Reconciling Loving Your Enemies … (09/05/09)
“Though the prescription to ‘love your enemy’ is thought to be an impractical ethic, it is widely taught in all religions as a fundamental principle for pursuing relationships with others – if for no other reason than it is completely effective. Revenge, which requites evil with evil, only multiplies evil in the world, while love, in which one overcomes evil with gentle compassion & forgiveness, spreads goodness throughout the Universe. Indeed, where such love prevails, there no enemies are found. This is not only a moral law, but – in the few cases where it is actually attempted – a psychological reality.” ~ unknown
“Hatreds never cease through hatred in this world; through love alone they cease. This is an eternal law.”
~ Dhammapada 3-5 (Buddhism)
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward have you?”
~ Jesus in Matthew 5:43-46 (Christianity)
“My Lord! Others have fallen back in showing compassion to their benefactors as you have shown compassion even to your malefactors. All this is unparalleled.”
~ Vitaragastava 14.5 (Jainism)
“He whose heart is in the smallest degree set upon Goodness will dislike no one.”
~ Analects 4.3-4 (Confucianism)
I should be like the sun, shining universally on all without seeking thanks or reward, able to take care of all sentient beings even if they are unkind …”
~ Garland Sutra 23 (Buddhism)
“True lovers are those who are forever absorbed in the Beloved. Whoever discriminates between treatment held good or bad, is not a true lover–he rather is caught in calculations.”
~ Adi Granth, Asa-ki-Var, M.2 (Sikhism)
“I treat those who are good with goodness,
And I also treat those who are not good with goodness.
I am honest with those who are honest,
And I am also honest with those who are dishonest.”
~ Lao Tsu in Tao Te Ching 49 (Taoism)
“May it be that God will ordain love between you and those whom you hold as enemies. For God has power over all things; and God is most merciful.”
~ Qur’an 60.7 (Islam)
“Aid an enemy before you aid a friend, to subdue hatred.”
~ Tosefta, Baba Metzia 2.26 (Judaism)
“Do good to him who has done you an injury.”
~ Lao Tsu in Tao Te Ching 63 (Taoism)
“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
~ Paul in Romans 12.21 (Christianity)
God said, “Just as I repay good for evil so do you also repay good for evil.”
~ Exodus Rabbah 26.2 (Judaism)
“Conquer anger by love. Conquer evil by good. Conquer the stingy by giving. Conquer the liar by truth.”
~ Dhammapada 223 (Buddhism)
“Man should subvert anger by forgiveness, subdue pride by modesty, and overcome greed by contentment.”
~ Samanasuttam 136 (Jainism)
“May love triumph over contempt,
May truth triumph over falsehood.”
~ Yasna 60.5 (Zoroastrianism)
“Repel the evil deed with one which is better, then lo!, he between whom and you there was enmity shall become as though he were a bosom friend.”
~ Qur’an 41.34-35 (Islam)
“A superior being does not render evil for evil. One should never harm the wicked or the good or even criminals meriting death. A noble soul will ever exercise compassion even towards those who enjoy injuring others or those of cruel deeds when they are actually committing them–for who is without fault?”
~ Ramayana, Yuddha Kanda 115 (Hinduism)
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