Ralph Singh, of Elbridge, chairs the Wisdom Thinkers Network and was the founding president of Gobind Sadan, USA. November marks the 23rd anniversary of the Gobind Sadan arson attack in the United States – the first hate-motivated attack on a place of worship after 9/11.

It seems we have developed a giant appetite for hatred, especially hatred of “the other.” Whether that is defined by the other side of the tracks, another race or ethnicity, another political “side” or a different place of worship, even if it is a different denomination within our own tradition.

Maybe it’s time to go on a hate-free diet. Along with other unhealthy habits, it’s time to move beyond hatred. Whoever wins this election, we have managed to sow too many seeds of hatred. Despite the kindness shown in the face of natural disasters, the capacity to hate has become a distinctive trait of our species.

How can we be truly human while hatred dominates? I suggest not. While all traditions emphasize “love thy neighbor,” how you define “neighbor” depends largely on who you consider to be part of “your” community.

And – who is part of your community, believer or not, is largely defined by how “big” you see God. The more you see God, the more inclusive your community is And the more he is attentive to a constantly expanding Cosmos (and beyond). If only those who look like you, who attend your place of worship, or who live in your gated community are part of your community, then we can easily define everyone else as unworthy of our love and respect and ignore their basic needs. Remember the Good Samaritan.

In the Sikh tradition, Guru Nanak traveled across the Indian subcontinent, north to the steppes of Russia and into Saudi Arabia, teaching and demonstrating through miracle and logic that there was only one God ever greater for all creation. Faced with the violence and hatred of an incredibly divided world and contradictory truths, said: “Everyone is part of my community, I don’t consider anyone an ‘other.’ »

Guru Gobind Singh ji taught: “Recognize all people as one human race. Prayers in your temple go to the same place as those offered in the mosque.

It was these core values ​​that were put to the test when after September 11, four young people got drunk and burned down our place of worship, Gobind Sadan, USA, north of Syracuse, thinking our Sikh turbans meant we were bin Laden supporters. Nothing could have been further from the truth.

As if to demonstrate the power of universal love, even in the face of hatred, our holy scripture, Guru Granth Sahib, not only survived the fire, but triumphed unscathed against hatred. Not a single word of its 1,430 pages was touched by the tons of water used to extinguish the flames. Even the firefighters exclaimed that they had never seen anything like it.

We responded with Baba Virsa Singh ji’s powerful statement of forgiveness which I carried and shared wherever we went. The love he expressed transformed the lives of everyone involved, not just the young arsonists. They wrote to us from prison: “If only we had understood what you stood for, we would never have done this. ” And it allowed the broader community to come together for positive change. More than twenty years later, the actors still talk about it as a pivotal moment in their lives.

Most importantly, we have all learned that we can hate the action without hating the person. And welcome everyone into our community, as long as they leave their hatred at the door.

Unfortunately, without a consistent message of love, hatred continues to rear its ugly head. We teach our children in school not to let messages of hate go unnoticed and unchallenged. We call for mobilization against harassment. But our airwaves and social media are filled with hate.

Throughout history, some rulers have used their religion to justify the expansion of their empires, recruiting young people to go to war, destroying and pillaging peaceful civilizations in the process. They use their religious schools and pulpits to teach hatred of others and then breed hatred and violence in society.

It’s no wonder so many people have turned away from the man-made silos we call religions. A “religious school” is one that teaches love for all.

Jesus taught: Let him cast the first stone without sin. Guru Nanak advised: Look within and deal with your own weaknesses before criticizing others.

The great modern seer Baba Virsa Singh ji of Gobind Sadan teaches the main message of Sri Guru Granth Sahib: Meditate and develop your inner love to control the weaknesses of our mind. Control our anger. And show respect to see the same Light of God in all creation and show respect to all who brought God’s message of love. As Sikhs, students of the Truth, we are not limited by any man-made silo masquerading as spiritual truth.

Those who would use religion as a tool of division and hatred should step back and ask themselves if they themselves are not the main drivers of hatred and violence in the world. And those in positions of power should ask themselves whether they want a community or nation built on hatred or one in which they can bring people together in love.

We can love each other and live together in community without agreeing on every issue. We can hate an action, disagree on issues, but still put aside our hatred for each other. As they say in the Sikh world, “keep soaring!” »

It is time to overcome hatred and learn to live in peace.