The prescription to love
your enemy and to requite evil with good is sometimes
thought of as an impractical or
impossible ethic, able to be practiced only by a few
exceptional souls. But, in fact, this doctrine is widely
taught in all religions as a fundamental principle for
pursuing relationships with others.
The person who insists upon
vengeance or retribution is not necessarily committing a
crime, but neither will his act of revenge be helpful to
spiritual advancement. Revenge, which requites evil with
evil, only multiplies evil in the world, while love, by in
which one strives to overcome evil with good, spreads
goodness in the world.
True love is unconditional and
impartial--thus the metaphor of the sun that shines down
on a ll life. It is tested and proven by encounters with
those who are difficult to love. Where true love prevails,
there no enemies are found.
------------ --------- ---------
--------- --------- --------- ---------
-------
"He abused me,
he beat me, he defeated me, he robbed me!" In those who
harbor such thoughts hatred is not
appeased.
"He abused me, he
beat me, he defeated me, he robbed me!" In those who do
not harbor such thoughts hatred is
appeased.
Hatreds never cease
through hatred in this world; through love alone they
cease. This is an eternal law.
1.Buddhism.
Dhammapada 3-5
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? Do not even the tax collectors do the
same? And if you salute only your br ethren, what more are
you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the
same? You, therefore, must be perfect, as your heavenly
Father is perfect.
2.Christianity.
Matthew 5.43-48
My Lord! Others
have fallen back in showing compassion to their
benefactors as you have shown compassion even to your
malefactors.20All this is unparalleled.
3.Jainism.
Vitaragastava 14.5
Of the adage, Only
a good man knows how to like people, knows how to dislike
them, Confucius said, "He whose heart is in the smallest
degree set upon Goodness will dislike no one."
4.Confucianism. Analects
4.3-4
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 bad, never giving up on my vows on this
account, not abandoning all sentient beings because one
sentient being is evil.
5.Buddhism.
Garland Sutra 23
What kind of love
is this that to another can shift? Says Nanak, 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.
6.Sikhism.
Adi Granth, Asa-ki-Var, M.2, p.
474
The sage has no
fixed [personal] ideas. He regards the people's ideas
as his own. I treat those who are good with
goodness, And I also treat those who are not good with
goodness. Thus goodness is
attained.
& nbsp;
I am honest with
those who are honest, And I am also honest with those
who are dishonest. Thus honesty is attained.
7.Taoism.
Tao Te Ching 49
It may 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
Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful.
8.Islam. Qur'an
60.7
Aid an enemy before
you aid a friend, to subdue hatred.
9.Judaism.
Tosefta, Baba Metzia 2.26
Do good to him who
has done you an injury.
10.Taoism. Tao
Te Ching 63
Do not be overcome
by evil, but overcome evil with good.
11.Christianity. Romans
12.21
God said, "Resemble
Me; just as I repay good for evil so do you also repay
good for evil."
12.Judaism.
Exodus Rabbah 26.2
Conquer anger by
love. Conquer evil by good. Conquer the stingy by giving.
Conquer the liar by truth.
13.Buddhism. Dhammapada
223
Man should subvert
anger by forgiveness, subdue pride by modesty, overcome
hypocrisy with simplicity, and greed by contentment.
14.Jainism. Samanasuttam
136
May generosity
triumph over niggardliness, May love triumph over
contempt, May the true-spoken word triumph over the
false-spoken word, May truth triumph over falsehood.
15.Zoroastrianism. Yasna
60.5
The good deed and
the evil deed are not alike. 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.
But none is granted
it save those who are steadfast, and none is granted it
save a person of great good fortune.
16.Islam.
Qur'an 41.34-35
A superior
being does not render evil for evil; this is a maxim one
should observe; the ornament of virtuous persons is their
conduct. 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?
17.Hinduism. Ramayana, Yuddha Kanda
115
The reason why God does not punish even though
He may see an enemy and have the urge to kill him and get
revenge, is that He is thinking of the enemy's parents,
wife and children who all love. Knowing all too well their
unparalleled love toward that person, God cannot strike
him with His iron rod. When you really understand such a
heart of God, could you take revenge on your enemy? When
you know all these things, you would even go and help that
person. In this manner one comes closer to the Great Way
of heavenly Principle, that Great Way which tries to
embrace everything centering on love. When this happens
earth will shake and induce even God to shed tears. "You
truly resemble me. How happy I am!" He will ex- claim. God
always looks at things in that perspective. This is how we
should understand the teaching to love one's enemy. The
source of such a power to love your enemy is neither
knowledge, nor money, nor earthly power. It is only true
love.
18.Unification Church. Sun Myung Moon,
3-30-90
Someone said, "What do you say concerning the
principle that injury should be recompensed with
kindness?" The Master said, "With what will20you then
recompense kindness? Recompense injury with justice, and
recompense kindness20with kindness."
19.Confucianism. Analects
14.36
According to Anas ibn Malik, the Prophet said,
"Help your brother whether he is oppressor or
oppressed."
According to Anas, after the Messenger of God
said, "Help your brother whether he is oppressor or
oppressed," Anas replied to him, "O Messenger of God, a
man who is oppressed I am ready to help, but how does one
help an oppressor?" "By hindering him doing wrong," he
said.
20.Islam. Hadith of Bukhari
By
Oconour
|