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Ralph Rickenbach's avatar

It is interesting how far we travel to find wisdom, even if only in culture and not physically. In Christianity and Judaism, we are to love our neighbors. Obviously, love cannot be commanded but needs to be given freely. That is not easily done, and that is why we pray for them first. This has, through repetition, the same effect as the metta meditation.

We can see a Rabbinic dialog lasting all the way to Maimonides about who your neighbors are, and he settled it saying that it is those in whom the flame of faith and life is about to go extinguished.

In Christianity, Jesus himself settled it by saying "Love your enemies" instead.

Look around today. If you can love the one that believes totallydifferent from you, that seems to be or sees himself or hersel as your enemy, you can love anybody.

This is a poster case for us being blind for what is in front of us and finding it elsewhere, but also for true wisdom to be found everywhere.

Looking forward to Sunday.

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Joel Goodnough's avatar

This is so good, Susan. Thank you for sharing this. It is so similar to the Biblical concept of loving others as you love yourself. It is a choice, an intention, that is not based on emotion. It’s different from the emotional love that you have for your children. And it’s not possible unless you love yourself.

I think there are two different kinds of forgiveness. There is the forgiveness that is only possible for someone who repents and asks for forgiveness. And there is the forgiveness, a sort of moving on, that is offered independent of what the offending person does.

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