3 reasons why we should not get angry.

"Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who gets burned." - Buddha


I know it’s easier said than done. Especially so when you see with your own eyes that people who did bad deeds, have ill intention like the person mentioned in my earlier post, are still living their life.


It is very wrong of you to think about it in that way for 3 reasons:


(1) As Buddhist, I believe in karma. Explaining in a very religious manner (and you can skip this paragraph if you are not comfortable), this person that you are angry with may had done well and accumulated many good karma which he/she is currently enjoying. Continuously doing bad in the present life, only quicken the usage of his/her good karma. She is on the journey of self destruction when her good karma finishes and started to face the consequences of her bad deeds.


(2) Seeing her doing bad deeds and knowing her doesn't mean that we have the ability to understand how she feels or struggle in her daily life. Is she having company of good people, happy family and reliable friends? Is she able to sleeps well every night? Only she knows. Besides, we should not be judging her without knowing why she does so. Is she doing the bad deeds to prevent greater harms to others? Choosing the lesser of the 2 evils?


(3) We should be concerned with our life and not others. What is it that you wanted to do in your life? Have you been spending time with your loved ones? More importantly, did you notice that by you getting angry at that person, your mind is frequently occupied with unproductive thoughts, you missed spending time with your loved ones and your health get affected. Notice you need to eat more to comfort yourself, the rise in your body temperature and blood pressure when you are angry?


Are you still angry, still holding on to that hot coal and burning yourself? Let go and live life.