Generally, we get angry when things do not go our way or when someone is not understanding what we are trying to say, or when a difference of viewpoint seems to arise every other day. We get angry when although we are right, someone accuses us of being wrong, or for no good reason, someone scolds us all day long. We get angry when we feel insulted, we get angry when we believe we’ve incurred a loss. And in an attempt to control the other person, also many a times we get angry.

Now, let’s understand this aspect from spiritual standpoint.

Param Pujya Dada Bhagwan, an Enlightened being, explains:

“When does anger arise? The answer is, as one’s vision (darshan) becomes blocked, his knowledge (gnan) also becomes blocked, that is why anger arises. The same is true for pride. The vision becomes blocked, due to which the knowledge becomes blocked, that is why pride arises.

It is because his vision becomes blocked! When does a person collide with a wall? When he is not able to see the wall, he collides with it, doesn’t he? Similarly, when a person is not able to see from within (is confused or is unable to understand clearly), he ends up getting angry. Since he is not able to find the solution to move ahead, he ends up getting angry.

What kind of difficulties do you face? Where do you face opposition? Break that opposition down. One faces opposition due to short-sightedness. The Gnani Purush (the Enlightened One) gives ‘long sight’ (enlightenment, Self-Realization). On the basis of that long sight, one can see things the way they are!”

Even over little things, I start shouting. What should I do?

Param Pujya Dadashri suggests:

“Trying to find a solution to stop the anger is foolishness. This is because anger is actually a result, just as when you’ve given an exam, you get the result. This is equivalent of trying to get rid of the result. This result (suffering from anger issues) that has come, what is it the result of? That is what you need to change.”

So, what needs to change and how it can be changed?

Further, Param Pujya Dadashri illustrates:

“Make a note that with whom do you get angry the most in this world? Wherever you get angry, make a note of it, and also get to know where you do not get angry. Add it to the list that, ‘I do not get angry with this person.’ Many people do wrong, yet you do not get angry with them, whereas for others, even if the poor person is doing the right thing, you get angry with him. Therefore, there must be some reason, right?

Yes, a knot has been bound. What should you now do to release this knot? The examination has already been given. As many times you have to get angry with that person, you are going to get angry that many times (result of the past karma). And a knot has already been formed for that person, but what should you do from now on? Whomever you get angry with, do not allow your mind to become negative towards that person (this is what needs to change).

You should reform your mind that, ‘This person is doing that on the account of my own destiny. Whatever he is doing is due to the unfolding of my own karma and that is why he is doing it.’ You should reform your mind in this way. If you keep reforming your mind and if your mind reforms towards that person, then you will stop getting angry towards that person. There will be an effect of the past for some time, the effect of the past, it will give that much effect and then it (anger) will cease.

Wherever and whenever anger arises, you should make a mental note of it and maintain awareness over that. And whoever has been hurt by your anger, for that you should do pratikraman (i.e. confess, apologize, and resolve not to repeat this mistake of getting angry, ‘Dear God, I hurt this person through my thought, word and/or action. Please forgive me. And grant me strength so that I do not do this mistake again’).

You should repent and make a firm resolve to never repeat that mistake. This is because whomever you get angry towards, they will feel hurt, and they will bind vengeance against you. And so, you will encounter that person again in your next life!”

So, the Solution is to destroy the causes, the result is automatically taken care of then

The world simply tries to destroy the results (eg. tries to destroy the anger). Therefore, the solution for anger-pride-deceit-greed is this. Do not do anything about the effect. If you destroy their causes, then all of them will depart.

And the root cause of anger-pride-deceit-greed lies in the ignorance of the Self

The Enlightened One explains:

When somebody says bad for Johna (please insert your name here), ‘Johna is a bad person. She is so and so, so and so’, you get hurt. So, anger is generated.

Due to ignorance, you believe, ‘I am Johna.’ That’s why when somebody insults, at that time anger comes out. And when same bad words are said to Johna, but Johna is some other person, then you do not feel any bad effect. So, it is due to ignorance that anger is getting generated.

And by the knowledge of Self-Realization, when somebody says bad words to Deepak (the name of the Enlightened One), I will know, ‘this is with Deepak, not with me. I am pure Soul.’ So I don’t have any anger.’ Due to knowledge of the Self (Self-Realization), I can remain in a state of bliss all the time.

So, anger is due to ignorance only. Not only anger, pride, deceit, greed, lust, everything is due to ignorance. By knowledge of Self, we can come out of all of these enemies, anger-pride, deceit, greed.