In ancient times, there was a woman who particularly enjoyed getting angry over trivial little things. She knew that it wasn't good to be this way, so she sought out a high monk to teach her Zen and broaden her mind. After hearing her story, the monk silently led her to a Zen room and locked her inside before leaving.
The woman jumped up and down in anger, cursing loudly. After yelling for quite some time, the monk paid no attention. The woman then began pleading, but the monk still ignored her. Finally, the woman fell silent. The monk came to the door and asked her, "Are you still angry?"
The woman replied, "I am only angry with myself, how did I end up in such a place to suffer like this."
"How can one whose own self is not forgiven have a calm heart?" said the monk as he turned and left.
After a while, the monk asked her again, "Are you still angry?"
"No," said the woman.
"Why?"
"There's nothing I can do about being angry," she replied.
"Your anger has not disappeared, it is still buried in your heart. When it bursts forth, it will be even more intense," said the monk as he left once more.
When the monk came to the door for the third time, the woman told him, "I'm not angry anymore because it's not worth it."
"You still know whether or not it's worth it, which shows there is still judgment in your heart, and thus the root of anger remains," laughed the monk.
As the monk's figure stood against the setting sun outside the door, the woman asked the monk, "Master, what is anger?"
The monk poured out the tea water in his hand onto the ground. The woman stared at it for a long time and suddenly understood. She thanked him and left.
Why bother to be angry? Anger is the kind of thing that others spit out and you catch in your mouth. If you swallow it, you'll feel nauseous. If you ignore it, it will dissipate.
Anger is punishing yourself for someone else's mistake. The sunset shines like gold, the moonlight gleams like silver. There are endless happiness and joy in life to enjoy, where is there time to be angry?