For most people, getting angry is not seen as a weakness. We often think anger is just a natural part of life. Many people adopt the mindset of “Swalpa Adjust Maadi” (just adjust in Kannada). However, if you are on a journey of inner growth or self-realization, anger can derail your progress completely.

In the world of management, we are taught to control anger to succeed in life. But my Gurudeva insists on not just controlling anger but completely eliminating it. He emphasizes that this is the number one priority. He encourages us with the powerful words, “Proceed with confidence” in our efforts to remove anger from our nature.

My Satguru Bodhinatha explains anger with a simple analogy: it’s like filling a bathtub with water. All the effort you put into filling the tub is wasted if you pull the plug even once. It takes the same amount of time and effort to refill the tub again.

To eliminate anger, there are some practices (called prayashchittas, or acts of atonement) you can follow:

1. Deposit Rs. 500/- in a piggy bank every time you lose your temper. At the end of the month, donate the collected money to someone in need.
2. Skip your next meal. Decide whether you want to eat or get angry—you can only choose one.

For those on a spiritual journey, anger is especially harmful. An angry person is not allowed to perform puja (spiritual rituals like offering flames and ringing bells). Mystically, this is because anger opens the lower chakras. Performing puja in this state can attract negative energies such as fear, jealousy, lust, or selfishness.

Techniques I Use to Overcome Anger

Here are some techniques I use to control anger. While I am still working on completely eliminating it, I’ve made good progress compared to last year:

1. Meditation:
   Meditation is my go-to tool. A daily 10-minute meditation session gives me control over my emotions for the entire day. According to my Gurudeva’s teachings, there are three kinds of minds:
   • The instinctive mind, which reacts without thinking.
   • The intellectual mind, which reasons and helps delay instinctive reactions.
   • The intuitive mind, which acts from a higher, superconscious state and often guides us to the right decision.
   Meditation connects me with my intuitive mind and helps quiet my instinctive mind.
2. Breathing Exercises:
   Deep breathing is incredibly effective. Techniques like Ujjayi breathing or tummy breathing, where you inhale for a count of 9, hold for 1 count, and exhale for a count of 9, work wonders in calming the mind.

To test my patience, I’ve also tried two fun experiments:

• Driving in Bangalore traffic without honking.
• Watching TV on mute.

Both were challenging but taught me a lot about staying calm!

What About You?

Which technique did you find interesting? Have you tried any methods to control anger? I’d love to hear your thoughts and experiences.