Paradoxically, if we really want to affect other people, then we ought to really love them. Then, their anger at us will boomerang back upon them with no effect upon us! This was the wisdom of the Buddha’s statement in the Dhammapada, “Hate is not conquered by hate. Hate is conquered by love. This is an eternal law.”
So many of the teachings of the great avatars are misunderstood. This is a great example. “Love your enemy” is not coming from some ambiguous noble virtue, but from the understanding that Love is a power that creates and destroys. By loving your enemy, you let them destroy themselves with their ill intentions while you remain in phased by their actions. It takes no effort on your part and prevents them from pulling you down to their level, which has very little power.
