Very insightful comments on anger from a friend

Anger. Yes, it is very interesting. Maybe the problem is that many people intend different things by ‘anger’. This is a typical case when our labeling system ends up confusing us rather than helping us.

Anger can be blind, forceful, primitive, instinctual, ego-driven, fear-driven, a powerful negative emotion. Anger of this type often degenerates into (or creates) violence, and ultimately it is going to spin the hamster wheel one more time. Just more samsara.

Anger can also be indignation. Wisely controlled and channeled, indignation coupled with an innate sense of justice can actually be a positive force, directed at changing people’s consciousness, so that it refocuses on what is important for human happiness.

The same word ‘anger’ may mean very different things.

Yes, indeed non-violence is the only way to respond to violence hoping to break the circle. And we also need to be careful about what we mean by ‘violence’. There are obvious forms, such as physical violence or murder, which we are (especially these days) very aware of (and probably afraid of). There are other kinds of violence which are subtler (we are less conscious of them and maybe we do not think of them as forms of violence). Intellectual prevarication is a form of violence. Using one’s gift of oratorical skills in order to silence the ‘other’ is also a form of violence. Lying is also a form of violence. Establishing a mode of dialog based on aggressive psychological posturing is also a form of violence. Threats and insults are also a form of violence. Lack of respect is also a form of violence. And so on.

So if we manage to put our indignation to work without substituting a form of violence with another, we can stop the hamster wheel.

Indignation has to be purely motivated by a sense of universal justice and deep respect for human rights. It is important to stand for those rights without answering provocations, but by being steadfast and focused in our commitment to right a situation which causes unfair behavior or conditions.

I think Gandhi is probably the strongest inspirer of this concept. He was full of indignation, but never ‘angry’ in the classical primordial sense. And where the force which drives negative anger is uncontrollable and disharmonious, the force that drives righteous indignation is simply courage.