THE GIFT OF ANGER by Arun Gandhi
“Every time you feel great anger, stop and write down who or what caused your feelings and why you reacted so angrily. The goal is to get to the root of the anger. Only when you understand the source can you find a solution.”
I started my 2022 with a couple of books about the depths of our unconscious thoughts and the benefits of a day-to-day meditation practice.
This wonderful book written by Gandhi’s grandson was the perfect follow up from that, exploring how we can overcome our anger and bring some clarity and peace into our lives.
It was captivating to read about the events that happened during the two years Arun lived with his grandfather, especially about Gandhi’s freedom fight, their life at the ashram and the relationship dynamics between the two.
Each chapter is dedicated to specific teachings from Gandhi’s personal experiences and his philosophy to live a non-violent life:
Use anger for good - “An eye for an eye only makes the world go blind”
Don’t be afraid to speak up - “Speak only if it improves upon the silence.”
Appreciate solitude - “I will not let anyone walk through my mind with their dirty feet.”
Know your worth - “You may have occasion to possess or use material things, but the secret of life lies in never missing them."
Lies are clutter - “Truth is one, paths are many."
Waste is violence - “Earth provides enough to satisfy every man's needs, but not every man's greed.”
Practice non-violent parenting - “There is no school equal to a decent home and no teacher equal to a virtuous parent.”
Humility is strength - "The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong."
The pillars of non-violence - "To my mind, the life of a lamb is no less precious than that of a human being."
You will be tested - "Nobody can hurt me without my permission."
Lesson for today - “The day the power of love overrules the love of power, the world will know peace.”
I see this book as a beautiful tribute from a grandson to his grandfather, who also happened to be a world famous activist and humanitarian. On several occasions it surely made me think about my own grandfather and his life teachings.