One man at our temple disturbs the peace more by yelling at other devotees to shut up than the disturbance caused by the devotees themselves.

    So I have a few questions for discussion, perhaps, if anyone else is at all interested in pursuing the low instead of the highs of consciousness.

    1) Is it really all that harmful?
    2) Where is it in the mind, in consciousness?
    3) What are some causes, or the root cause?
    4) How does dharma fall into the equation?
    5) Is there more latent anger in some cultures than in others? How about ages, or genders?
    6) Do different societies deal with it differently?
    7) How subjective is it? Is it easier to see in others than in yourself? Do you excuse yourself but not others?
    8) Are there any circumstances when its truly justified?

    Just thoughts for a new discussion.

    Aum Namasivaya
    I have only just started back on my spiritual journey after many years of hiatus. During which, I did a lot of bad things that I am not proud of. I hurt many people and broke the law constantly.

    Anger is a trait I am still working on. I am a Shiva Bhakt, and I get really annoyed with those who reduce religion/God down to scientific rationalism and imperialism, discrediting Bhakti Yoga as being nothing more than 'the product of a delusional mind'. My blood starts boiling then and I don't know why.

    I guess another bad trait I must lose, is wanting to be accepted for who I am and what I believe in. Thus, the only person who can understand how a Bhakta feels is another one and I should accept that.

    I am trying to overcome this by 'catching' myself just before I allow myself the luxury of indulging in these feelings, whilst still feeling them, then applying a saying I really love by Descartes:

    "Whenever somebody offends me, I raise my Soul so high, that words cannot reach it".

    Then I pray to Shiv Bhagwan to give me the strength and love to be able to do that.

    Sometimes though, it still gets very difficult, so I do the only thing I can do until I am more established in my path and sadhana...ignore them.

    Aum Namah Shivaya

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Similar Threads

  1. Anger crisis with Jesus
    By rcscwc in forum Christianity
    Replies: 36
    Last Post: 02 July 2012, 02:24 AM
  2. Krodha or anger...
    By sunyata07 in forum Philosophy
    Replies: 30
    Last Post: 28 April 2011, 03:04 AM
  3. bhaya or fear ...
    By yajvan in forum Philosophy
    Replies: 115
    Last Post: 05 January 2011, 09:50 AM
  4. Relating With Others-From Talks With Babaji
    By atanu in forum Feedback
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 21 December 2009, 06:09 AM
  5. Nomenclature terrorism
    By sm78 in forum Hot Topics
    Replies: 59
    Last Post: 17 December 2008, 01:24 AM

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •