The Power of Compassion: How to Overcome Hatred and Move On
In ancient Greek mythology, there existed a formidable hero named Hercules, endowed with boundless strength. One fateful day, as he traversed a treacherous mountain path, his attention was abruptly drawn to a peculiar entity lying in his way, resembling a pouch. Intrigued, he advanced and delivered a forceful kick, endeavoring to dislodge it. Alas, contrary to his expectations, the object not only remained unaffected by his action, but rather began to steadily expand in size.
Growing increasingly vexed, Heracles proceeded to stomp upon the enigmatic object, aiming to obliterate it. Yet, to his astonishment, instead of succumbing to his might, it doubled in magnitude, obstructing the entire thoroughfare.
At that very moment, a venerable sage emerged from the mountainside and imparted sagacious counsel to Hercules: “Dear friend, refrain from engaging with it, disregard its presence, and depart swiftly!” Intrigued, Hercules inquired, “Pray tell, what precisely is this enigma? Why does it persist in its ceaseless enlargement?”
With a gentle smile, the sage replied, “It is known as a ‘satchel of animosity.’ When left undisturbed, its dimensions shall diminish to their former modesty. However, should you persistently acknowledge and assail it, it shall perpetually swell in magnitude, ultimately impeding your onward path and waging an unrelenting battle against you.”
Should one harbor an enduring animosity within their heart, it shall resemble the very “satchel of animosity” that Hercules encountered—an entity that incessantly inflates and expands, relentlessly disrupting one’s steady stride, driving them to despair and leaving them bereft of direction.
In his opus entitled “Converting the Adversary into a Fellow Man,” Moro recounted a poignant anecdote from 1944, wherein Soviet women tended to German prisoners of war. These women, victims of the war themselves, having suffered the loss of fathers, husbands, brothers, and sons at the hands of the German army, demonstrated remarkable magnanimity. Following the war, when tasked with the transportation of German prisoners of war, Soviet soldiers and police officers were apprehensive, fearing they might succumb to the impulse of seeking vengeance upon these captives. However, the atmosphere transformed entirely when an elderly woman tenderly placed a morsel of black bread into the pocket of a gaunt prisoner. Witnessing this act, the women proceeded to offer sustenance, cigarettes, and more to the detainees. It was then that Yevtushenko, a witness to the event, proclaimed, “These individuals are no longer adversaries; they have become human.”
This statement encapsulates the profound benevolence and compassionate concern that humanity displays in the face of suffering. Such care and compassion enable individuals to transcend the torment of hatred. True resolution of grievances lies not in nurturing animosity but in their compassionate resolution—a pathway to swiftly escape the prison of resentment.
