Chaos is prison. 

A calm mind, one that is developed from meditative concentration,

is freedom. 

Just as an organizational system brings order to a situation in disarray, meditative concentration brings order to a mind that is chaotic. While we may assure ourselves that a constantly moving mind is a sign of freedom, it is not. Such a mind is in prison.

Prisoners are under the control of others.

Told to leave their cells, they leave.

Told to stay in their cells, they stay.

A chaotic mind is another form of prison. Just more subtle. More debilitating. The chaotic mind also cannot go where it chooses. As soon as it tries it is prevented from doing so, swept away by different thoughts, including regrets and fears. Even when found, happiness ends all too soon.

This unfocused mind has no control, no freedom. With meditative concentration and the mental order that arises from it, the mind can soar wherever it wishes. Even away from regret and fear. This truly is freedom.

Hatred is indeed a slippery slope. 

Consider how often friendship and love, or even a mere acquaintance, can devolve into dislike. Or even hatred. And how rare it is for us to stop our dislike—and hatred—once we have begun.

Hatred is like the proverbial slippery slope: easy to slide down but incredibly difficult to climb back up.

As we begin to hate, we justify our feelings and become convinced we are right to feel as we do. The other person has done something terrible—they have wronged us. I have done nothing—just an innocent party. The hatred swells and over time we become attached to it. To stop this hating, we will need to let go of our attachment to it.

How? Admit that our hate is unwarranted. Period!

And even if in most people's eyes it is warranted, we would be wrong to give in to hate. As ordinary beings, we neither like giving up attachments nor admitting we are wrong. Isn’t it just more practical not to reinforce such self-destructive habits in the first place?