Heavenletters

Beloved Emilia, ah, anger was known in the Biblical days.

There is a line -- I forget what it comes from -- something like: Suffer not fools. I think that's what we go through. I have sure had it with customer service sometimes, like when my phone wasn't working much of the time. It wasn't working when I called customer service from someone else's phone, and I wanted to discontinue the phone company's service, and customer service insisted I call them on my own phone! If only I could have had a good laugh.

Just recently I came across some Sufi words about anger. Here's a description of anger:

The negative emotion of anger, when it flares up, is faster than the rational effort to suppress it. Once anger has caught fire, it is difficult to extinguish. Like fire, it burns all that is human in us; compassion, love, gentleness, generosity, the ability to communicate, to think of consequences, and intelligence. All are all reduced to ashes. All that remains is a dangerous wounded wild animal.

And here is some advice on how to get rid of it:

The cure for anger is basically in removing your arrogance. (Ouch!)

When anger strikes, immediately change your posture. If you were standing, sit. If you were sitting, fall to your knees. It is difficult to shout and curse in the most humble position of kneeling.

Or lie on your back and pray: "Oh Lord, enrich me with knowledge, beautify me with kindness, give me the gift of piety and the awe and love of You and sanity and health, Amen."

Or go take ablution with cold water!