Page 29 - Faith Personified

preserve good thoughts. Only then will good activities
successfully produce such good thoughts. For example, a
person is regularly listening to sermons inspiring the practice
of celibacy and developing dislike towards lustful actions but
there is absolutely no control in his conduct; instead, he is
deeply engrossed in sexual activities. Then how can he develop
and strengthen his hatred towards it? His activities completely
contradict his goals. This should be understood for other

religious acts as well. If there is no control or reluctance in
carrying out sinful activities, it is difficult to create hatred
towards them.

Inspite of listening to the evils of anger and the benefits of
forgiveness, if he gives his anger a free vein and is happy
when it subjugates his opponent, how will he be able to truly
despise anger? For that he will have to strive to control anger

to some extent. If not completely, he should atleast have
remorse over his anger. Even a little control and remorse in
the beginning will prove elemental in detesting and discarding
anger completely.

The weirdness of our regret over anger

Analyse your weird thoughts and acts – are they in sync with

my interpretation?

You say, “We cannot control anger but surely consider it as
our weakness and hence regret it.” Now, when do you regret
your anger? If the opponent immediately accepts his mistake
and begs pardon, do you regret your anger then? Or do you

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