Hatred, ill will or anger is that tendency within us which resents an action of another which challenges our right to what we desire. Our general tendency is to try and dominate others, and we want others to obey our will while suppressing their own; so when someone opposes his will against ours, our action is like that of a gog with a bone when another dog approaches.
Though absence of hatred is a grand thing, it is not enough unless its active aspect is emphasized – that is, loving-kindness. Not to evil is very good, but it is only a negative aspect. To do good is the positive aspects.
We become irritated in many ways, and although our irritation may be slight, if it is allowed to go on day by day it will grow into a deep hatred. Wherever there is displeasure, there is ill will in a subtle or gross way.
Some people are proud to speak of ‘My anger’, but anger can never be justified, because it harms the producer as well as others.
If we do anything with hatred with hatred, inevitably we shall have a bad, unpleasant result which we cannot change, either by prayers, wishes or desire, it will produce its effect.
When a man is angry he is ‘beside himself’, as the saying goes, being swept along by a torrent of hatred. it is due to this anger that disputes arise between one individual and another, between one nation and another. Such people as are blinded by anger cannot see that ‘hatred ceaseth not by hatred, but by love’. Some people may doubt as to whether love can be a basis of policy for settlement, but true love is not what some people look upon as a soft feminine virtue, it is a masculine dynamic power which breaks all the barriers which separate beings from one another.
Strong anger is anger with which we do unpleasant things, speak harsh, abusive words and do destructive actions. Sorrow is a form of weak anger which we often hide so that others will not know of it, but inwardly it creates turmoil within us and if harboured for long can cause us to be ill, become weak.
Grieving sorrow, is very destructive, one should not allow oneself to be sorry. Weeping, by nature, is anger, and although people say it is natural to weep over the death of a dear one and they cannot help it, it is not an excuse for allowing an evil state of consciousness to arise. The loss of a beloved one is a great loss; but by weeping, being sorry, we lose our good moral consciousness, therefore we have a double loss. If we have to lose something, the wiser thing is to lose once, not twice.