Napoleon was prone to getting angry and see what happened to him. On December 31, 1810, Czar Alexander I of Russia withdrew from the Continental System. Napoleon had adopted it as a means of economic warfare against Britain. This was meant to choke off Great Britain’s trade with the rest of Europe in the early 1800s. Napoleon assembled a new army to attack Russia. Many years of war had weakened France, but Napoleon raised about 600,000 men. The Russian army had 200,000 men.
In June 1912, Napoleon’s army crossed the Neman River into Russia. The Russians retreated, denying Napoleon a decisive battle. In September, Napoleon fought the Russians at Borodino, near Moscow. The battle resulted in many causalities on both sides, but produced no clear winner. Again, the Russians withdrew.
Napoleon pushed on to Moscow only to find the city empty. Soon after the French army entered Moscow, large parts of the city were destroyed by fires that had been set by the retreating Russians. Napoleon waited in Moscow for Alexander to offer peace, but no such offer came. In mid-October, Napoleon unable to supply his troops, began the long retreat from Moscow. His soldiers struggled against snowstorms and freezing temperature. Soldiers and horses died of starvation and exposure. Of the 600,000 men in Napoleon’s army, about 500,000 died. This contributed to Napoleon’s fall and he was exiled to Elba.
From this sad story of Napoleon, perhaps the greatest General in history, we can learn that getting angry is of no use, rather it destroys a person, as it proved to be the undoing of Napoleon.
let us see what causes anger to surface in a person before we learn from the Bhagavad Gita and from common sense about ways to control it. The first and foremost cause is denial of lust, ie one’s craving for some enjoyment. (Gita 2.62) Envious nature promotes it. Superiority complex is of no help. Intolerance is a big cause of getting angry. Impatience does not help. Injustice infuriates. Ill health weakens a person against this enemy. Humiliation provides justification for it. Being cheated is another reason for becoming angry. Infidelity by a close person infuriates. Overstress contributes to it. Helplessness is of no help. So is frustration. Dislike of another person causes anger to surface. And the feeling that one can get away encourages one to be angry; he or she feels that it is safe to do.
What are the ill effects of angerIJ Straightaway, we can understand that one loses control over self. There is likelihood of injury to health like raised blood pressure, even a heart attack or a stroke. One gets in trouble. Anger causes severe strain on relationships. One appears foolish. One is likely to get sidetracked. Anger causes enmity, ever very serious ones. One is sure to lose one’s peace of mind. In an angry mood, one may take wrong steps/decisions, and may suffer irreparable losses.
Now we come to the ways to be able to control this gate to hell. (16.21) Mind control is a basic necessity if we are to get anywhere in this attempt. Faith in God’s justice cools down temper. Good sanskars help one to be calm. Tolerance definitely counters it. Patience is another good quality to have for curbing anger. Spiritual intelligence is a big medicine of it. (5.23) Reduction of stress helps. Desire to give up anger motivates one to kill this insatiable enemy, as does being aware of the ill effects of getting angry. Treating others as one would treat oneself douses the fire of anger. Control over lust is a big help in pursuit of this goal. All round improvement in nature contributes to control anger.
Personally, I am also a victim of anger. I am trying to preach to myself and writing this article is one way I am employing to help myself become a calmer person.
Bishnoi is a spiritual writer and can be reached at spiritual@ajitbishnoi.com