One way to help alleviate the pain caused by others is to think about them without rancor; to see them in the light of what is shared. We all have a past that has some pain and sorrow connected to it. This does have an affect on how we relate and respond to others, but also how others will respond to us. To understand that our enemies suffer the same way we do, may not improve the relationship, but it can lead to some empathy, which will lessen the power that we allow our reactions to have over us.
People should not be punished because we don’t like them, or because they belong to some group or religion. To love our neighbor as ourselves takes the ability to see deeply into our souls and not flinch at what we see. Self knowledge cancels the need to project our pain, darkness and whatever else we dislike about ourselves onto others. When it happens to us, hopefully we can empathize with those who hate or dislike us. This is not easy, but the more this is accomplished the freer we become and the less we cause suffering to others and also we can become free from the pain that others can cause us.
Br. Mark Dohle, OCSO
