Editor’s note: “Spiritual leaders answer” is a weekly column inviting Kaua‘i’s religious and spiritual leaders to share their doctrine’s perspective on a suggested subject. Every Friday a topic is printed inviting a response. Submissions are edited for content and length.
Editor’s note: “Spiritual leaders answer” is a weekly column inviting Kaua‘i’s religious and spiritual leaders to share their doctrine’s perspective on a suggested subject. Every Friday a topic is printed inviting a response. Submissions are edited for content and length. Thoughts or suggestions for future topics are always welcome. Next week’s topic is the after life. The topic at the end of the column is for the following week.
Pastor Wayne Patton
Anahola Baptist Church
Having spite in one’s heart is like being fitted with the wrong prescription glasses. Nothing looks right, and things are never seen as they really are. People who are filled with bitterness and spite never see the world as it really is. They see it in the way that best feeds their bitterness and allows their spite to fester.
The apostle Peter understood the danger of spite. In the second chapter of his first book, he tells us to rid ourselves of spiteful attitudes that are deterrents to spiritual growth. Peter knew the danger of spiritual rigor mortis. He knew what it was like to yawn spiritually, to find himself ankle deep in concrete with no forward movement. Peter had spent enough time in the twilight zone of spiritual nothingness to be able to relate to it and warn against it.
Because believers in Jesus Christ have experienced a taste of God’s grace in their lives, there should be no spiteful desire to inflict pain, harm or injury on another person. God’s grace is no excuse for us to behave as we please. The goodness and grace of God are the right prescription glasses to cast aside spite and to move forward in our faith and growing up spiritually.
Rev. Dr. James Fung
Lihu‘e Christian Church
We may not actually go through life acting out the contempt and hatred we feel toward another person, but a lot of damage is done when we harbor feelings of animosity toward others. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus taught that when we nurse our bitterness toward others, we are committing a far more serious sin than we realize. Our hostility may not just kill the spirit of the other person; it can also inflict the perpetrator with a deep wound to his own soul.
The word “spite” is closely related to the word “spit.”
I witnessed an altercation sometime back; a man was walking along the sidewalk, approaching someone with whom he had a history of ill feelings. As the men neared each other, both their faces became contorted into grimaces of disdain. One of the guys then spat on the ground. The other spat in response as they continued to glare at each other. No words were exchanged. They passed each other and continued on their way. Actually,there was a certain economy to their interaction. No words were necessary. They got their point across.
Some people have perfected another nonverbal way of irritating others with their expression of disdain. They have developed the killer “stink eye” — a look that says with intensity that which mere words could never aspire to. And, in a strange and distorted way, it makes them feel temporarily strong. In their mind, they have punished the other person with “the look that kills.”
The German poet, Goethe, once said, “Nothing is more frightful than ignorance in action.” And this would be a good example of that kind of scary ignorance. Jesus would agree. Until we learn better ways to resolve our conflicts and soothe our wounded souls, we will continue to poison each other with our ignorance.
The Baha’is of Kaua‘i
To act with spite is condemned in all religious teachings. Spite is particularly destructive because the action is deliberate, malicious and with the intent to hurt or harm another. Yet, there are some leaders, in the name of religion, who have wielded their power with malicious spite against the followers of other faiths.
Religion should be the source of unity and peace. Its purpose is to bring solace and comfort. Unfortunately, religion has been used wrongfully to cause contention and hate. This has caused some to reject all organized religion and to rely on their own intuition.
Religion is neither a building nor the people in it. Religion is the revelations from our Creator. Because there is but one God who renews His laws and reveals His teachings from age to age through His manifestations, there is but one religion.
Therefore, it is not surprising that careful examination of the major faiths will reveal basic similarities with differences that only reflect the culture and time of their revelations. To do this, one must separate the original teachings of the prophets from the man-made dogmas and ceremonies to find the overarching and progressive plan of God for man. For people of different religious faiths, whether leaders or followers, to fight among themselves is likened unto a family feud and cannot be pleasing in the eyes of God.
Baha’u’llah, the prophet founder of the Baha’i Faith, promotes universal education of both men and women and the independent investigation of truth so that we can discern without bias what is from God and what is from man. It cannot be disputed that anything that causes dissension and hostility cannot be from our merciful and loving creator.
The writings from the Baha’i Faith provide this counsel: “His third teaching is that religion is a mighty stronghold, but that it must engender love, not malevolence and hate. Should it lead to malice, spite and hate, it is of no value at all. For religion is a remedy, and if the remedy bring on disease, then put it aside. Again, as to religious, racial, national and political bias: All these prejudices strike at the very root of human life; one and all, they beget bloodshed and the ruination of the world. So long as these prejudices survive, there will be continuous and fearsome wars.”
Lami Tashi Dundrup
Kaua‘i Dharma Center
In spiritual practice, any form of aversion in one’s mind that causes harm or disease towards others physically, mentally or emotionally requires a cure or antidote. The medicinal remedy is fourfold. First, recognize the pain or suffering of this activity. Second, have remorse for causing this situation. Third, repair the harm or effect of this negative activity with positive activity of spiritual practice, etc. And finally, vow to never do these harmful actions again. The best activities of body, speech and mind are to always engender loving kindness and compassion toward oneself and others. Ultimately, one needs to train one’s mind to rest in states of non-ego, non-conceptuality, non-judgement, equanimity and non-separation. This produces enlightenment or wisdom as a human condition and benefits everyone and everything.
Topic for two weeks from today
• Will you speak to us on dealing with anger?
• Spiritual leaders are invited to e-mail responses of three to five paragraphs to afrainier@thegardenisland.com.
• Deadline each week is 5 p.m. Tuesday.
