What is worse?

Well said. What struck home is "Hatred harms both the person who has this feeling in his heart and also the person whom he hartes". Interestingly, you used HE right through. Wonder why :-) But doesn't hatred emanate from greed and a self-centered approach? Is is not possible that if people didn't have greed in them, they wouldn't hate? Why do we hate after all if not for the fact that we disagree with someone strongly? And isn't disagreement born out of our perception of 'self' and what is right and wrong? So, isn't it greed that gives birth to hatred?

Good analogy i must say. So what do we face in our world today? Is the world succumbing to greed or the hatred that it breeds? Why can't we just be and love one another like most animals?

You are right. The root cause of all sorrows is greed. Ok I will not use 'HE':). Hatred can come if some one has greed for recognition, wealth, power, success. But still greed being the first stage is not as dangerous as hatred, though greed may be the root cause of hatred. Infact greed and attachmnet leads to all kinds of troubles and misery. Greed is like a storm and hatred a hurricane or tornado. This is what I feel.

Good points. But don't you think greed is the first step towards hatred? Doesn't most hatred stem from a self-centered approach? Doesn't the need of the self lead to hatred? If so, wouldn't it be conceivable that if there were no greed, there would be no hatred? Would like to know what you think of that.

It is true that greed can lead to hatred...in either direction actually. The greedy person can hate those he takes from and, obviously, the one who loses things to a greedy person can hate that person. However, hatred exists without greed. Hatred is the opposite of love and I believe that, if we are honest with ourselves, is every bit as strong as love. In a perfect world, we could stop being greedy and feeling hate but we don't live in a perfect world and never will. I'm not a greedy person by nature but have shown greed a time or ten and probably will again. I'm not a particularly hateful person but I do hate...far more than I'm greedy. At least I don't hate groups based on race, creed, nationality, etc. I hate individuals who I have encountered and had reason to hate. Hating someone isn't at all bad, unless it leads to an act of violence or retribution. Religions try to paint it as a sin but I don't buy that. I think that hate is just as natural and healthy as love and that trying not to hate is unnatural and can lead to psychological problems and even have physical manifestations.

That is very well put indeed. And I must say I tend to agree. I was just pondering over what is the cause of the state of affairs in the world in general. Not specific to individual hatred but a collective sentiment, be it national, territorial, racial, religious or whatever. I do believe most people are like you and me. Normal, with the normal degree of greed (or selfishness if you will), love and hatred. The collective mass of humanity is not hateful as a race. And yet, the ugly head of hatred seemingly born out of greed seems to have gripped mankind. You are also right in saying that we do not live in a perfect world. Utopia is an illusion. And yet, harmony in existence is not so much about a perfect world as accepting imperfection. Loving it even. Still, we seem to be the only species incapable of sustained coexistence. Is that the price we pay for our so called intelligence? I know I am rambling. Thanks for your thoughts again. Feel enriched and energized :)