How do you "love your enemy"?

Question

What positive things have you learned from the people that provoke the most resentment and animosity in you? Are you grateful for their presence in your life?

Answer 1

smile, it confuses them (lol)

Answer 2

I don't consider anyone my enemy. I know that sounds like I'm hedging but I really am not. At one time, my mother was my perceived enemy. For a good 15 years of my life we battled back and forth and never got anywhere. One day, literally, I decided it was better to love without condition and not try to change her. It worked and is still working. I treat everyone the same way I treat my mother. If I treat others with respect and dignity then eventually I will get it return. Mom taught me that love truly is the answer. I am very grateful for her presence in my life even if she drives me nuts:)

Answer 3

This kind of love is not a feeling. It's an action. Loving my enemy means that if someone beats me to within an inch of my life and a year later I see the same person being beaten by others, I step in to defend him even though my carnal self would enjoy the irony. After a while, practicing this kind of love does lead to feeling love as well. It's the kind of love you would have for a close friend or sibling.

Answer 4

This is an extremely relevant question for everyone. In life there will always be others on different paths, different roads. Sometimes our road intersects another's. When the interaction that results is uncomfortable for us we have a choice. The choice is always ours if we can remain conscious instead of falling into unconscious, habitual reactions which are generally our own projections onto others based on our past experiences. So, the answer would be, for me, to make the decision not to go there....by not adding to the others discomfort with my own discomfort. It is not easy unless you've had years of practicing right action (as in Buddhism) and in doing so, releasing ones own impure thoughts and behaviours whilst breathing new energy, through real practice of love and compassion, into and for the other. What have I learned? Hmm, heaps........in particular, others will still have their own way, and the best I can do, even in the face of their misconceptions about me for instance (not being who they want me to be, or not being who they think I am), I am able to just love them as, as yet unrealised, sparks of divine light in a body. Life can be filled with such pain and terror for us all, from the small things to the immensely large, yet by realising that we share one planet home, and that we have numerous lifetimes to keep coming back to get better at being the pure us, we can really only love each other on the journey because we all get confused and mess up. I love us all.....really and with my whole heart. I like being here....and it is not always easy being someone that sees and knows so much yet who has a duty to pass it on for the sake of all our hearts. One day soon you may read my beautiful book about our hearts. And now, release the notion of the other people being other people in spiritual terms and love them for who and what they are. They are all loved by the great creator no matter what they've done on their earth journey this time around. The judgement may be ours but, really, it is not our responsibility to do that. We are here to truly learn the meaning of our OWN thoughts and actions, and to put them into PRACTICE. Not just think about being more of you. BE more of you and allow everyone else be more of themselves. Remember, judging just adds to their store of bad times. Try sending love from your heart centre to each and everyone you meet. It really heals them...with no words. Just have the intention to love them. Peace to you.

Answer 5

I am grateful. They give me the opportunity to develop equanimity, patience, loving kindness, all of which makes me a better person.

I read a parable given by the Buddha 2000 years ago, in which he asked, "If someone gives you a gift, and you refuse it, to whom does the gift belong?" The student answered, "He who offered it." So the Buddha replied, "Then if a man offers me animosity, evil, hatred, and I refuse it, to whom does that belong?" I had to paraphrase but I think you see where I'm going.

Answer 6

Usually the things that really bug us about other people are things that we don't like about ourselves; whether we admit them or not. I try to examine why I feel animosity towards someone and when I (usually) realize that it is because of personal growth issues that *I* need to work on, it's easier to let it go and give them permission to grow on their own timetable as well.

Answer 7

Have what you will of it, have all the high thoughts, but in final, put it right where it is: you do what you can that they and like circumstances never do again intrude upon your sanctity of space. Give them all space. In so doing you grant the greatest love for yourself, for them, and for all those people and circumstances who you are even yet to conceive, for by this a new and great principle will have been garnered, nurtured, and then mastered.

Answer 8

You treat them like you would someone who's not your enemy, in a sense.
What I mean, is, you pray for them.
When you see an enemy in need, you put your feelings aside and help your bro/sis in Christ. Try watching Dukes of Hazzard the TV version! That is the perfect example of how to love your enemies. If you see your enemies in trouble and needing help, you help them.
As hard as it can be, you treat them kindly and with respect.
When enemies done you wrong, you forgive them instead of hating them and grudging them. Again, hard thing to do.
It's not to say we have to tolerate being done wrong. We are to forgive them of their sins against us because if we don't forgive them out of sincerity, then we won't be forgiven by God for things we need forgiven for.
When you're REALLY mad at someone, say "Go in peace, God bless," and tell them you'll pray for them. But do mean it when you say it!

Answer 9

Well, it's hard. I believe we don't love them because of something they did with which we disagree. The bible tells us to forgive but it's hard. Best thing to do is love the person and not the things that they do.

I hate to preach as if I always do what I say (I don't), but it's worth a try.

Answer 10

For me, it is about recognising that I hate a behavior or position, but not the person. Am I grateful? Yes, because, as they say, "whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger"

Answer 11

I "love my enemy" by keeping him in my daily prayers that he may come to know the love and mercy of the one true God, and find forgiveness of sin and salvation of the eternal soul thru His Son, Jesus (covenant of the New Testament).