transforming.

i went to a yoga class this morning and, at the end of our session, the instructor read this passage from daily om:

the great transformer
loving what you hate

Hatred can be irrational, and it has a greater impact on the individual who hates than the person or object being hated. Yet overcoming hatred is difficult because hatred reinforces itself and causes greater enmity to come into being. The most powerful tool one can use to combat hatred is love. Deciding to love what you hate, whether this is a person, situation, or a part of yourself, can create a profound change in your feelings and your experience. There is little room for anger, dislike, bitterness, or resentment when you are busy loving what you hate. The practice of loving what you hate can transform and shift your emotions from hatred to love, because there is no room for hatred in a space occupied by love.

Granted, it is difficult to forgo judging someone, love your enemy, and seek the good in situations that seem orchestrated to cause you pain or anger. But in deciding to love what you hate, you become one less person adding negativity to the universe. On a simple level, loving what you hate can help you enjoy your life more. On a more complex level, loving what you hate sets you free because you disengage yourself from the hatred that can weigh down the soul. Responding with love to people radiating hatred transmutes their negative energy. You also empower yourself by not letting their negativity enter your personal space. Rather than lowering yourself to the level of their hatred, you give the other person an opportunity to rise above their feelings and meet you on the field of love.

Gandhi once said, “Be the change you want to see in the world.” Loving what you hate sends a positive, beautiful energy to people while spreading peace and harmony throughout the planet. Instead of reinforcing hatred, you become an advocate for love. Hatred responds to hate by causing anguish. But hatred responds to love by transforming into blissful peace.

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eyes closed, muscles relaxed & in the corpse pose...i listened.  and listened.  i was nearly moved to tears.  was i already reaping the relaxation benefits of yoga?  or, was my mind simply open & receptive to such an intimate look at hate?  i think it was a little bit of both.  and, as i listened, i realized just how consumed i was with hate.  hatred has been building up within me for the last few years.  i know where it stems from.  i know what caused it.  one day, i'll be able to forgive.  one day, i'll be able to let it all go.  i'm slowly learning to release myself from such negative energy. 

one day, i'll find blissful peace.

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