There’s the love for your fellow human beings - and this is the love I mean. There’s the love for a child you’ve never met but who somehow pulls at your heartstrings. Then there’s the love you have for someone who just did something wonderful for you, whether that’s someone you know or a complete stranger. There’s the love you have for your children, your siblings, your parents, your best friends … all of these are different in some way. You get the picture.Īnd what does it mean to love these people? Obviously it’s non-romantic love, but there’s lots of different kinds of non-romantic love. Maybe a teacher or a coworker or a boss who is mean to you. Maybe someone who did something horrible to a loved one, from physically hurting them to hitting them with a car to scarring them from a damaging relationship. Maybe a family member you’ve had a big fight with … maybe you’ve been angry at them for some time. Who are these people? Maybe someone who has picked on you or called you names or disrespected you in some way, causing you anger … maybe you hold a grudge against them. We’re not talking about terrorists or the French (kidding!) … we’re talking about people you really dislike, in any way. “Your enemy” doesn’t just mean the enemy of your state, of course. Well, it’s probably pretty self-explanatory, but I thought it would be good to be clear. Let’s explore these ideas a little more, if you’re interested. I’d also submit that the anger, hatred and resentment that lives within us is destructive and counterproductive. I’d submit that most of us have someone like that, in many cases multiple people in our lives who cause us anger or hatred or at least resentment, for something they’ve done in the past. This still might sound a bit grand or preachy, so let me bring this down to an everyday level: is there anyone in your life who you hate or just can’t stand? Maybe someone who just irritates you to no end, who you resent and feel bitterness towards? And if so, are you proud of that? Does it make you happy? And this is a universal problem: the hatred we feel for other people, hatred that wells up inside of us and causes destructive actions, for people who might have harmed us in some way but in the end are fellow human beings who we must live with in a common society.Īnd it’s an idea that was taught not only by Christ, but by Buddha, Gandhi, and many other great people and religions. Why is this message an important one, even if you’re not a Christian? I’m not here to discuss Christian teachings, but to address universal problems found in every human being, no matter what your religion or non-religion. That’s a powerful message, and it turns out, one of the greatest challenges in life. Not just “Love Thy Neighbor”, which in itself can be a difficult thing.īut “Love your enemies”. Whether you’re Christian or not, there’s something in the teachings of Jesus that is worth contemplation, for anyone who seeks to be a better person: his urging that we love our enemies. The other is mere business.” – Gandhi By Leo Babauta But to befriend the one who regards himself as your enemy is the quintessence of true religion. “It is easy enough to be friendly to one’s friends.
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