“Anger is a response to feelings of unhappiness, which in turn arise whenever we meet with unpleasant circumstances. Whenever we are prevented from fulfilling our wishes, or forced into a situation we dislike – in short, whenever we have to put up with something we would rather avoid – our uncontrolled mind reacts by immediately feeling unhappy. This uncomfortable feeling can easily turn into anger, and we become even more disturbed than before.”

- Geshe Kelsang Gyatso
‘How to Transform Your Life’

“It is essential that we learn new ways of relating to frustrations and disappointments. Since it is unreasonable to expect that we can fulfil all our wants and desires, we must cultivate a more realistic and balanced approach to them.”

- Geshe Kelsang Gyatso
‘How to Understand t’he Mind’

“It is a very useful exercise to examine the kinds of situation in which we get angry. We shall probably find that most of our anger arises when our desires are frustrated and we do not get what we want. For example, a man who very much wants to be with his lover will be extremely resentful of anyone or anything that prevents him from this. If his lover refuses to see him, or leaves him for someone else, his unhappiness can easily turn into rage. Since it is impossible to fulfil all our desires or to stop unwanted things happening to us, we need to find a different way of relating to frustrated desires and unwanted occurrences. We need to learn patient acceptance.”

- Geshe Kelsang Gyatso
‘How to Transform Your Life’

“Patience is a mind that is able to accept, fully and happily, whatever occurs. It is much more than just gritting our teeth and putting up with things. Being patient means to welcome wholeheartedly whatever arises, having given up the idea that things should be other than what they are. It is always possible to be patient; there is no situation so bad that it cannot be accepted patiently, with an open, accommodating, and peaceful heart.”

- Geshe Kelsang Gyatso
‘How to Transform Your Life’

“When patience is present in our mind it is impossible for unhappy thoughts to gain a foothold.”

- Geshe Kelsang Gyatso
‘How to Transform Your Life’

“By learning to accept the small difficulties and hardships that arise every day in the course of our lives, gradually our capacity for patient acceptance will increase and we shall come to know for ourself the freedom and joy that true patience brings.”

- Geshe Kelsang Gyatso
‘How to Transform Your Life’

“If we practise the patience of voluntarily accepting suffering, we can maintain a peaceful mind even when experiencing suffering and pain. If we maintain this peaceful and positive state of mind through the force of mindfulness, unhappy minds will have no opportunity to arise. On the other hand, if we allow ourself to dwell on unhappy thoughts there will be no way for us to prevent anger from arising. For this reason Geshe Chekhawa said, ‘Always rely upon a happy mind alone.'”

- Geshe Kelsang Gyatso
‘How to Transform Your Life’