| Almost all of us experience anger at some point or the | | | | Significantly, yoga teachings provide similar solutions |
| other. Rather than get into a monologue of why anger | | | | and also show the way to make these solutions a part |
| occurs, I will try to touch upon why we should | | | | of our personality. |
| overcome it and how it can be done. | | | | The first step at anger management is - do not resist |
| Why should anger be overcome? Anger destroys the | | | | and do not ignore the cause of anger. Experience it |
| peace of mind: One constantly undergoes mental | | | | fully. |
| turmoil, uneasiness and frustration when anger is | | | | What do we mean? It implies that one should develop |
| experienced. This disturbed mind is akin to a rudderless | | | | an attitude of an observer or a witness. Learn to |
| boat in a stormy ocean, being tossed around from | | | | change your role from being the subject to becoming |
| place to place without it being able to focus on the | | | | a bystander. See how the anger is operating. See |
| task or destination ahead. | | | | what it is doing to your mind and how. When faced by |
| Anger is terrible for health: Besides symptoms of high | | | | an anger causing action, immediately get into the mode |
| blood pressure, ulceration etc., anger is invariably | | | | of exploring and rationalizing: Why am I getting irritated? |
| accompanied by stress, which is often referred to as | | | | What kind of thought pattern is forming in my mind as |
| the silent killer. The medical community is also coming | | | | a consequence of this action? Why is it that I am |
| around to the view that stress forms the basis of | | | | feeling like this? Continue to go deeper and deeper |
| about 90% of all health disorders. | | | | with the "whys" and "more whys". |
| Anger causes hurt: Besides hurting the person whom it | | | | When you start doing this, two things start happening: |
| is targeted at (emotionally or physically), anger can | | | | You start seeing the deeper 'subconscious' elements |
| boomerang causing an even deeper and longer lasting | | | | that form the foundation of your conscious mind. It is |
| self-hurt in the form of repentance and remorse. | | | | these elements that shape your personality without |
| Moreover, acts of anger invariably result in resentment | | | | you even realizing it. Just like you can see the bottom |
| and portray you as a highly egoistic person. | | | | of the pond in all its beauty only when the waters are |
| There may be many more 'incentives' to overcome | | | | still, similarly, you start seeing the deeper elements in |
| anger but the above are enough to make you give a | | | | your mind and understanding them better. |
| serious shot at tackling the problem. | | | | Once you reach these elements, you resolve the |
| Conventional remedies Commonly preached remedies | | | | deepest of neuroses and complexities of the mind. |
| focus on the following ways of 'curing' anger: | | | | These automatically remove the cause of anger. |
| Suppression: Quick-fix ways like "take a deep breath | | | | You will be pleasantly surprised to see how you are |
| unto the count of 10" etc. | | | | no longer provoked by the automatic triggers of the |
| come under this category. These, only provide a | | | | past. |
| temporary respite (if at all). | | | | Without fighting your anger, you start training your mind |
| Honestly, these methods actually undermine our | | | | to develop a witness-like attitude. This observer |
| intelligence. As if to say, our mind is going to be taken | | | | attitude results in the anger dissipating. |
| in by some kind of breath control gimmick! Expression: I | | | | You start seeing some wonderful perspectives. You |
| was told that, in Japan, there is a concept of 'stress | | | | start appreciating that it is not necessarily the desire of |
| bars' where you can take out your anger, frustration | | | | the person to hurt you - getting angry is YOUR |
| and stress by throwing objects and redeeming your | | | | response. You realize that a person is seeing the |
| frustration through these physical acts. These 'pseudo' | | | | situation from his point of view to the best of his |
| expressive techniques can seldom be successful, as | | | | intellectual and emotional capability - he may not be |
| they do not take into account the complexity of the | | | | quite 'capable enough' to appreciate your point of view. |
| mind. | | | | This is only natural - because individuals are built in |
| Diversion: Involving yourself in an activity that keeps | | | | different ways. After all, aren't you showing similar |
| you away from the source of anger is often | | | | traits when you are getting angry! Developing this |
| suggested as a way out. However, more likely than | | | | observer attitude is NOT difficult. Yoga also has some |
| not, the 'ignored' anger will return with a greater | | | | very powerful tools in the form of "antar mouna" |
| vengeance in due course. | | | | meditation techniques that help you cultivate this |
| In fact, suppression and diversion can be compared to | | | | attitude. Moreover, as you start reaping the wonderful |
| the indiscriminate filling of your grocery bag (the mind) | | | | fruits of such an attitude, such a behavioral pattern |
| with objects. Up to a point, it is fine; however, there will | | | | only gets reinforced. |
| come a point, where the bag can hold no more and will | | | | Over time, with such an attitude, you will see that not |
| 'snap' destroying the bag completely as well as | | | | only do you get angry less often, but also each brush |
| everything around. Similarly, these are dangerous | | | | with an unpleasant situation provides a remarkable |
| techniques that can result in irreparable damage to | | | | opportunity to know your subconscious mind in a |
| your brain. | | | | better way. Every such insight brings you one step |
| The way out Various spiritual leaders and faiths such | | | | closer to the supreme goal - that is, Enlightenment |
| as Buddhism, show us a way out. | | | | (perpetual Bliss). |