Forgiveness is Not Optional in Our Spiritual Lives

[krsna 3]

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Quotes compiled by Damodara dasa

Glories to the Vaisnava devotees,

Around two weeks ago I was sitting in my living room during the early

evening. I was brooding and pondering over a recent incident, in which I

had been rude and obnoxious. Typical kind of thing that causes such

despondency. I had taken an opportunity to air out old emotional garbage

and was realizing the results of that type of behavior.

When in walks my wife with two folded sheets of paper in her hand. She

said she had been across the street disposing of some organic refuse.

She then noticed these papers on the ground and picked them up. What was

written on those papers, clearly legible despite their slightly tattered

and torn condition, were beautiful quotes on the subject of forgiveness.

There were 16 quotes by Prabhupada or from the Vedas, and 18 more from

various people. As soon as I read them I immediately understood that

most if not all of our grudges and unkind sentiments will be quickly

erased by a simple act of forgiveness.

What is more, as I was reading them, I could see that just as we hear and

chant about the Lord in order to remember Him, if we hear and chant about

forgiveness that type of rememberance will also awaken

The following quotes by Srila Prabhupada illustrate the principle that

"Forgiveness is Not Optional in Our Spiritual Lives."

A Vindictive Mentality Will Spoil One's Krsna Consciouisness

The word titiksava, or "tolerance," indicates that a transcendentalist

must be forgiving. The material world is full of embarrassing and

irritating situations, and unless one is inclined to be very much

forgiving he will become infected by a vindictive mentality, which spoils

one's spiritual consciousness.

(The definition of vindictive is: revengeful in spirit; inclined to seek

vengeance)

Without Tolerance We Cannot Be Successful

"One should chant the holy name of the Lord in a humble state of mind,

thinking oneself lower than the straw in the street; one should be more

tolerant than a tree, devoid of all sense of false prestige and should be

ready to offer all respect to others. In such a state of mind one can

chant the holy name of the Lord constantly."

We must always remember this verse and be as tolerant as the tree, as we

execute the Krsna consciousness movement. Without this mentality we

cannot be successful.

(Sometimes ksama is translated as tolerance and sometimes forgiveness)

Forgiveness is the Real Feature of Austerity

A sadhu, a devotee, is never angry. Actually the real feature of devotees

who undergo tapasya, austerity, is forgiveness

The First Duty of the Tapasvis is to Forgive

Tapasvi, those who are advancing in Krsna consciousness, undergoing

tapasya, austerities, their first qualification is to forgive the

offender. This is the qualification.

Those who are tapasvis, their first duty is how much he is forgiving. How

much he has learned to forgive.

Forgiveness is the Special Quality of the Brahmanas

Brahmanas are beautiful when they are forgiving, ksatriyas when they are

heroic and never retreat from fighting, vaisyas when they enrich cultural

activities and protect cows, and sudras when they are faithful in the

discharge of duties pleasing to their masters. Thus everyone becomes

beautiful by his special qualities. And the special quality of the

brahmanas, as described here, is forgiveness.

A Devotee Is Understanding

So a devotee is always very understanding if there is some discrepancy

behavior on the part of nondevotees, and even some devotees misbehave, he

is always very tolerant and understanding.

Krsna is Pleased With Those Who Forgive

The duty of a brahmana is to culture the quality of forgiveness, which is

illuminating like the sun. The Supreme

Personality of Godhead, Hari, is pleased with those who are forgiving.

The Lord is very satisfied with His devotee when the devotee greets other

people with tolerance, mercy, friendship and equality.

Forgiveness is a Survival Tool

I am glad to learn that your co-operation for this society is appreciated

by the authorities, We should learn to forget and forgive minor incidents

because whenever there are two men in a place, there is always some

misunderstanding.

Overlook Their Mistakes

"Even if a devotee commits the most abominable actions, he is to be

considered saintly because he is properly situated,". As you will say,

"To err is human", so in the neophyte stage we may always expect some

discrepancies are there. Kindly see the things in this light and forgive

their small mistakes. The big thing is they have given their life,

everything to Krishna---that is never a mistake.

The Mind Is the Cause of Happiness and Distress

The brahmana said: These people are not the cause of my happiness and

distress. Neither are the demigods, my own body, the planets, my past

work, or time. Rather, it is the mind alone that causes happiness and

distress and perpetuates the rotation of material life.

Failing to conquer this irrepressible enemy, the mind, whose urges are

intolerable and who torments the heart, many people are completely

bewildered and create useless quarrel with others. Thus they conclude

that other people are either their friends, their enemies or parties

indifferent to them. 1123.47

See Others Offenses as Our Karma

If someone bites his tongue with his own teeth, at whom can he become

angry in his suffering?

We Suffer When We Inflict Pain

Suniti said to Prahlada. My dear son, don't wish for anything

inauspicious for others. Anyone who inflicts pains

upon others suffers himself from that pain

Resentment is a Symptom of Ignorance

Anger and resentment are due to ignorance due to material attachment. We

have to solve the problem through knowledge and purification.

Also from link section-

Draupadi wept at the murderer of her own children when he was about to be

killed, and begged Krsna to spare Aswatama. Prabhupada praises her

attitude for this kindheartedness. This is our business, not to imitate

Krsna and kill enemies, but to follow in the footsteps of the devotee and

have compassion for them.

[Jaya 0]

The process of forgiving and being forgiven is very powerful and it should be taken quite seriously, especially if you have been hurt by others or you yourself have hurt others. Everyone deserves to be foregiven if they are truly sorry, but by simply saying you are truly sorry doesn't cut it, you truly have to feel the pain you caused to another soul in order to be forgiven (this is my opinion only). Firstly, you must admit your mistakes and are truly repenting for your past misdeeds and if possible go to the people to whom you committed wrong, and fall at their feet and beg for forgiveness. If they forgive you, then you have done your 'prayascitta' or atonement for your sins.

 

If this is not possible to directly meet them, then at least write to them, begging for forgiveness. Krsna will hear you.

 

If this is not possible, if those people have passed or you don't know where to locate them, or there may be other practical problems, that you cannot get in touch with them, then you should ask for their forgiveness mentally and pray to Lord Krsna to forgive your sins.

 

After doing this, take up to the process of bhakti-yoga to Lord Krsna. Depending on one's sincerity, bhakti will remove all the sins eventually Lord Krsna gives you this guarantee in Bhagavad-Gita 18.66:

 

 

"sarva dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja, aham tvam sarva papebhyo moksayisyami ma sucah - Abandon all varieties of religion and just surrender unto me and I shall deliver you from all SINFUL reactions. Do not fear."

 

 

PRAY:

 

"Hare Krsna Hare Krsna; Krsna Krsna Hare Hare; Hare Rama Hare Rama; Rama Rama Hare Hare".

 

Lord Krsna will hear your prayers, and engage you in His service, and He will remove all our sins in the course of time.

 

Here is a quotation from Srimad Bhagavatam 6.2.13 (6th Canto, 2nd Chapter, 13th verse):

 

 

"One who has killed a brahmana, one who has killed a cow or one who has killed his father, mother or guru (spiritual master) can be immediately freed from all sinful reactions simply by chanting the Holy Name of Lord Krsna or Narayana. Other sinful persons, such as dog-eaters and candalas, who are less than sudras, can also be freed in this way".

 

 

Also Srimad Bhagavatam 6.2.9-10:

 

 

"The chanting of the Holy Name Lord Krsna is the best process of atonement (prayascitta) for a thief of gold or other valuables, for a drunkard, for one who betrays a friend or relative, for one who kills a brahmana, or for one who indulges in sex with the wife of his guru or other superior. It is also the best method of atonement for one who murders women, the king or his father, for one who slaughters cows, and for all other sinful men. Simply by chanting the Holy Name of Krsna, such sinful persons may attract the attention of the Supreme Lord, who therefore considers, "because this man has chanted My Holy Name, My duty is to give him protection."

 

 

You should not chant the Holy Names and continue to do sins thinking that the chanting will cleanse all the sins. That does cut it. You must admit one's mistakes, sincerely from the heart repent for one's mistakes, and

every day chant the Holy Names, which will give strength and realization from committing any further sins.

 

Hare Krsna.