Do You Choose to Hate?
Do you choose to hate? Do you allow yourself to be influenced to hate others? Or do you have a mind of your own to see the distinction between right and wrong?
I read this British soldier’s message on Facebook, of how he was expected to be the cover boy to hate Muslims, but instead chose to give them a piece of incredible advice about hating others. I thought his message was truly incredible and should be shared widely. As a person who experienced first hand certain horrors that only a handful of people live to speak about, Chris Herbert showed the world what it means to see people as individuals rather than the labels put on them by society.
Please share this post with as many people as possible to offer others a more tolerant point of view and a more positive way of leading our lives. After all, hate or aversion is one of the Three Poisons in Buddhism, and it is definitely one of the primary causes of our suffering and being trapped in samsara.
Tsem Rinpoche
British Soldier Who Lost Leg in Iraq Issues Powerful Message to Those Who Think He Should Hate Muslims
Chris Herbert said he was frustrated by people expecting racism from him. Credit: Facebook/Chris Herbert
By Jamie Roberton: ITV News
A British soldier who lost his leg in Iraq has posted a powerful message to people “expecting racism” from him just because he “got blown up”.
Chris Herbert was just 19 when his vehicle was hit by a roadside bomb in Basra, Iraq which killed his friend, injured another and left him facing the prospect of living the rest of his life without his right leg.
In the weeks after the Paris atrocities, the former serviceman said he has been troubled by the number of people who have expected him to be Islamophobic just because a “Muslim man blew me up”.
In a powerful Facebook message, which has been shared tens of thousands of times, Herbert goes on to list the Muslims who have helped him – including the Muslim surgeon who saved his life.
Or view the video on the server at:
https://video.tsemtulku.com/videos/british-soldier.mp4
Herbert, who lives in Portsmouth, also speaks about the “white Brits” who have done unpleasant things to him in his life.
“If you want to hate an entire race of men and women for the actions of a few d***heads feel free, but don’t push your views on me, thinking I am an easy target because one d******** decided it was my day to die,” he wrote.
“Blaming all Muslims for the actions of groups like Daeshe and the Taliban, is like blaming all Christians for the actions of the KKK or Westboro Baptist Church.”
“Get a grip of your lives, hug your family and get back to work.”
Herbert lost his leg during service in Iraq. Credit: Chris Herbert
His message – just a day after Donald Trump sparked outrage when he called for all Muslims to be banned from entering the US – has won praise across social media.
“You’re a wonderful person you are,” Heather Hills said.
Calum John said: “One of the best things I’ve ever read on Facebook this!”
“Amazing words,” Richard Egan wrote.
Chris Herbert has won praise for his emotional Facebook post. Credit: Chris Herbert
ITV News has approached Chris Herbert for further comment but in the meantime, here’s his Facebook post in full:
Getting frustrated by some people expecting racism from me, because I got blown up.
Here it is:
Yes. A Muslim man blew me up, and I lost my leg.
A Muslim man also lost his arm that day wearing a British Uniform.
A Muslim medic was in the helicopter that took me from the field.
A Muslim surgeon performed the surgery that saved my life.
A Muslim Nurse was part of the team that helped me when I returned to the UK.
A Muslim Healthcare Assistant was part of the team that sorted out my day to day needs in rehabilitation when I was learning to walk.
A Muslim taxi driver gave me a free ride the first time I went for a beer with my Dad after I came home.
A Muslim doctor offered my Dad comfort and advice in a pub, when he didn’t know how to deal with my medicines and side effects.
Contrary to that:
A white Brit spat in my girlfriend’s face for ‘f****** a cripple when you could have me [him]’
A White Brit pushed my wheelchair away from a lift so he could use it first.
A White Brit screamed at my Dad for parking in a disabled bay when I was in the services coming home.
(Although, alot of people helped in my recovery! I dont hate white brits either! hahaha)
Point is, f*** off. I know who I dislike, and I know who I don’t. I know who I appreciate, and I know who I don’t.
If you want to hate an entire race of men and women for the actions of a few d***heads feel free, but don’t push your views on me, thinking I am an easy target because one d******** decided it was my day to die.
Blaming all Muslims for the actions of groups like Daeshe and the Taliban, is like blaming all Christians for the actions of the KKK or Westboro Baptist Church.
Get a grip of your lives, hug your family and get back to work.
– CHRIS HERBERT
[Source: http://www.itv.com/news/2015-12-09/british-soldier-who-lost-leg-in-iraq-issues-powerful-message-to-those-who-think-he-should-hate-muslims/]
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We should not judge the whole group of people just because one or two made mistakes. Comment from Chris is so true and honest. Why hate the entire Muslims when only a few of them who did wrong? It is so discriminating to get him hating all Muslims because of the wrong doing of some. We should think before giving any comments that will divide the community. Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this article.
Antique Pelden Lhamo thangka with sacred Dorje Shugden at the bottom right. Can see Tsongkapa and Guru Rinpoche on the top also. Beautiful and holy.
Through anything that happens in life whether it is positive or negative, we can choose to love rather than hate. Our reaction is always our choice. Chris Herbert is a man who lost his leg while serving in the British Army. He may have been injured at the hands of a Muslim but it was Muslim that had helped him in his recovery. He choose not to hate after all. Chris Herbert is one wonderful man who has urged people not to hate but giving love . He has inspired many people through social media. He has showed the world an example to love rather then hate. When we choose to hate and hold onto things , we are choosing to live a life of suffering and miserable. People need a reason to hate, and hate is a very strong word that hurts . Hate is not meant for us nor should it have any space in this beautiful world filled with life and warmth. Chris Herbert as taught us to let go the past and move on. Looking at people as individuals rather than who they are in life.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing.
A very good message shared by Chris Herbert. Being hurt in that situation, we can’t blame others or the situation around us that have caused us suffering. We are living in samsara and things happen around will never go right. We need to contemplate and aware of our surroundings before making any judgment.
Its a rare beast that is able to think above and beyond what has happened to him. To forgive and not to hold a grudge against the people who have hurt him is a rare quality. It takes a lot of composure not to strike out at people whom we have earlier on treated at the enemy on the battlefield.
Chris Herbert sharing is extremely courageous and admirable. Being a direct “victim” makes it easy for us to blame and take advantage of situations because people would buy into the delusion that it is justifiable. To be able to see the bigger picture and beyond one’s suffering is both simplistic and wise.
The reality and truth that Chris Herbert shared is simplistic. Yes, so a Muslim blew him up and he lost his leg but there are so many other incidents as well that happened around his life that involved other Muslims. If we start judging an entire race or religion for the action of one, we must as well blame the entire human species including ourselves. Take it a step further, why not blame the Gods and The Power That Be. You could but where does that lead to except for an even more miserable life.
Get a grip and get on with it! Usually people would say yeah easy for you to say because you are not the one who has suffered. But this is from the guy who did get blow up and lose a leg. Discrimination, hatred and hypocrisy are all very real. It exists everywhere, in every country, among every race and religion. Don’t blame peer pressure, upbringing, environment, personal experience, social influences to justify the decisions we are more than capable of making an individual. This is what Chris Herbert proved. The choice to hate, to love, to hold grudges, to let go is yours to make. Have the courage to choose correctly.
Thx Rinpoche and Chris Herbert for sharing. Hating someone is just an uncomfortable emotion caused by someone you don’t like.But don’t treat people base on religion . I believe that most religion is teaching people become a better person.The people themself can’t practice well the teaching given by religion.everyone has compassion.In Buddhism, we always emphasis on boddhicitta.how can we have boddhicitta with hate feeling in our heart?so please not to choose hate but forgiveness and benefit more sentient beings.
It is really amazing how someone can accomplish so much without violence.
Many people associate Muslims with terrorism and the cause of trouble, but looking at the post above it is highly contrary. Had it not been for the Muslim people helping him, he would probably be dead by now.
Why is it that most people believe Muslims are terrible? Just because a few people did something bad it does not mean that the whole sect of Islam is wrong right? So to those of you who think Muslims are terrible, think again.
This man has it right. I wish the whole world could be like him. There are so many people in countries such as America that are discriminated so heavily because a member of their religion or race committed a crime or a terrible act. The Muslims in America are treated so badly because of what Al-Queda did or what ISIS did. That is like hating an entire family because of what one of their distant cousins did. They may not even be on their side. Why associate?
This story needs to get out and reach everywhere. The world needs to see how this man sees and finally see the difference between a terrorist and a normal human being. We all need to understand this. Stop unnecessary hate and discrimination. Stop the unnecessary suffering.
Thank you so much Rinpoche. This is so inspiring and remind myself of the positive angle to look at everything. Yes, it is very true that we can choose to hate and love. if we choose to love then it is always possible.
Thank you _()_
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this blog post with us. Hatred is a very negative emotion that will affect us tremendously in order to overcome this negative emotion the best thing a person can do is apply the opposite which is love and kindness like what Christ Herbert has said we cannot hate the entire race of men and women that is illogical because not the entire race that cause him to lost his leg, how can we put a blame to the entire race that is not logical.
What Chris Herbert wrote is so true. Just because a few people hurt him doesn’t mean the entire population is at fault. Unfortunately, there are some people who are so fast in making sweeping statements and accusations that more hatred is created.
In my opinion, it only shows how unhappy people are in general and they manifest it through their anger by branding an entire population with hatred.
How many Holocausts should we go through before we realize how wrong this is? Do we want another World War where millions are killed in order to vent out our righteousness and unhappiness? How many more people need to suffer just because we are full of rage? Why do we continue to promote suffering onto others, when we don’t like it if the same was done to us?
The issue that Chris Herbert is making a stand against will lead to catastrophic proportions if we keep silent.
Dear Rinpoche,
Thank you for sharing the posting written by Chris Herbert, which inspires us to be open-minded, more forgiving and think logically of everything that is happening around us.
What makes Chris Herbert’s posting a powerful message to thousands or millions of people is because most of us are being acknowledged that to take revenge or showing hatred towards the individual or a group of people that has caused us with the suffering or unhappiness is normal, rather than accepting the fact that the individual person who caused us the trouble was being deluded with negativity and he or she does not represent the same community from where he or she belongs to. Taking revenge, having negative thoughts and showing hatred towards anyone will not change anything outside or anyone at all but in fact, it will only increase our anger that shut our rationality off, blindfold our eyes from seeing the real truth in front of us and creating the causes that disrupt the peace of mind from others. Being hatred will not lead to happiness because these two emotional states are totally opposite with each other.
We can make one simple choice that can save us from being unhappy or filled up with dissatisfaction in life, which is to let go with forgiveness, understand the causes and reasons of why things happen and move on to benefit others at our own levels.
Thank you Rinpoche for teachings us Dharma in various forms and different levels to reach out to many of us.
With folded hands,
kin hoe
Hatred will not solve a problem but love is. Do we really need to hate the society or a group of people just because of the mistakes done by a few? By the way, why do we learn history in the first place? It serves to remind us of past actions, their consequences and most importantly is the lesson that we have learnt that brings us to who we are now. We can change the situation, the future lies in our hands. Salute Chris for doing what is right rather than what is easy (to follow the flow).
Thank you Chris Herbert for being one in a million, who will not “hate an entire race of men and women for the actions of a few” . Hatred, like anger, blinds us to the point of not being able to think clearly or rationally or fairly.Often the action of one is seen as the action of all in the same community or race. Racism is fanned by hate and by intolerance and by the inability to let go and forgive.
Chris did not let his own tragedy overwhelm him and distort his perception.Despite his own pain and suffering, he is able to make the right choice and take the course of action. Yes, we should “get a grip of our lives, hug our family and get back to work”. We should nor go around blaming, retaliatng and exacting revenge.
This is such inspiring article to read, it must be one of the most beautiful and logical write up I have ever came across, I fully support Chris’s point of view and statement.
We should not judge a race or a group of people by our past experience just because a few of the people from the group do nasty things. For example, just because on person from Town A is a serial killer and has been killing innocent people, it doesn’t mean that every single person from Town A is crazy and malicious, it doesn’t make sense doesn’t it?
We should not label people like that because we ourselves wouldn’t want to be labelled too. Chris Herbert is a very sensitive and understanding young man, I am very happy for him because what he wrote here is going to change a lot of lives, it will educate people to think outside the box and from different perspectives, it’s logical and when things are logical, most of the people will accept it.
Dear Rinpoche,
Thank you for the sharing. This article reminds me to be compassionate to others and everyone is equal. We shouldn’t judge the entire community based on a minority’s wrong doing.
Hatred is one of the poisons in spiritual practise, and shouldn’t be kept in our daily life no matter what religion we believed in, but how many of us can really apply this into our daily life?
Chris has shown us a good example in this particular topic. I have learned to forgive people from the bottom of my heart and be open to people’s comment. I have also learned to let go of my own ego which is a cause of my anger. I have learned to let go of my attachment and the fear of losing, to give my love and comfort to people around me.
Again this article opens my mind and widen my perspectives in my spiritual practise. Thank you.
With hand folded,
Ng Jesvin
This is a heart felted strong message by Chris Herbert. His admirable characteristics that inspired me are:
1. Life is not the end when we lose a leg or in my world, lose everything. “Stay positive always” has a new meaning here.
2. Do not hold grudges against people who had done you wrong. Hatred begets more hatred.
3. Not do things just for the sake of pleasing others, even the whole nation is expecting and watching you.
4. Speak up against what is wrong. Even when everyone else around you think other wise.
5. Racism is not the issue. Humanity is.
Thank you so much, Rinpoche, for sharing this inspiring article. There are so much we can learn from Chris Herbert.
Humbly, bowing down,
Stella Cheang
Dear Rinpoche,
Thanks for sharing this article. Chris actions are inspiring and remind me to have compassion and fair. Points I learned from here:
1) We should not generalise all Muslim are violent and gruesome just because some of them are. We must learn to be fair and logical. We should not be racist as it all comes from wrong perception.
2) We must learn to forgive and have compassion towards the everyone. Hatred does not help us and will make us unhappy person.
3) We have a choice and Chris has shown that we can choose to NOT hate. Most of the time we will dwell into looking at a situation from a negative angle but Chris has shown us that we should look at the positive side. Look at how other people treated him shows that he is appreciative and contented.
4) Most importanly is our motivation. Once we put our intention to the right frame, our action will follow suit.
This was a moving post because it’s written by someone who is supposed to be totally against the topic that he’s writing about after what happened to him. In today’s geopolitical environment, Muslims have become easy targets of hatred and abuse. Instead of choosing the easy way out and hating everyone of the faith, he chose the route which is logical, and also harder in the short term but much better in the long run, and that is to forgive. He chose to use logic and see that it was one guy who happened to do this to him, and that he won’t blame an entire belief system for what’s happening now.
It’s our choice to hate, just as much as it is our choice to forgive and move on. It’s our choice to be angry; it’s also our choice to be happy and not hang on to things. This guy lost his leg and yet, he can still forgive. I think it is a big part of a person’s recovery when they are able to forgive. If the white British for example, that he encountered learned how to not hate, then such nasty interactions would not happen. If the fundamentalists and extremists learned how to not hate everyone different to them, then the sources of conflict would disappear. In fact, if each one of us would learn how to forgive on a personal and societal level, the conflicts in the world would disappear very quickly.
I also found it interesting that he brought up the behaviour of the white British, because they demonstrate the old adage really is true. That is, it’s not your beliefs that make you a better person, but your behaviour.
Dear Rinpoche ,
Thank you for sharing the inspiring post of this man. His ability to forgive is truly outstanding. After what he had been through, it is expected for most people to think that this man would have hatred and grudges towards those who are responsible for his missing leg. However, this man proves them wrong and even teaches them a lesson with such an inspiring message about forgiving on social media.
Hate is a strong negative feeling which is one of the three poisons in Buddha’s teaching. It can pollute our view and perception on a particular topic or person. It render us unable to be objective and cause us to be impulsive in our words and actions. This is why many horrific and devastating actions done by men in history are driven solely by hatred.
I believe that this man has a joyful life because his forgiveness and open mind.
Chris