How do we defeat hatred?
To answer that question, we can use this comparative analogy: how do you put out a fire? You deprive fire of the fuel and oxygen needed to keep the flames high and cause it to spread—you smother it. Likewise, we can defeat hatred by smothering it with a deeper and more profound sense of the true meaning of Love. But does this mean turning a “blind eye” to the effects of hatred? No, not all. It means not allowing ourselves to be blinded by a poisonous anger and rage that would cause us to react in kind, to escalate rather than diffuse hatred.
Acts of hatred, intolerance, brutality, terrorism—between individuals, opposing groups, or countries—cannot, and should not be tolerated. We must remain vigilant and mindful of dangerous challenges and situations, and appropriate measures must be taken to protect society from the destructive effects of unbridled hatred. But any action taken must be motivated by a deep love for humanity, by a desire to bring healing to the world’s pain—not by hatred for others, even the perpetrators.
When we feel hatred in our hearts for another—no matter how justified that may seem—it brings clouds of darkness to our thought and to our spirit where illumination of the proper paths for dealing with the challenge may be obscured. Our judgment can be distorted and we may exacerbate, rather than improve, the situation.
The constant cycle of revenge and retribution have been the hallmarks of the history of humankind’s existence on this planet. It has gotten us nowhere; the flames just grow higher and spread wider. It is long past the time to take a mental, spiritual stand and declare that hatred will have no place in our thought. Right now we can make the determination to live our lives filled with love. We can find ways within our hearts and lives to actively support the spread of love that can bring healing to others. These acts of kindness and goodness—led by a clear thought unfettered by the scourge of hated—will eventually smother and extinguish acrimony, enmity, and malice.
Let’s take a stand to lift up what is good and worthy, discard what is baneful in human interaction, root out any barriers within our institutions—secular and religious—that defy and prevent unity of all humanity, and teach our children from the time they are very young that hatred in any form is unacceptable. Instruct and show them by example that Love is the ultimate healer and the method by which we can bless our world and uplift all humanity.
To answer that question, we can use this comparative analogy: how do you put out a fire? You deprive fire of the fuel and oxygen needed to keep the flames high and cause it to spread—you smother it. Likewise, we can defeat hatred by smothering it with a deeper and more profound sense of the true meaning of Love. But does this mean turning a “blind eye” to the effects of hatred? No, not all. It means not allowing ourselves to be blinded by a poisonous anger and rage that would cause us to react in kind, to escalate rather than diffuse hatred.
Acts of hatred, intolerance, brutality, terrorism—between individuals, opposing groups, or countries—cannot, and should not be tolerated. We must remain vigilant and mindful of dangerous challenges and situations, and appropriate measures must be taken to protect society from the destructive effects of unbridled hatred. But any action taken must be motivated by a deep love for humanity, by a desire to bring healing to the world’s pain—not by hatred for others, even the perpetrators.
When we feel hatred in our hearts for another—no matter how justified that may seem—it brings clouds of darkness to our thought and to our spirit where illumination of the proper paths for dealing with the challenge may be obscured. Our judgment can be distorted and we may exacerbate, rather than improve, the situation.
The constant cycle of revenge and retribution have been the hallmarks of the history of humankind’s existence on this planet. It has gotten us nowhere; the flames just grow higher and spread wider. It is long past the time to take a mental, spiritual stand and declare that hatred will have no place in our thought. Right now we can make the determination to live our lives filled with love. We can find ways within our hearts and lives to actively support the spread of love that can bring healing to others. These acts of kindness and goodness—led by a clear thought unfettered by the scourge of hated—will eventually smother and extinguish acrimony, enmity, and malice.
Let’s take a stand to lift up what is good and worthy, discard what is baneful in human interaction, root out any barriers within our institutions—secular and religious—that defy and prevent unity of all humanity, and teach our children from the time they are very young that hatred in any form is unacceptable. Instruct and show them by example that Love is the ultimate healer and the method by which we can bless our world and uplift all humanity.
