Love Lends Profundity To One's Character
By Sumit Paul, New Age Islam
16 January 2025
"I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear."
Dr Martin Luther King Jr
January 15 was Dr Martin Luther King Jr's 96th Birth Anniversary.
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Martin Luther King's quote, "I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear," encapsulates his unwavering commitment to nonviolence and justice.
In the face of intense adversity and persecution, King recognizes that responding with hate would only perpetuate a cycle of suffering. He firmly believes that love, empathy, and understanding are the true catalysts for social change and equality.
Choosing love over hate is not an easy path, but King emphasizes that hate causes immense harm to both individuals and society as a whole. By refusing to let hatred consume him, King demonstrates immense courage and resilience in his quest for a more just and inclusive world.
His profound words continue to inspire generations and remind us of the transformative power of love. Choosing love over hate is a personal decision. It means more than just being nice to someone you don’t like. Or holding your tongue when somebody is being rude to you.
To choose love means letting go of all the hatred, angst, and resentment in your heart. It’s about emptying yourself of all the negative emotions that are dragging you to that inescapable abyss of hatred.
A heart filled with rage won’t have any room for love. But if we empty ourselves of all those negative emotions, we’re making more room for love to take root and grow. And when we’re filled with love, we won’t have any time to hate.
Kabir said the same thing, "Jo Toko Kaanta Buey, Tohe Buey Tu Phool/ Tohe Phool Ko Phool Hai Vaako Hai Tirsool " (Those who sow thorns for you, you sow flowers/ They'll remain flowers to you, but will become spears to them).
A Finnish proverb succinctly states: Be nice to those and love who try to provoke you to hate.
Naushad Ali (he also wrote poetry in addition to giving music) penned, "Andekha Kar, Muhabbat Luta-Ta Chal/ Sheva Hai Kuchh Logon Ka Bas Nafrat Failana" (Ignore and spread love regardless of those whose nature is to disseminate hatred; Sheva : Tendency, proclivity, habit).
Inferior humans hate, provoke, use sarcastic and intemperate language but the sane and sensible people return the sarcasm and a volley of cuss words with a smile and love. This eventually makes the hater realize his folly and meanness.
Remember, to love is to be mature. Love lends profundity to one's character. M K Gandhi, Dr King, Dr Mandela and Bishop Tutu preferred to choose love over hatred and provocation and they succeeded. Lesser mortals must learn from these greats and instead of wasting time over hatred, rancour and pettiness, they should imbibe and assimilate the universal spirit of love.
Though this could be easier said than done in these violent and volatile times, there's no gainsaying the fact that eventually love has the last laugh.
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A regular columnist for New Age Islam, Sumit Paul is a researcher in comparative religions, with special reference to Islam. He has contributed articles to the world's premier publications in several languages including Persian.
URL: https://www.newageislam.com/spiritual-meditations/love-lends-profundity-character/d/134346
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