Are You Born With A Short Temper?

Patience is needed,
even for impatience.

— Stonepeace | Get Books

A man went to call on a priest [Buddhist monk] for advice. “I was born with a short temper,” he confessed. “They say getting angry only makes matters worse and they’re right. After I let off steam I feel rotten, and I regret hurting other people’s feelings, but by then it’s too late. Is there anything I can do to rid myself of my short temper?” The priest smiled genially.”Well, well, you certainly were born with an interesting item,” he said. “If I am to fix it, though, I need to examine it. Do you have it with you now?”

“Well, no.” said the man. “I have nothing to be upset about now, so I can’t show it to you.” “That’s odd,” said the priest. “Since you told me just now that you were born with it, it must be somewhere on your person. Don’t be shy, just go ahead and bring it out for me to see.” “No,” repeated the man, “it’s not here.” “Then where is it?”

“When you put it like that, I don’t know what to say. Right now it isn’t anywhere.” “Of course it isn’t. No one is born with a short temper. The next time you start to blow up in irritation, ask yourself where that fit of temper came from. The answer is, it came from you yourself. To say you were born with it, as if it’s not your fault, is shirking responsibility.” Patience doesn’t just happen, but must be cultivated. It is all a matter of attitude. Change irritation to appreciation.

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