A Different Love Trumps Hate
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This video clip below came my way and I would hate to say that not only is this guy is correct right near the end of his talk, but he is expressing the same thoughts as the Buddha and myself…well, at least the last part. This link will skip over to 3 minutes 38 seconds. Remainder running time is about 2 minutes. NOTE: There is more I say below after this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CceQISThDYQ#t=3m38s
The exact quote is from The Buddha, Dhammapada verse #5: The Late Venerable Narada’s Translation*:
Hatred never ceases through hatred in this world; Through love alone they cease. This is an eternal law.
In Pāḷi this is: Na hi verena verāni sammantīdha kudācanaṃ Averena ca sammanti esa dhammo sanantano.
In short, do not fight hate with hate, only fight with love.
I have said this with my actions of inviting Muslims to Pa-Auk to serve rice for my Jewish parents in 2014. I have said this in my open letter to Ma Ba Tha. I hope that the Sri Lankans can relate this to their past troubles with the Tamil People. I hope that the Myanmar people can relate this to their current troubles with the Muslims. I hope the West can relate this to ISIS. And I hope that ISIS can relate this to the West.
One quote from “The Grateful Dead”…(Uncle John’s Band)*
It’s the same story the crow told me It’s the only one he knows Like the morning sun you come And like the wind you go Ain’t no time to hate Barely time to wait”
I have said the following to other people and also myself at times:
“Be the better person,” “Give a gift to someone who hates you.” “Write a letter to a family member you have not spoken to…at least once a year”
This is not my invention. It has been advised to me in one form or another and I pass it on to you.
Story: Not so long ago there was a monk who did not like me (It happens in the monastic world too). He has not spoken to me since June 2015 because I did not want to listen to him about how someone could put drugs inside my luggage while in transit to Hawaii. He started several times and I cut him short several times. That was what happened, and we have not spoken since.
However, last month or so, during our uposatha or sabbath day, I heard that he was having problems with varicose veins, which was something that affected me two years prior. I went through the whole process and I am quite knowledgeable in it. Because he was in pain, he listened to my advisement. I couldn’t help myself and just stand there and stay silent even though I knew he did not want to speak to me… We spoke for some time and later, I came to him and offered him all of the medicine and oils I had and a leg stocking which helps the condition. Although I may have needed it later, I gave it all to him with a wish. “May this help you and may I also never need this medicine too.” I told him what can be done (not much can be done), warned him about surgery options and what the doctors will say. All of that was confirmed by the doctors he saw later that night. Now we speak to each-other.
Cover photo is cc0 @ https://static.pexels.com/photos/13918/pexels-photo-13918.webp *slightly modified translation:
*I have still have not listened to these guys since 2001, but it was tempting. Lyrics pasted from the internet.
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