Forgiveness

   Q: We are taught to forgive and forget…

            BUT even when we forgive someone outwardly…

          …inside a feeling of grievance and hurt remains.

 

                 How can we get rid of that also?

 

                                    First…forgive outwardly

               AND give up thoughts of revenge.

                      The inner uneasiness will then slowly recede.

                The problem is…traces of anger linger inside…

                     BUT once we forgive externally…

                                            the intellect slowly becomes

                                                  …SUBTLE

                                                       …PURE

                                                         …MATURE

                    …which leads to INNER FORGIVENESS.

                PERFECT forgiveness is the hallmark

                                      ……of great saints.

                          …As they see the oneness of all…

                        they FORGIVE SPONTANEOUSLY…

              …Just as we forgive our finger if it pokes the eye.

                     No matter how many times it is repeated…

                                   …do we say…

                                 “This is the last, very last time.

                          …Do it again, and I will cut you off!”

                    BECAUSE we know that the finger and the eye

                                       BOTH are ME!!!

                          I pervade the finger as well as the eye.

                                       IN THE SAME WAY

                          …when we see one’s own Self pervading

                                     everywhere

                                       the vision is different.

                   THERE is also ANOTHER way to forgive.

 

                     We can say, “I have forgiven you BUT

                             what you did was not right.”

                                     That’s ALL.

                      In the Ramayana, Lakshmana was

              very angry with Kaikeyi because she sent

                    …his beloved SRI RAMA to the forest…

            BUT Ramachandraji told him not…

                                                 …to vent his anger on her.

                   On their return after FOURTEEN YEARS,

                Lakshmana still harboured some resentment

             but he obeyed his brother…

              He did not express any angry sentiments

                                              and bowed to Kaikeyi.

                 So long as…we are not CARRIED away with

                      thoughts of revenge…it is fine.

                         The rest will come with time!!!

– – Swami Tejomayananda