A Protector Protects

Yesterday, I had the occasion to drive down to Siesta Key for a while. I often chant mantras while driving alone, not counting them because the mala could interfere with driving. I just change which one I chant at irregular intervals. Last night I was driving back to Plant City from there. I had chosen to take US41 rather than Interstate 75, but decided that I would take Interstate 4 from Tampa. However, there was a construction zone where the four eastbound lanes were routed into one. When we got to the final shift of two lanes into one, I had my blinker on for quite a distance before I saw a space into which I could move. When I moved over, someone seemed to get upset although he was well back from me when I did it.
At this point in my mantra chanting, I was chanting the mantra for Achi Chokyi Drolma. The driver behind me kept driving up very close very quickly even flashing his high beams. I had nowhere to go to get out of his lane and there was also Highway Patrol car parked among the construction vehicles with its strobes flashing. I felt my heartbeat increase and my blood pressure rise, the first feelings of rising anger. However, instead of overwhelming me I felt the anger subside. Just as I recognized this happening within me, I also noticed that the driver behind had stopped the aggressive behavior, perhaps having notice the Highway Patrol car also.
I realized that I had been protected by Achi, not only from the danger of an aggressive driver, but also from the effects of anger which had started but dissipated. I actually started to feel bad for the driver who had been overwhelmed by anger. It was truly sad that he or she seemed to suffer from all the poisons: anger, attachment and ignorance. My incipient anger was replaced by compassion for someone suffering but not knowing why or what to do about it. This inspired me to chant the Chenrezig mantra as well as the Green Tara mantra until I got home. It also helped me remember to dedicate my chanting to benefit all sentient beings.