Dear Friends:
The longer you live, and if you're paying attention, the more you see recurring patterns in human behavior. It seems that we have a collective response to anyone who does something harmful that is just instinctive. Any time there is a crime spree or financial scandal, we seem intent on preventing it from happening again. Those of us who have seen these things happen repeatedly have learned that you can't prevent people from doing stupid or harmful things. You just can't.
So this is what we do: we oversimplify the situation, find someone to villify, declare those affected as victims, and pass more laws against the activity that stirred our anger. Then, self righteously, we ridicule or demonize the guilty constantly in our public discourse.
This does not help heal the world. I know "victims" of harmful actions that never heal because they constantly dwell on the unfairness of the situation. They constantly vilify those who harmed them. That's OK. It's their choice. There is, however, no freedom or healing in that choice.
Have you ever encountered a wounded animal? It will lash out because of the fear and pain. So it is with all creatures, even humans. Wounded people act in wounded ways. By realizing that people do harmful things because they themselves have been harmed, new possibilities are created. There is an opportunity to love.
I want to quote the Buddha here--one of my favorite passages:
“Look how he abused me and beat me,
How he threw me down and robbed me.”
Live with such thoughts and you live in hate.
“Look how he abused me and beat me,
How he threw me down and robbed me.”
Abandon such thoughts, and live in love.
In this world
Hate never dispelled hate.
Only love dispels hate.
This is the law,
Ancient and inexhaustible.
You too shall pass away.
Knowing this, how can you quarrel?
Dhammapada, translated by Thomas Byrom
The longer you live, and if you're paying attention, the more you see recurring patterns in human behavior. It seems that we have a collective response to anyone who does something harmful that is just instinctive. Any time there is a crime spree or financial scandal, we seem intent on preventing it from happening again. Those of us who have seen these things happen repeatedly have learned that you can't prevent people from doing stupid or harmful things. You just can't.
So this is what we do: we oversimplify the situation, find someone to villify, declare those affected as victims, and pass more laws against the activity that stirred our anger. Then, self righteously, we ridicule or demonize the guilty constantly in our public discourse.
This does not help heal the world. I know "victims" of harmful actions that never heal because they constantly dwell on the unfairness of the situation. They constantly vilify those who harmed them. That's OK. It's their choice. There is, however, no freedom or healing in that choice.
Have you ever encountered a wounded animal? It will lash out because of the fear and pain. So it is with all creatures, even humans. Wounded people act in wounded ways. By realizing that people do harmful things because they themselves have been harmed, new possibilities are created. There is an opportunity to love.
I want to quote the Buddha here--one of my favorite passages:
“Look how he abused me and beat me,
How he threw me down and robbed me.”
Live with such thoughts and you live in hate.
“Look how he abused me and beat me,
How he threw me down and robbed me.”
Abandon such thoughts, and live in love.
In this world
Hate never dispelled hate.
Only love dispels hate.
This is the law,
Ancient and inexhaustible.
You too shall pass away.
Knowing this, how can you quarrel?
Dhammapada, translated by Thomas Byrom
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