anger (idea)

Chapter Seventeen -- Anger

1. One should give up anger, renounce
   pride, and overcome all fetters. Suffering never
   befalls those who cling not to mind and body and
   are detached.
   
2. Those who check rising anger as a charioteer
   checks a rolling chariot, those I call true charioteers;
   others only hold the reins.
   
3. Overcome the angry by non-anger;
   overcome the wicked by goodness; overcome the
   miser by generosity; overcome the liar by truth.
   
4. Speak the truth; yield not to anger;
   when asked, give even if you only have a little.
   By these three means can one reach the presence
   of the gods.
   
5. Those sages who are inoffensive and
   ever restrained in body, go to the Deathless State,
   where they grieve no more.
   
6. Those who are ever vigilant, who discipline
   themselves day and night, ever intent upon
   Nibbana--their defilements fade away.
   
7. O Atula! Indeed, this is an old pattern,
   not one only of today: they blame those who remain
   silent, they blame those who speak much,
   they blame those who speak in moderation.
   There is none in this world who is not blamed.
   
8. There never was, there never will be,
   nor is there now, a person who is wholly
   blamed or wholly praised.
   
9. But the person whom the wise praise,
   after observing the person day after day, is one
   of flawless character, wise, and endowed with
   knowledge and virtue.
   
10. Who can blame such a one, as worthy
    as a coin of refined gold? Even the gods
    praise the person; by Brahma, too is
    the person praised.
    
11. Let a person guard against irritability
    in bodily action; let a person be controlled
    in bodily deed. Abandoning bodily misconduct,
    let a person practice good conduct in deed.
    
12. Let a person guard against irritability
    in speech; let a person be controlled in speech.
    Abandoning verbal misconduct, let a person
    practice good conduct in speech.
    
13. Let a person guard against irritability
    in thought; let a person be controlled in mind.
    Abandoning mental misconduct, let a person
    practice good conduct in thought.
    
14. The wise are controlled in bodily deeds,
    controlled in speech and controlled in thought.
    They are truly well-controlled.