SOLVING ENMITIES
People often think of certain communities as their enemies. And then, on the basis of this imaginary perception, they start fighting against them, supposedly to save themselves from the consequences of their enmity. This imaginary enemy of theirs is, however, wholly false. And so are those actions which they engage in to counter this so-called enemy’s imagined threat.
Enmity is not a constant aspect of human existence, unlike, say, the fingers of one’s hands. It is just a superficial aspect. Through positive actions, every enmity can be ended. It is like a bit of dirt that stains a glass. This bit of dirt can easily be removed—by simply washing it off with some water. A bit of dirt on a glass is not a problem in itself. The problem is created when you do not have clean water to wash it off.
It takes two hands to clap; one hand alone cannot produce a clap. In the same way, enmity is sustained by both sides. If someone regards you as an enemy, you can choose not to regard him in the same way. By refusing to respond with hostility, you deprive his enmity of the response it needs to continue.
The most effective way to end enmity is not to become the enemy of someone who considers you his enemy. This is a law of nature, and the laws of nature do not change.
