Many spiritual traditions warn against the dangers of violence, anger, and other things which stem from or cause negative emotions. But few people realize just why its important to check yourself, so to say, when it comes to anger.
A lot of people I've known seem to enjoy getting angry, (it can sometimes be satisfying, at least in the short-term) but very few people enjoy that anger directed towards them. This is precisely why its important not to put it out. Because, what goes around comes around. That's the principle of karma. But karma is much more than the universe's way of punishing people. Its quite literally the Self treating the Self to what it deserves, in other words, far from others being simply your brothers and sisters in humanity, your fellow humans (and indeed all creatures) are quite literally, your very Self. Treating them well leads to you being treated well, and treating them badly likewise.
As it says in the Sublime song, "try and test that, you're bound to get served...."
You can try and test it, and I can promise you, you will come to this same conclusion. At any rate, many of us have had other people in our lives who had anger trouble, and its a good way to learn what not to do.
In the dhammapada it says, "He who checks rising anger as a charioteer checks a rolling chariot, him I call a true charioteer. Others only hold the reins."
To truly think about how you would want to be treated, is a very interesting exercise. And it can be very eye-opening. Another transcendental thinker, Maynard James Keenan, who is the lead singer for the band Tool, once mentioned in an interview that he sometimes writes down all the mean things he thinks about somebody and then imagines that he's actually talking about himself. It might be an interesting practice for you to try.
If you want to buy the Dhammapada, this is the best version I think.
It's full of wisdom you will continue to think about. It can make your life better, and the world better...that's a fact!
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