We need to liberate ourselves from enemy images

To create the world that exemplifies our values, we need to liberate ourselves from enemy images — the thinking that says there is something wrong with the people whose actions or values we don't agree with... Now, that's not easy to do. Why? Because it's hard to believe that those who are doing things far outside of our value system are human beings like the rest of us. It's very challenging.

Heart is sea

Heart is sea,
language is shore.
Whatever sea includes,
will hit the shore.

The Mower

... we should be careful

Of each other, we should be kind
While there is still time.

Love your enemies

You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I say to you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you... For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have?...And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing than others?

Peace is not an end

If we work for peace out of anger, we will never succeed. Peace is not an end. It can never come about through non-peaceful means.

You can only be the revolution

You cannot buy the revolution. You cannot make the revolution. You can only be the revolution. It is in your spirit, or it is nowhere.

Prayer for Resentment

If you have resentment you want to be free of, if you will pray for the person or thing that you resent, you will be free. If you will ask in prayer for everything you want for yourself to be given to them, you will be free.

The only sufficient answer

The only sufficient answer is to give up the animosity and try forgiveness, to try to love our enemies and to talk to them and (if we pray) to pray for them. If we can't do any of that, then we must begin again by trying to imagine our enemies' children who, like our children, are in mortal danger because of enmity that they did not cause.

Although the wind...

Although the wind
blows terribly here,
the moonlight also leaks
between the roof planks
of this ruined house.

Prospective Immigrants Please Note

Either you will
go through this door
or you will not go through.

If you go through
there is always the risk
of remembering your name.

Things look at you doubly
and you must look back
and let them happen.

If you do not go through
it is possible
to live worthily

to maintain your attitudes
to hold your position
to die bravely

but much will blind you,
much will evade you,
at what cost who knows?
The door itself makes no promises.

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