6. Conquering Anger - 2

A devotee once approached His Holiness Jagadguru Sri Bharati Tirtha Mahaswamiji and lamented that he suffered from a short temper that completely overpowered him whenever it erupted. He prayed to His Holiness for guidance to overcome his problem.

H.H. : As anger destroys the one who harbours it, we should eschew it with diligence. Hereafter whenever you tend to become angry, laugh heartily.

Devotee: I shall act as directed.

The words of great saints are never in vain. Laughter, whether spontaneous or volitional, is a proven refiner of mood and an obstructer of anger. Though hearty laughter was advised specifically to the devotee in question, it can, presumably, be used to advantage by others too to deal with the onrush of anger.

Incidentally, when His Holiness was addressing a gathering at Tiruppur in 2012, He shared an information about this advice: “A disciple once approached me, seeking guidance on how to control his anger. I advised him simply, ‘From now on, whenever you feel anger rising within you, laugh heartily.’ Sometime later, another disciple recorded this episode in his book. Sometime after its publication, I received a letter from a man who shared an incredible experience. While waiting for his international flight at Mumbai airport, he happened to notice an unattended book on a nearby seat. Curious, he picked it up and began flipping through its pages. In the process, he came across the very passage recounting my advice on laughter as a remedy for anger. He read it, set the book aside, and thought nothing more of it. After reaching his destination, he hosted a friend at his home. What started as a casual conversation soon escalated into a heated argument. Tempers flared, and before he knew it, rage overtook him. In his letter, he confessed that at that moment, he was so consumed by fury that he might have even harmed his friend. But just then, my words flashed in his mind–‘Laugh heartily.’ So, in the midst of his rage, he let out a loud, hearty laugh. His friend, caught off guard, found the sudden outburst amusing and, unable to resist, started laughing as well. In an instant, the tension dissolved. What could have ended in disaster transformed into shared laughter. Expressing his deep gratitude, he wrote, ‘Your advice saved a life that day.’” ❀❀❀❀