Anger Is Poison

Aeons ago. Village of Vichala. A gigantic mango tree in the middle of a forest. It was laden with juicy ripe mangoes. But there were absolutely no chirpy birds around. A death-like silence gripped the place. It was the abode of the most poisonous snake Chandkaushik. He was so poisonous that he could kill a person or animal just by casting its evil, angry glance at them. Even the air around the forest was so poisonous that no creatures would dare to venture into its precincts. You can call him the equivalent or the original version of the Basilisk who resided in the chamber of secrets of the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

One day it so happened that Lord Mahavir had to travel to this village of Vichala. Mahavir, when he was a monk, would travel barefoot from one village to another. He would fast, meditate and perform penance. When the villagers learnt of Mahavir's intention to cross the forest, they were petrified, asking him to change his mind or to change his route. But Mahavir knew no fear for he was at peace with himself and other living beings. He convinced the people that everything would be all right, and he took the dangerous path. After a while, he noticed that the entire place was overflowing with negative energy. Taking a deep breath, Mahavir closed his eyes to meditate. Peace, tranquillity and compassion flowed from his heart, for all living things. A wave of calmness flooded the entire area. Chandakaushik sensed a change in the energy field around him. He also felt an intruder in his space. Burning in anger he slithered out and started hissing and spitting out the venom. “How dare he come into my space?”, he thought aloud. But even with so much poison in the air, Mahavir was calm and composed with absolutely no signs of being threatened. This made Chandkaushik angrier and he blew venom towards Mahavir. The venom neither affected Mahavir nor disturbed his meditation. Chandkaushik was not ready for this. An exasperated Chandkaushik bit Mahavir’s toe. When he looked at the man again, he was flabbergasted- the pious man was as calm as ever and instead of blood, milk flowed from his toe. 

As Mahavir opened his eyes, he was calm with no fear or anger on him. Looking at Chandkaushik, in its eyes, Mahavir told him, “Wake up Chandkaushik!! Realize what you are doing!” There was an indescribable sense of warmth and affection in those words, in that gaze. It calmed the burning rage inside Chandkaushik. He suddenly remembered his two previous lives. 

His previous births flashed upon his inward eyes. He was a monk who lacked equanimity. He had a young disciple who would accompany him all the time. One day when they both went to seek alms, Chandkaushik happened to stamp upon a frog. The young monk said,” Guru, this calls for repentance. What shall you do?” The head monk disregarded the statement and continued with his business. As the day was drawing to a close, the young monk once more reminded his Guru of repentance. This angered the Guru to the extent that he picked up a stick and ran behind the young man. Blinded by anger and darkness he ran into a pillar and died in a state of anger. 

In his next birth, he was born as a monk in a forest with large farmlands to his credit. Thanks to all the good karma that he had accumulated from his previous birth. But he was born with that foul temper of his. His farm had many fruit-bearing trees. The kids from nearby villages would steal his fruits which infuriated him. One day, he hid behind a tree with an axe to teach the kids a lesson. When the boys came, he rushed towards them, but unfortunately stumbled upon a stone and fell. His axe pierced into his head and he died in extreme agony and anger. His current birth was that of a poisonous snake.

Chandakaushik realized the truth of life, and what the anger and ego of his last two lives had done to him. He bent his head peacefully to the ground. Mahavir continued his journey. In complete submission, Chandkaushik retreated to his hole with his head inside and body outside. Over time, people realised that Chandkaushik was no longer harmful. Some people offered milk and fruits while some others threw stones for what he had done to their loved ones. Chandkaushik did not react and continued his penance. Blood, food and milk attracted ants, but the bites did not break his restraint. This control destroyed many of his bad karma and his life ebbed away and he attained salvation. 

Anger is a very strong emotion. We have all felt the pangs of anger in various degrees at some time or the other. And being blinded by this acid, our logic and reasoning fail us filling our heart and soul with hatred. What we refuse to understand is that this hatred which is caused by anger is so strong that we keep finding fault with even those who are striving hard to make our lives a little more fruitful. Don’t let that happen, do not be another Chandkaushik whose words spit out venom as spoken words cannot be taken back. 

Today the time cycle has changed. There is no waiting period beyond births, karma pays back in this life. All the anger and venom that is pent up within us shall only attract negativity. Karma is nothing but the response of the universe to our current thoughts and deeds. 

The Law of attraction never lets us down.