Nuggets Of Truth

Of all the human weaknesses, anger may be deemed to have formed one of the closest bonds with man.



It "visits" one almost evey day and very often, like a thick friend, keeps him long but disturbing company. A slight provocation, an insignificant remark or even a small obstruction in the performance of day-to-day chores is enough to open the lid of anger and to release intense heat that engulfs one's whole being. Like a volcano, it errupts, blowing thick columns of smoke that cloud reason and, if not contained, pushes up bubbling molten lava that destroys every fortification built for one's spiritual progress. Anger, at times, is even observed to demonise man. All philosophers and thinkers have, therefore, all along advised man against the danger of harbouring anger.


Vidwan M.R. Gopalacharya, the philosopher and thinker, has also written on anger. The Vidwan, who had acquired the wisdom of the ancients and was well versed in classic literature, has quoted from the texts and renowned scholars and poets. He has also penned his own obsevations on the subject based on the closer observation of life and his own experience. He advocates anger management when it is not possible to eliminate it, evidently for one to lead a fuller life.   The nuggets are as below:                    
 

1. Anger is at the bottom of revenge. Many vices grow and die a natural death; but some wax stronger with the advancement of age. Anger is the foremost of these. Mysteriously enough, it grows strong when every thing else becomes weak. The oldest man can get inflamed even when he is in the jaws of death.
   
2. Anger blunts the brain, dulls the intellect and hinders moral progress.
   
3. Anger and indiscretion walk cheek by jowl; repentance always on both their heels,
   
4. Homer says in his Iliad, "Anger, far sweeter than tricklimg honey, rises like smoke in the breast of men". There is much truth in what he says. To get angry with the right man, on the right occasion and to the right degree, for the right reasons and for the end, in the right manner only to the perceived wrong is a great honour, which a saint alone can claim.
   
5. Aristotle held identical views. The Vedas and Shastras too subscribe to this. For this purpose, we should not nourish our wrath. We should never keep it warm. He, who does not strive to stem his anger tide, would take the risk of riding a wild horse without a bridle, in the mountainous regions.
   

  It is also true that a man without righteous anger will have a maimed personality.

 Anger exhibited in its proper time and place assumes the form of grace, if it is directed against one who is the culprit.

 Reasonable anger is justified, but it should not last long. If it lingers in the mind for long, irremediable harm is wrought. What Milton calls inextinguishable anger should have no place in human ethics.