Why Do We Shout In Anger?
by Unknown
[Listen to Audio!]
 A saint who was once visiting a river to take a bath found a group of family members on the banks, shouting in anger at each other. He turned to his disciples, smiled and asked.
‘Why do people in anger shout at each other?’
The disciples thought for a while, then one of them said, ‘Because we lose our calm, we shout.’
‘But, why should you shout when the other person is just next to you? You can as well tell him what you have to say in a soft manner,’ asked the saint.
The disciples gave some other answers but none satisfied the other disciples.
Finally the saint explained,
‘When two people are angry at each other, their hearts distance a lot. To cover that distance they must shout to be able to hear each other. The angrier they are, the stronger they will have to shout to hear each other to cover that great distance.
What happens when two people fall in love? They don’t shout at each other but talk softly, because their hearts are very close. The distance between them is either nonexistent or very small…’
The saint continued, ‘When they love each other even more, what happens? They do not speak, only whisper and they get even closer to each other in their love. Finally they need not even whisper, they only look at each other and that’s all. That is how close two people are when they love each other.’
He looked at his disciples and said,
‘So when you argue do not let your hearts get distant, do not say words that distance each other more, or else there will come a day when the distance is so great that you will not find the path to return.’
Latest Community Insights  |
Why Do We Shout In Anger?
What do you make of the relation between the intensity of communication and the closeness of hearts? When we find ourselves in a situation where we are either shouting or being shouted at, how might we transform the situation and bridge the distance that has developed? Can you share a personal experience that illustrates the bridging of this distance? |
| Pratibha wrote: Well shouting sometimes seems to give more emphasis, but does it? Sometimes not. Different strokes work for different folks, so goes the saying. … |
| Amy wrote: When people shout out of anger, my ears stop listening. When people shout, out of need, I hear. … |
| Conrad P Pritscher wrote: The relation between the intensity of communication and the closeness of the hearts is a fine analogy. What also came to me was that as one’s emotions become overly strong, the intellect … |
| david doane wrote: I agree that when two people are angry at each other their hearts distance. I don’t think they shout to cover the distance to be able to hear each other. I think they shout to force their… |
| Jeremy wrote: Beautiful teaching! Smiles and Bows 🙂 … |
| Share/Read Reflections >> |
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