love your enemy

From this week's Free Will Astrology by Rob Brezsny (click the title link to read the whole thing). This is an excerpt from his book PRONOIA IS THE ANTIDOTE FOR PARANOIA: How the Whole World Is Conspiring to Shower You with Blessings:

"The 17th-century surgeon Wilhelm Hilden had an interesting theory about healing. He developed a medicinal salve that he applied not to the wound itself but rather to the weapon that inflicted it. Though today we may sneer at such foolishness, the fact is that Hilden's approach has great potential if used for psychic wounds. Jesus understood this when he articulated the revolutionary formula, "Love your enemy." More than any other action, this strategy has the power to cure you of the distortions your enemy has unleashed in you. Try it out."

I had not heard this idea phrased in such a way before, such that not forgiving unleashes distortions in us, whereas love can cure distortions. Wow. That's what makes it incredibly powerful.