Hatred

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Hatred (or hate) is a deep and emotional extreme dislike, directed against a person, class of persons, certain object or class of objects. The objects of such hatred can vary widely, from inanimate objects to animals, oneself or other people, entire groups of people, people in general, existence, or the whole world.

Though not necessarily, hatred is often associated with feelings of anger and disposition towards hostility against the objects of hatred. Hatred can become very driven, resulting in surges of emotional hatred. Actions after a lingering thought are not uncommon upon people or oneself. Hatred can result in extreme behaviour such as violence, murder, and war.

Hatred is the opposite of Love; in Punjabi, the word Pyare is used to refer to love.

Pyare or Love

Pyare means Love and generally refers to love for the Lord and His creation. This is one of five virtues that is vigorously promoted by the Sikh Gurus. The other four qualities in the arsenal are: Truth (Sat), Contentment (Santokh), Compassion (Daya) and Humility (Nimrata).

These five qualities are essential to a Sikh and it is their duty to meditate and recite the Gurbani so that these virtues become a part of their mind set.

This is a very positive and powerful tool in the Sikhs arsenal of virtues. When one's mind is full of love, the person will overlook deficiency in others and accept them wholeheartedly as a product of God. Sikhism asks all believers to take on "god-like" virtues and this perhaps is the most "god-like" characteristic of all.

Gurbani tells us that Waheguru is a "loving God", full of compassion and kindness. It is the duty of the Sikh to take on qualities of this nature and to easily forgive; to never hate anyone; to live in His Hukam - "Will" and to practise compassion and humility.

  • "jin prem keyo tin hee prab paeyo" - "Only whose who have love, will attain God" - Guru Gobind Singh

What does Gurbani tell us about hatred?

Guru Arjan Dev is very clear in simply telling his disciples to "not harbour hatred for anyone"; the message is unambiguous, straight-forward and plain. No one can say that they have not understood this plain language! And this does not apply to the English translation only. The original tuk (line of verse) is just as blunt and plain.

In the next sentence, the Guru gives an equally simple explanation of why? "Because in each and every heart there is God!" So for the followers of Sikhi, the explanation has been put in very clear terms.

ਪਉੜੀ ॥

ਵਵਾ ਵੈਰ੝ ਨ ਕਰੀਝ ਕਾਹੂ ॥ ਘਟ ਘਟ ਅੰਤਰਿ ਬ੝ਰਹਮ ਸਮਾਹੂ ॥
ਵਾਸ੝ਦੇਵ ਜਲ ਥਲ ਮਹਿ ਰਵਿਆ ॥ ਗ੝ਰ ਪ੝ਰਸਾਦਿ ਵਿਰਲੈ ਹੀ ਗਵਿਆ ॥
ਵੈਰ ਵਿਰੋਧ ਮਿਟੇ ਤਿਹ ਮਨ ਤੇ ॥ ਹਰਿ ਕੀਰਤਨ੝ ਗ੝ਰਮ੝ਖਿ ਜੋ ਸ੝ਨਤੇ ॥

Pa▫oṛī. vavĝ vair na karī▫ai kĝhū. Gẖat gẖat anṯar barahm samĝhū.

vĝsuḝev jal thal mėh ravi▫ĝ. Gur parsĝḝ virlai hī gavi▫ĝ.
vair viroḝẖ mite ṯih man ṯe. Har kīrṯan gurmukẖ jo sunṯe.

Pauree: WAWWA: Do not harbor hatred against anyone. In each and every heart, God is contained.

The All-pervading Lord is permeating and pervading the oceans and the land. How rare are those who, by Guru's Grace, sing of Him.
Hatred and alienation depart from those who, as Gurmukh, listen to the Kirtan of the Lord's Praises.

See also