In many Buddhist practices we give our enemy the place of importance. Why do we place the enemy in this position when in our normal life the important person is given the seat of honour?

In Buddhism, and especially in the Mahayana and the Vajrayana teachings, the path towards enlightenment is through the altruistic mind. How do you generate the altruistic mind? Through somebody who displeases you. A person who creates anger within you gives you an enormous opportunity to practice the patience, tolerance and forbearance that in turn lead you to the altruistic path. And therefore, because of that person, you are able to attain enlightenment much faster.

In extolling the benefits of the enemy there is a verse that says, "Through the harms done by others I have found the path towards cutting out suffering. Through the obstacles that were placed in front of me I found the way to cut through obstacles. I have found the way to cut out all the sufferings not only of this lifetime but of all the lifetimes; not only the sufferings that I am going through but all the sufferings of all the sentient beings. So this particular path that I have found, unchanging, unwavering, immutable, is found only through the obstacles, harms and bad deeds done to me by others.

Source: Red Deer Buddhist Meditation Society newsletter