Thought for the Day

Eknath Easwaran's Commentary

If you really want to land a blow at a compulsion, defy it. Do just the opposite of what it says. It is a daring approach which appeals to everyone with a sense of adventure. If somebody has been unkind to you, go out of your way to be kind to him. It can require a lot of endurance simply to be patient with such a person, but we’re talking about more than endurance now; we’re talking about daring.

Try it: there is an exhilaration in it, and a special delight in seeing the other person rub his eyes in disbelief, “I was just rude to him, and now he’s being thoughtful. What’s wrong with him?”