麻豆社

Good morning. Following the shameful scenes on Monday evening in which England footballers were the target of racist abuse by some Bulgarian supporters, the police there have started a series of arrests. Many have called for strong action against the Bulgarian FA to curb the behaviour of their fans. But, I suspect many of us were particularly affected by manager, Gareth Southgate鈥檚 post-match comments that: 鈥淪adly, my players, because of their experiences in our own country, are hardened to racism.鈥�

And, the next day, a report by Citizens UK, revealed that the number of hate crimes in England and Wales has doubled since 2013. Whilst this may be partly due to increased reporting and recording, many feel the statistics represent the tip of the iceberg.

Throughout the centuries, Hindu saints have condemned hatred in all its forms; and they explored how and why it manifests within an individual and a community. The Vedic texts see desire and hate as two sides of the same coin. Both are selfish wants 鈥� one is positive: I like and therefore want something; the other negative: I hate, and want to be rid of something else. So, it鈥檚 very difficult to be free from aversion and antipathy, whilst cultivating desire and attachment. The Gita explains that expressions of hatred arise from the frustration of desire compounded with anger at whoever we believe has caused our discontent.

Never mind wanton acts of hatred, Hindu texts condemn even hateful thoughts. Gandhi claimed: 鈥淚 would rather drown himself in the waters of the river Sabarmati than harbour animosity in my heart.鈥� That鈥檚 a tall order for any of us.

But, the Yoga-sutras regard sheltering divisive thoughts within the mind as a type of violence. These thoughts, say the Sutras 鈥� be they strong, middling or just mild - will not remain subdued. They emerge as discriminatory attitudes, spiteful speech and cruel actions perpetrated for ourselves, or on behalf of someone else, or perhaps condoned or overlooked within others.

Gandhi recommend that hatred cannot be overcome by another type of revulsion 鈥� only by its opposite, love. This reflects the statement of the Mahabharat: If you want to see the brave, look to those who can forgive. If you want to see the heroic, look to those who can love in return for hatred.

The female saint, Devahuti, warned that we may think we understand all of this and believe we are actually free from such tendencies; but as long as we have not eradicated sources of selfish desire and hatred from our hearts, she says, we are not yet unblemished. This week is a reminder we still have some way to go.

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