There’s a medical condition that results from the blockage of arteries, in which blood is unable to flow properly. Spiritually, there’s also such a thing as hardening of the heart, wherein love is unable to flow through one’s being. Its causes—pride and anger.
Pride makes us think in destructive ways, like, “I’m much better than the people around me—I can see their faults clearly! Since I am endowed with good qualities, they need me to help them.”
When a person is full of pride, he reacts with anger if he doesn’t get his way. When his mistakes are pointed out, he thinks, “People don’t recognize my superiority. How dare they say that I have faults and weaknesses? They don’t know me at all!”
Illusory energy
Anger leads to self-deception—not unlike people who claim that they aren’t sick, even when the symptoms of their illness prove otherwise. When the heart is hard, love cannot flow freely!
To get better, a person must acknowledge his illness. We must see the truth beyond pride and anger. Recognizing the problem is the first step to seeking a cure—but, this requires humility. In yoga, the cure for pride and anger is achieved by chanting the names of the Supreme Being, which are purifying and cleansing.
How do we overcome anger? God’s names are endowed with transcendental potency to cleanse. Let’s chant them with humility. If we partake in this cure, our hearts will overflow with love for the Supreme Being. If we choose to stay angry, we will die empty and bitter!