There is something in us as human beings that cannot and will not be quenched. I become more and more aware each day that there is "something" bigger out there that has the potential to span our entire, infinite universe. I also believe that this same "something" has the ability to hide or cradle itself in each and every one of our hearts. And while I have come to believe all of this through my own observations and circumstances, there is one slight paradox that continues to bug me. Believing "something" or knowing "something" can never ensure understanding. Nonetheless, I have found much comfort in my notions.
It was the Buddha who taught his followers that suffering is born out of wanting things. Hermann Hesse wrote that suffering only captivates us because we fear it. The basis for most Christian teachings show that hatred leads to suffering. This is where I begin my equations.
Let me, for the moment, simply state that:
a) Suffering is born out of hatred.
And if suffering is truly the child of hate then:
b) Hatred must also only captivate us because we fear it.
Moreover, the notion that people only fear what they are unable to understand has been taught to me and felt within me for as long as I can remember. This where I am met with yet another contradiction. Or perhaps, a support to my aforementioned theory. We are afraid of what we don't know. Yes, this all may be true but it was also I who stated that trying to obtain knowledge about something (what we fear) doesn't ensure understanding. If we as human beings are incapable of understanding, then how do we control our fear and ultimately -- our hatred? In the light of honesty and humility, I'm not quite sure. It would be easy for me to say that we can only fight hatred with love but I don't think that's is the definitive answer. Even MLK has been quoted as saying that the opposite of hate is not love but mere apathy.
As you can imagine, I have more questions than answers. Until next time ...
1 comment:
very honest
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