ONE FAMILY PLAN
The Other Cheek
"You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.' But I say to you, Do not resist one who is evil. But if any one strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also; and if any one would sue you and take your coat, let him have your cloak as well; and if any one forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles." (Matthew 5.38-41)
"Let there be no injury and no requital." (Islam. Forty Hadith of an-Nawawi 32)
"One should choose to be among the persecuted, rather than the persecutors." (Judaism. Talmud, Baba Kamma 93a)
"Victory breeds hatred, for the defeated live in pain. Happily live the peaceful, giving up victory and defeat." (Buddhism. Dhammapada 201)
"For behold, they had rather sacrifice their lives than even to take the life of their enemy; and they have buried their weapons of war deep in the earth, because of their love towards their brethren."(Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Book of Mormon, Alma 26.32)
"Those who beat you with fists, Do not pay them in the same coin, But go to their house and kiss their feet." (Sikhism. Adi Granth, Shalok, Farid, p. 1378)
"Those who are insulted but do not insult others in revenge, who hear themselves reproached without replying, who perform good work out of the love of the Lord and rejoice in their sufferings... are 'as the sun when he goeth forth in his might.'" (Judaism. Talmud, Yoma 23a)
"Then they came up and laid hands upon Jesus and seized him. And behold, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and struck the slave of the high priest, and cut off his ear. Then Jesus said to him, 'Put your sword back into its place; for all who take the sword will perish by the sword.'"(Matthew 26.51-52)
"Monks, even as low-down thieves might be carving you limb from limb with a two-handled saw, even then whoever sets his mind at enmity is not a doer of my teaching. Monks, you should train yourselves thus, 'Our minds shall not be perverted, we will not utter evil words, we shall abide cherishing thoughts of good, with minds full of goodwill and with no hatred in our heart. Beginning with that thief, we shall abide suffusing the whole world with thoughts of goodwill that are extensive, exalted, and immeasurable, without hostility and malevolence.' If you, monks, were to attend repeatedly to this exhortation on the parable of the saw, would you see any form of ridicule, subtle or gross, that you could not endure?"(Buddhism. Majjhima Nikaya i.129)
"If an evil man, on hearing of what is good, comes and creates a disturbance, you should hold your peace. You must not angrily upbraid him; then he who has come to curse you will merely harm himself." (Buddhism. Sutra of Forty-two Sections 7)
"Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God; for it is written, 'Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.' No, 'if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him drink; for by doing so you will heap burning coals upon his head.'"(Christianity. Romans 12.19-20)
