Never take hold of what others own. Do not talk ill of others. Do not talk of others but, if you must, talk only of the good in them. All are good, if you see bad in them, it is because, there is bad in you. If you do not like some one, do not mix with him; keep away. But do not try to blacken his name, and relate stories about him to others. Anger is harmful; it makes you do things blindly. You will have to repent much, for whatever you do in anger; when your anger cools down, you see things clearer and then it is too late to correct the wrong you have done. (SSS Vol.7, pp. 49-50)
The easiest way to control anger is this, the moment you become aware that anger is rising within you, just laugh very loudly. Or go to the bathroom and have a cool bath. You can also take a glass of cool water and relax in a cool place. The moment anger comes it is most helpful to leave the place where you are and go somewhere else. If with all these measures you still have not been able to control anger, then stand in front of the mirror and examine your face; after seeing your appearance you will surely feel so much disgust that at once you will be able to control your anger. So, there are a number of ways in which you will be able to deal with anger.
One other thing you can do whenever anger comes, is to inquire into the cause of this anger. Is it justified? Remember that if someone is going to be harmed in the process of your anger, you will be committing a sin; and that cannot be possibly do good for you. To undertake all these methods will be quite difficult for an ordinary person, but it is enough to remember not to let your tongue into action immediately after you get angry, and spill out a torrent of angry words.
Take sometime to think things over. In a number of ways, anger weakens a person who is trying to doSadhana. If you make some effort to control anger when it arises, these efforts will act to strengthen your body and purify your mind. (DBG, pp. 58-59)
Anger is born of desire. Desire arises from thoughts. Therefore, thoughts alone are responsible for both anger and desire. Just as you cannot get cloth without thread and thread without cotton, you cannot get anger without desire, and desire without thoughts. In the Gita the divine teacher has termed desire and anger as Analam, which literally means fire. (DBG, p. 61)
Anger can be the source of numerous difficulties and expose you to countless problems. It destroys your dignity and undermines the principle of humanity that resides within you. Anger first enters in a subtle form and gradually becomes all pervasive. It is a most dangerous poison, which should not be given, even the least space to get a foothold within you.
In a car, the red taillight goes on as a warning before the car comes to a stop. In the same way, before you explode into anger, your eyes become red, your lips begin to quiver and the whole body becomes hot. The moment you start having any of these symptoms, you had best immediately leave the place you are in, and go to a solitary spot and sit there until peace returns. (DBG, p. 62)
When Hanuman accused Ravana, he was angry. In his anger, he set the tail of Hanuman on fire. With the fire in his tail, he burnt down the whole of Lanka. The flames were spreading everywhere. Hanuman sat on a tree and thought that Ravana deserved that punishment. Then only his anger subsided.
After his anger subsided, Hanuman thought, in the same Lanka, mother Sita is there. I did not excercise my discrimination. I have burnt down Lanka. what is going to happen to mother Sita? I have come thinking of her welfare. i have completely spoiled the purpose for which Rama sent me here. The reason in my anger.
One with anger will not be successful in any of his endeavours.
He will commit sins and will be ridiculed by one and all.
his own people will abandon him.
He will lose all wealth and respect.
His anger will ruin him completely. (Telugu Poem)
That is what Hanuman thought.
(SS May 2016 p.6) DD 6th April1993.
Anger is debilitating in its effect. The nerves become weak; blood is rendered warmer, its composition changes. A simple burst of fury consumes the strength gained from food during three months. Anger drastically reduces one’s stamina. (SSS Vol.11, p. 181)
Anger cannot be destroyed by anger, and cruelty, by cruelty. Anger can be subdued only by forbearance, and cruelty can be overcome only by non-violence. Anger is like an intoxicant; it reduces the man and degrades him to the level of an animal. Anger is like fire; it has to be kept under constant vigilance and control. (FDD, pp. A-17)
Hiranyakashipu was one who had total control over the five elements. Such an all-powerful one was ruined because he had the evil quality of anger. In spite of being a great warrior Duryodhana, king of kings was ruined because of greed. His entire clan was destroyed. ( DD on 19-11-1999, p. 3)
Do not, however, stay near the person who has provoked your anger, because there is no limit to what anger may lead you to. Owing to anger and agitation the blood gets heated up. It takes three months for the blood to cool down. Within that period, the nerves become weaker and even the blood cells get destroyed. Weakness is aggravated and the memory power is reduced. Old age sets in prematurely.
All the aberrations that we witness today among men arise from anger. Our entire daily life is filled with anger. When the mother and children gather round to sing the Bhajan of Sainatha, Loving Sai will stand beside them.
Where, then, is the room for Anger?
And why despair, when Sayeesa is there?
Why despair when Partheesa is beside you?
(SSS Vol.18, pp. 37-38)
Indescribable is the damage done by anger.
When anger seizes a person,
He cannot perform any work successfully
He gathers sin and is humbled.
Anger extinguishes one’s reputation,
And separates him from people who are near and dear.
(SSB 1996, p. 37)
Give up evil qualities like anger, greed, jealousy, etc. Anger can be compared to Ravana’s pyre. It keeps burning always. Desire is the cause of man’s downfall. Hence, eradicate desire and anger. (DD on9-10-2002, p. 7)
A Sattvika person’s anger will be short-lived like writing on water. The anger of a man with a mixture of Sattva and Rajas lasts for a few hours like the writing on sand. A Rajasika person’s anger is like the writing on a stone that will last for one day or a few days. The anger of a Tamasika man will last for all his life like the etching on a steel plate; nay, it may be carried over to future lives also as the episode of Chennabasappa and Veerabhadrappa who continued their hatred for each other even after re-incarnating as a frog and a snake because of their misdeeds in their preceding human lives.(This episode is narrated in Sai Satcharitra of Shirdi Sai Baba). (NNSG Vol.2, p. 75)
Anger will destroy one’s wealth of discrimination,
It will reduce one’s honour and prestige to ashes;
It will create a divide between him and his kith and kin;
Ultimately people will loose everything on account of anger. (M&M, p. 101)
The mind’s speed is unparallelled. It is only became of lack of control of mind one gets into bad temper, which causes loss of discrimination and spells ultimate ruin. It is imperative that one should control the temper and avoid getting angry. Anger comes from temper inside and one who yields to this bout of temper is bound to suffer. You should control anger and avoid talking or acting while in an angry mood. (SSS Vol.27)
One with anger will not be successful in any of his endeavours. He will commit sins and will be ridiculed by all. His people will abandon him. He will lose all wealth and respect. His anger will ruin him completely. (Beacons of Divine Wisdom Part 2, p. 92)
Anger is the greatest enemy of man. One with anger cannot follow the path of Dharma. This is contrary to human nature. One should not unnecessarily show anger towards others.