How are anger and reaction related?

Sometimes we get angry because we get frustrated that somebody is not paying attention to what we are saying, or not following what we are telling them. We feel that there is a lack of attention and lack of care and concern on the other person’s part. Especially because we care a lot about them, and we have an expectation that they should at least care a little bit in return; but they don’t, and so we react. This shows that there is anger within us. And we reflect it because we have the sentiment of anger within.

If somebody says something to us or does something to us, then we reflect that anger back on them. It is like a mirror. For example, if you shout at me, I shout back at you. But if you shout at me and I speak normally to you, then that means I don’t have anything inside me to reflect back; I don’t have that mirror image.

What we call reaction is a very similar thing. Our reactions actually tell the world where we come from, and that reflects on our conditioning. So if one comes from a family that has been very strict in their routines and discipline and if anything goes outside that routine, then one reacts to it.

The way to stop feeling angry and therefore reacting is to change our consciousness. But in reality, the key to the change of consciousness is not about anger and reaction, or action. The key lies in moderation; neither black nor white, because both show domination of the physical, mental and emotional selves. Let us be moderate, and let us live by our spiritual self that neither gets angry nor reacts.