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Cracked Mud
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Love Drought

More than 20% of the world's population - roughly 1.7 billion people - were exposed to political violence. The number of forcibly displaced people around the world increased from 31 million in 2008, to over 88 million in 2022.

Anti-dote to Conflict
The Bible encourages us to be peacemakers and to seek reconciliation with those we are in conflict with (Matthew 5:9). In the book of Proverbs, it says, "A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger" (Proverbs 15:1). Doing nothing through rivalry or conceit, but in humility (Philippians 2:3). We are also instructed to be humble and to be willing to listen to the other person's point of view (James 1:19).

Conflict which comes from within should be calmed by inner peace and wholesome qualities.

When freedom from malice... delusion... violence... arises within oneself, does it arise to one's profit or one's loss? (AN ii,191)

This is itself an end to the propensity to ignorance; this is itself an end of taking a weapon, of quarreling, contending, disputing, accusation, slander, and lying speech. (MN 18/i,109-10)

Hatred - Image by Joshua Brown

Hatred

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Image by Joshua Brown

“No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love” (Nelson Mandela)

Antidote to Hatred
The Bible tells us that hatred is a sin and that we should not harbor hatred in our hearts (1 John 3:15). We are also instructed to love our enemies and to do good to those who persecute us (Matthew 5:44). Jesus said, "do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you" (Matthew 5:44). We should strive to forgive those who have wronged us and to show compassion and mercy to all (Matthew 6:14-15).

According to the Buddha, hatred is one of the basic roots of immorality along with greed and delusion. It may be suppressed or expressed verbally and behaviorally. Repression and accumulation at some point will be vented through anger or bad karma like harm and destruction. Hatred, therefore, is one of the fetters that bind beings to rebirth. The antidote to hatred, as taught by the Buddha, is the four immeasurables of love.

Discrimination

The UN declared that 'any doctrine of racial superiority is scientifically false, morally condemnable, socially unjust and dangerous, and must be rejected’.

Inequality & Inequity

The richest 10% of the global population currently take home 52% of global income, while the poorest half of the population earns 8.5%. Global wealth inequalities are even more pronounced than income inequalities (76% vs. 2%).

Antidote to Discrimination and Inequality
The Bible teaches us that everyone is created equal and should be treated with dignity (Genesis 1:27). In the book of James, it says, "My brothers, do not hold the faith of our Lord J.C. of glory with partiality" (James 2:1). In other words, we should not show favoritism or discriminate against anyone based on their race, gender, or social status. In the book of Galatians, it says, "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free...; for you are all one in Christ" (Galatians 3:28).

The Buddha teaches us that no one has a self-nature and thus cannot be superior to others. Any comparison in terms of race, status, class, etc. is ultimately ignorant. Many of us are also related or dependent on each other not only in this life but also through past and future ones. Any line between us and them, superior and inferior, or high and low is blurred or does not exist. The antidote to discrimination is the four immeasurables, esp. equanimity.

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