When You Are Angry, See the Other Person as a Child of God

Anger is not an antidote for anger. A strong wrath may bring suppression of a weaker wrath, but it will never kill it. When you are angry, say nothing.

Think of anger as a disease, like a cold, and break it up with mental warm baths by thinking of those you love dearly, with whom you can never be angry, no matter how they behave.

If your anger is too violent, take a cold shower, douse the head with cold water, or put ice on the medulla and the temples just above the ears, on top of the head, and on the forehead, especially between the eyebrows.

When anger comes, start your machinery of calmness going; let your calmness move the cogwheel of peace, love, and forgiveness. With these antidotes, destroy anger.

As you do not want others to be angry with you, so you do not wish others to feel your ugly anger. Think of love. When you become Christlike and look upon all humanity as little brothers hurting one another (for they know not what they do), then you cannot feel angry with anyone.

Develop metaphysical reason and destroy anger. Look upon your anger-arousing agent as a child of God, a little five-year-old baby brother who unknowingly perhaps stabbed you. You must not feel a desire to stab this little brother in return.

Mentally destroy anger by saying: “I will not poison my peace by anger; I will not disturb my habitual joy-giving calmness by wrath.”

Love Is Much Stronger than Anger

When you want to conquer any person, make him break his sword. Conquer evil with love: That is divine strength. Love is much stronger than anger. The person who is angry with you should draw from you an ocean of love and of calmness, which will quench the fire of his wrath.

Learn to give love, calmness, and continuous understanding to those who are angry.

When you are angry, you are in a slow baking oven. All your nerves, brain cells, and flesh are baking in the fire of anger, which at times, has caused even death. Anger carried to extremes is not safe for the body, mind, or soul.

Many illnesses are caused by anger, which also distorts the face and brings on old age quickly. Do not in this way desecrate your face and mind, which are made in the image of God.

Jesus showed how great he was when he said: “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” He showed that he was God and loved others as God.

If he had, in anger, used all the powers at his command to destroy others, would mankind worship Him today?

No, He showed his Godlike qualities and is now enshrined in every heart. He is the luminary that we behold throughout eternity, a light to warm us and give us strength.

Excerpted from How to Have Courage, Calmness, and Confidence by Paramhansa Yogananda.

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