If we react to a situation in which people are already angry by becoming angry ourselves, then we are making the situation worse. We will have allowed another’s anger to destroy our peace of mind and rob us of our mind of compassion.
If we fall into the habit of proceeding from bitterness and anger, then we will be reacting out of blind, destructive emotion. When we do this, we are not helping anyone—not the other person, not ourselves—because we will become emotionally ensnared in the other person’s situation. If we can remain calm, we will have a much better chance of successfully utilizing our innate wisdom and thus knowing how to be truly helpful.