Using Anger in the Service of the Lord
In Hawaii on 23 March 1969 Srila Prabhupada was asked the following question:
Don't followers of Krishna consciousness ever get angry?
Srila Prabhupada answered as follows:
Yes. They can get angry. Why not? They're very much angry to the nondevotees: "You rascal! Why you have not, are not surrendering yourself to God? You rascal." Yes. We are angry. This anger is service of Krishna. How can I give up anger? But we use anger in a different way, not for our sense gratification: "Why you have not paid me such and such money?" No, we don't say like that. "Why you are not Krishna conscious?" That is our anger. So the anger can be utilized in Krishna consciousness. Everything can be utilized in Krishna consciousness. Why should I give up anger? Krishna is also angry, and I am son of Krishna. So anger is in me because I have got the qualities of my father. So how can I give up anger? But I use anger only for Krishna. So we do not leave anything, but we utilize everything for Krishna. That is our Krishna consciousness philosophy. So (reading:) "Don't followers of Krishna consciousness ever get angry?" Yes, we get angry. Why not? We are not artificial. Human nature is to become anger, sometimes satisfied, sometimes... So we utilize this. We are angry when one is not Krishna conscious, when he's against God. --end of quote--
Srila Prabhupada has enlightened us that we can use anger in the service of the Lord to chastise miscreants. But we cannot use it for personal sense gratification.
I have personal experience of how using anger in the service of the Lord can be very effective. One day when I was a young brahmacari (a celibate monk) back in the 1970's I was carrying a basket full of Simply Wonderfuls (very tasty sweetballs) down University Avenue in Gainesville, Florida USA handing out one to everyone who came along the sidewalk. One smart aleck hippy approached me with big grin on his face and knocked the basket very hard throwing all of the Simply Wonderfuls out into the street. I became as angry as fire. I yelled very loudly at him pointing my finger right in his face. At the top of my lungs manifesting the full might of my anger I ordered him, "You better get out there and pick up all of those sweets right now!" I said this so forcefully that it give the impression that if he did not comply with my order I would severely beat him. The amazing thing is that by Krishna's grace my anger purified him of his puffed up attitude and he immediately ran out into the street and picked up all the sweets even though there many cars that would be moving as soon as the traffic light turned green. This anger saved the foolish boy from the very heavy sinful reaction of committing a great offense against Krishna prasadam.
If you have any questions, please write me at: sda@backtohome.com
Jewel Chowdhury
Please accept my blessings.
The most recommended process in this age for purification of the soul is to chant the Hare Krishna mantra as much as possible every day. Here’s how it goes:
Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare
Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare
George Harrison realized how powerful this mantra is and thus shared it with the world in his mega hit song, My Sweet Lord.
To learn how this chanting can make your life perfect check out my free e-course at: Ultimate Self Realization
Hoping this meets you well.
Your ever well-wisher,
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
P.S. Here is a nice picture of George Harrison chanting Hare Krishna with the Hare Krishna devotees.
Don't followers of Krishna consciousness ever get angry?
Srila Prabhupada answered as follows:
Yes. They can get angry. Why not? They're very much angry to the nondevotees: "You rascal! Why you have not, are not surrendering yourself to God? You rascal." Yes. We are angry. This anger is service of Krishna. How can I give up anger? But we use anger in a different way, not for our sense gratification: "Why you have not paid me such and such money?" No, we don't say like that. "Why you are not Krishna conscious?" That is our anger. So the anger can be utilized in Krishna consciousness. Everything can be utilized in Krishna consciousness. Why should I give up anger? Krishna is also angry, and I am son of Krishna. So anger is in me because I have got the qualities of my father. So how can I give up anger? But I use anger only for Krishna. So we do not leave anything, but we utilize everything for Krishna. That is our Krishna consciousness philosophy. So (reading:) "Don't followers of Krishna consciousness ever get angry?" Yes, we get angry. Why not? We are not artificial. Human nature is to become anger, sometimes satisfied, sometimes... So we utilize this. We are angry when one is not Krishna conscious, when he's against God. --end of quote--
Srila Prabhupada has enlightened us that we can use anger in the service of the Lord to chastise miscreants. But we cannot use it for personal sense gratification.
I have personal experience of how using anger in the service of the Lord can be very effective. One day when I was a young brahmacari (a celibate monk) back in the 1970's I was carrying a basket full of Simply Wonderfuls (very tasty sweetballs) down University Avenue in Gainesville, Florida USA handing out one to everyone who came along the sidewalk. One smart aleck hippy approached me with big grin on his face and knocked the basket very hard throwing all of the Simply Wonderfuls out into the street. I became as angry as fire. I yelled very loudly at him pointing my finger right in his face. At the top of my lungs manifesting the full might of my anger I ordered him, "You better get out there and pick up all of those sweets right now!" I said this so forcefully that it give the impression that if he did not comply with my order I would severely beat him. The amazing thing is that by Krishna's grace my anger purified him of his puffed up attitude and he immediately ran out into the street and picked up all the sweets even though there many cars that would be moving as soon as the traffic light turned green. This anger saved the foolish boy from the very heavy sinful reaction of committing a great offense against Krishna prasadam.
If you have any questions, please write me at: sda@backtohome.com
Maharaja Parikshit Used Anger to Chastise the Personality of Kali
Answers According to the Vedic Wisdom
Question: Soul Purification?
What can be done daily for the purification of the soul?Jewel Chowdhury
Answer: Chant Hare Krishna
My Dear Jewel,Please accept my blessings.
The most recommended process in this age for purification of the soul is to chant the Hare Krishna mantra as much as possible every day. Here’s how it goes:
Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare
Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare
George Harrison realized how powerful this mantra is and thus shared it with the world in his mega hit song, My Sweet Lord.
To learn how this chanting can make your life perfect check out my free e-course at: Ultimate Self Realization
Hoping this meets you well.
Your ever well-wisher,
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
P.S. Here is a nice picture of George Harrison chanting Hare Krishna with the Hare Krishna devotees.
George Chants with the Devotees
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