When we get angry, we suffer. If you really understand that, you also will be able to understand that when the other person is angry, it means that she is suffering. When someone insults you or behaves violently towards you, you have to be intelligent enough to see that the person suffers from his own violence and anger. But we tend to forget. We think that we are the only one that suffers, and the other person is our oppressor. This is enough to make anger arise, and to strengthen our desire to punish. We want to punish the other person because we suffer. Then, we have anger in us; we have violence in us, just as they do. When we see that our suffering and anger are no different from their suffering and anger, we will behave more compassionately. So understanding the other is understanding yourself, and understanding yourself is understanding the other person. Everything must begin with you.
Quote by Thich Nhat Hanh
REFLECTION:
- Is there someone you have anger towards? Are you suffering because of it?
- Can you step back .. take a pause and see the impact it is having on you physically, mentally, emotionally?
- is it worth it?
- How can you understand yourself better and open to a new understanding of the other?
- Begin with you!