The Cycle of Fire

The Cycle of Fire: Why Revenge is a Poison, Not a Cure

Looking at the world today, it feels as if humanity has developed a collective amnesia. Despite the horrific lessons of two World Wars, we see history repeating itself. Wars that have lasted for years, regional conflicts spanning decades, and ethnic violence continue to tear families apart.

Why do we keep falling into this trap? The root cause is the deeply ingrained instinct for revenge—the belief that "an eye for an eye" will somehow bring justice. But we must ask ourselves: Can violence truly end violence? When we kill to stop a "terrorist," do we realize that by using the same hatred and violence, we risk becoming exactly what we claim to fight?

The Law of the Heart

The Buddha provided a clear diagnosis of this cycle in the Dhammapada:

"Hatred is never appeased by hatred in this world. By non-hatred alone is hatred appeased. This is a law eternal."

This isn't just a "nice thought"; it is a spiritual law of physics. If you add fire to fire, you only get a bigger blaze. The Buddha was so firm on this that in the Bodhisattva Precepts, he taught that a practitioner should not seek revenge even if their own parents or rulers are harmed.

This sounds radical, perhaps even impossible, to a modern mind. But the reason is twofold: first, revenge ensures that the cycle of violence will never end; second, it makes us slaves to our own anger. Once hatred takes root in your heart, it doesn't matter who "won" the war—you have already lost your peace.

The Living Example: The Dalai Lama’s Choice

In modern history, perhaps no one has embodied this teaching more than the 14th Dalai Lama. In his autobiography, My Land and My People, he reflects on the existential threat faced by his nation. His people were killed, and his culture was suppressed, yet he chose a path of non-violence that baffled the world.

Regarding the choice one faces during such a crisis, he expresses a sentiment that has become a cornerstone of his life:

"If I develop feelings of anger or hatred towards those who have harmed us, who will be the loser? I will be the loser, because I will lose my own peace of mind, my health, and my sleep. But if I practice compassion and forgiveness, I remain free."

He even went as far as to express gratitude toward the challenges posed by Chairman Mao Zedong and the Chinese occupation, stating that his "enemies" were actually his greatest teachers, as they provided the ultimate laboratory to test and strengthen his compassion.

Revenge is a Prison

Hatred is called one of the "Three Poisons" for a reason. It acts like a toxin in the bloodstream. If you hold onto a desire for revenge, you are the one drinking the poison while waiting for your enemy to die. It blocks you from living a meaningful life and keeps you tethered to the very person or event that hurt you.

My personal reflection is this: choosing compassion over revenge isn't about being "weak" or "letting the bad guys win." It is about having the courage to stop being a slave to your emotions. It is about choosing to be a "human" rather than a "reaction."

If you are currently carrying a grudge or a deep desire for retribution, I urge you to let it go—not for the sake of the other person, but for your own. Do not let someone else’s shadows block the light of your future. Let us choose to be the ones who stop the fire, rather than the ones who pass the torch of hatred to the next generation.

Luke Lin 1/30/2026