Image by Nick in exsiliovia FlickrDefinition from Wikipedia: Hatred (or hate) is a deep and emotional extreme dislike, directed against a certain object or class of objects.
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Like "Love", "hate" is a natural feeling which we all naturally possess. So there is nothing wrong with hatred itself.
"Love" and "hate" are two sides of one coin. One can love, one can also hate.
Any kinds of man-made disasters, such as wars, religion persecutions, miserable life experiences, etc., were not caused by "hatred", or at least "hatred" alone, but ignorance, narrow mind, selfishness, power abuse, etc.
A "hateful" person is not someone who doesn't love, but someone who only "love" him/herself. Because of this reason, a hateful person consider everyone else beside him/her as enemies, not as commensals (term?), or friends. This is how the life of a hateful person is full of hatred - because he/she is living in a "dangerous" environment everyday.
A hateful person can "love", but his/her "love" is rooted on possessiveness. This type of "love" may produce some temporary "happiness", but at the end it leads a person to miserable (even endless) sufferings.
A loving person can also "hate", but his/her hate is rooted on the love of life. This type of "hate" may riskly produce some sufferings, but it also creates chances to final justice and peace.
Like love can only do good when it grows in a loving heart, hate can only do harm when it grows in a hateful person.
Maybe hate is a product of not being able to love yourself, accept yourself, be in control of yourself?
ReplyDeleteI read a book recently called 'Women Who Love Too Much' and some of what I got from the book was, it seemed hate and anger came from trying to control others instead of focusing on yourself because you don't like/fear whats within you.
Loving from that angle can indeed include possessiveness.
claza, i found this definition of "hatred" on wikipedia:
ReplyDeleteHatred (or hate) is a deep and emotional extreme dislike, directed against a certain object or class of objects.
I believe that hatred stems from an unwillingness to let go of the the bitterness associated with wounded pride (ego) and unforgiveness. Bitterness is a toxin that we prepare for someone else, but then drink ourselves. It is a concentrated dose of emotional poison, often one that we carefully nurture and grow over the course of years against those who we choose not to forgive.
ReplyDelete"Hate is the coward’s revenge for being humiliated." – George Bernard Shaw in Major Barbara
Take a "hate test." Think about someone who hurt you in the past, and consider these three "heart checks."
First, if you hate someone, do you choose to rerun the scene (or scenes) that led to your hatred and "play it again Sam" in your mind over and over? Are you choosing to hold onto the memory and emotions you manifested when that scene actually took place? How's that working for you?
Second, if you hate someone, can you still wish the best for a person who's hurt you? Or are you choosing to hold onto the memory and emotions you manifested when that scene or the scenes actually took place? How's that working for you?
Third, if you hate someone, are you seeking revenge? Do you want that person to hurt just as you were hurt? Do you secretly desire this individual to experience the same pain you felt? How's that working for you?
Clearly, when we choose to hate and become and remain bitter rather than choosing to forgive our lives are filled with prejudice and hate. Search for tomorrow, but there's only yesterday -- replaying the scene(s) where our egos were bruised or damaged time and time again. Forgiveness is never easy but it's only after we let go of hatred and bitterness associated with past events that we can live mindfully in the present moment.