I now greet the hostile ones from the bottom of my heart. Some people are hostile even to those who are friendly to them. They view the loss of others as their own gain, they even delight in the suffering of others. They constantly try to eclipse the glory of even Vishnu and Shiva, similar to how the moon eclipses the Sun. Indeed, they are very talented at causing problems for others, they see can easily see thousands of faults of others but are blind to their own. Their conniving minds plot devious and wicked plans like a fly attracted to butter. They love to stand out like a bright fire, and in anger like the God of death himself. Their attributes are crime and cruelty. Like a shooting star they they are quick to criticise others. Like Kumbakarana, the sleepy giant brother of Ravana, their demise alone brings prosperity to the world. They risk their lives to harm others, just like hailstones dissolve after destroying crops in the fields. I bow and greet these hostile ones, harsh words are forever dear to them just as the thunderbolt is dear to Indra. They burn with jealousy as they hear of the welfare of others, even if they are related to them. Knowing all of this, I stand before them with my palms joined in prayer.
The beauty of Rama’s true devotee is that he or she sees with equal vision the good and the bad. The true devotee realises that there are malevolent beings in the world, but through the power of his example even they can be transformed.
This is a common teaching throughout many of the ancient scriptures. Love and honour even the wicked. In the Mahabharata, even after all the suffering that was endured at the hands of the Kauravas rather than make his negligent uncle suffer – The King Yudhisthira honours him as a relative and encourages his brothers to treat him with love and respect.
The great saint Vinoba Bhave comes to my mind. He spoke with such a deep sweetness, honouring good and bad equally. When he was held in prison simply for peacefully protesting British occupation, even his jailors who detained and hurt the prisoners, were drawn to him and even sat by his feet as he taught the Bhagavad Gita to the inmates of the prison. On another occasion – a famous criminal after experiencing Vinobas love towards him, even gave up his guns, placing them at Vinoba’s feet committing the rest of his life to spreading peace. Such was the impact of him honouring all with unconditional love.
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