Raise Your Words, Not Your Voice

By Sumit Paul, New Age Islam

1 May 2023

“Raise your words, not your voice. It is rain that grows flowers, not thunder”

~ Rumi

“Don’t raise your voice. Rather, better your arguments"

-Bishop Desmond Tutu

 “When you see the face of anger, look behind it and you will see the face of pride

- Rumi

“Ghussa Inkishaaf-E-Kamzarfi Hai"

An Urdu adage

(Anger is a revelation/manifestation of lowliness)

A momentary act of anger jeopardises many lives and causes harassment to near and dear ones. This is the sure outcome of anger which is indeed a brief madness. The glaucoma of anger doesn't let eyes see the dire consequences of it (anger). A step taken in anger always goes astray. Dynasties ceased to exist, families were destroyed and relations went haywire because of anger. When Aristotle's student Phenalion asked his master, 'What's the main cause of a person's undoing,' the wise philosopher said, 'Thymos' (anger in Greek).

'Krodh Vinashayanam Mool Kaaranam' (the anger is the main reason for destruction), wrote Panini, who killed his brother when anger blinded him and was cursed by his sister-in-law that he would face a very insignificant and trifling death and would never be famous in his lifetime. Panini never got recognition in his lifetime for his path-breaking Sanskrit grammar known as Panini's Ashtadhyayi. He was devoured by a tiger and no trace of his mortal remains were ever found. Anger paralyses our sanity and drives us crazy.

It's because of anger, very great personalities in history and mythology, never reached their optimum and innate potential. Readers may be aware of one Durvasa rishi in Hindu mythology, who was so full of anger that curses flowed from his mouth like Ganga from Gangotri. Krishna said that because of this bad trait, Durvasa would never be worshipped and emulated by anyone despite being a reincarnation of Jupiter (Guru/Brihaspati).

It's interesting to note that the word 'rishi' (sage) is an etymological derivation of the word 'rosh' (anger in Sanskrit). 'Karyastu Rosham Prathidhanam Iti Rishi Asti' (one who has won over anger is a rishi or a sage). The first and most striking quality of a saint or a rishi is his/her beatific calmness which is just impenetrable by any degree of anger. Buddha stopped reacting or showing even a scintilla of anger when he became enlightened. 'Peram (anger in Pali) Anirbhutam Mit Swah' (Your anger will burn you down), Buddha would always warn his disciples.

A man with patience and zero anger can scale the zenith of life. To be devoid of anger is to be free of all negativity. Anger is smouldering heat. It indeed burns down a person who is afflicted with it. The Greek term Aganaktesis for anger and indignation has roots in the Sanskrit word Agni (fire). Anger is indeed fire. That's why, Urdu raconteur Krishna Chander wrote, 'Angrezi Ke Anger Aur Urdu Ke Angare Mein Shayad Kuchh Zyada Farq Nahin Hai' (There's not much difference between the English word ' Anger' and 'angare'-cinders).

The retaliative anger of the US forces annihilated two cities of Japan, Hiroshima and Nagasaki, during the Second World War, causing untold damage to lives and shaking the collective psyche of mankind. Anger always provokes us to take a wrong step and we all regret afterwards. I'm sure, by calling me a pig in a fit of anger, a reader must have regretted afterwards as we all are humans with compunction. Likewise, by calling someone 'vulture', I too felt bad with a prick of conscience. To rein in anger is to rein in life and its concomitant upheavals. Incarcerated French emperor Napoleon Bonaparte advised his French-knowing British guard at St. Helena that even if you don't get to see the negative results of your anger, you'll surely see them after some time. Let's shelve anger and forget it forever. Harbouring anger makes you see every other person as a stranger.

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A regular columnist for New Age Islam, Sumit Paul is a researcher in comparative religions, with special reference to Islam. He has contributed articles to the world's premier publications in several languages including Persian.

 

URL:    https://newageislam.com/spiritual-meditations/raise-words-voice/d/129676

 

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