Trick or Treat, Amherst, NH, Halloween 2002, Sony Cybershot, Exposure 1/10 sec @ f5.0, ISO 100, no flash © Steven Crisp [Click on the photo to enlarge]Tell me, how do you feel about your enemy?
Who is he? Why is he your enemy?
‘Enemy’ is but a label, like ‘white’, ‘black’ ‘Hispanic’, ‘Jew’, ‘Muslim’, ‘Fundamentalist’. It is a word, a concept — it is not real.
He is not your enemy. He is a human being. He is your brother.
How can this be? You say he wants to kill you! He hates you!
No he doesn’t. He hates his enemy. He wants to kill his enemy. That is what he’s been taught. And so have you.
Likely from your father. From your teacher (or your history books). Perhaps from your religion (or at least its history). Your politicians. The media.
Would you harm your real brother? Would you exact judgment against your true friend? Would you ask him to pay for the sins of his father?
Don’t you see the madness? Don’t you see how we all create this madness in our minds? Wake up! Open your eyes!
But you say he must change first, lest you be harmed. He must prove his peacefulness, while you keep the ability to strike. You are still asleep.
And this bad dream — this nightmare of conflict — will not be over until you see that you and your “enemy” are one. And you have no reason to hurt yourself.
You can hear the small, quiet voice inside. You hear it and know this is truth. You can understand the wisdom. Awaken! And love your enemy as your brother.
There is no other way. There need be no other way. You understand this deep within you. It is time to embrace it.
2 comments:
Nice thoughts. What it it: "We have found the enemy and he is us?' What did Begin and Sadat accomplish with precisely the process you have described. Look at Northern Ireland. What massive successes they are. How easy it is to see the glass half empty when indeed, it's easy to see it half full. As Jesus said, and the song goes: "Whatsover you do to the least of my brothers, that you do onto me."
Thanks Grasshopper. I wrote this blog entry long ago, and waited a long while to post it, and am only now able to truly appreciate its message.
As you say, one perspective is "We have found the enemy and he is us?'
I prefer another view -- which only works when we are very quiet and look deeply inside: "There is no enemy at all."
But (as you know) you must be quiet and reflective and introspective to find this understanding deep within.
If one is not quiet ... if, for example, the TV is on in the background tuned to Wolf Blitzer and the Situation Room, or the bill collectors are clamoring for their pound of flesh, or your business competitor wants to eat your lunch, you will only be able to conclude that I am completely nuts.
That may be true. But you won't know, until that incessant chatter is silenced.
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