Forgiveness

Forgiveness is a conscious, deliberate decision to release feelings of resentment or vengeance toward yourself, an outcome, a person or group that either physically or verbally harmed/hurt/or offended you, regardless of whether they actually deserve your forgiveness.

Forgiveness gives:

Freedom, Joy, Peace, kindness

Forgiveness transcends:

Resentment, Bitterness, Anger, Scheming, Revenge

What is Forgiveness?

Forgiveness does not mean that we condone the negative behavior of ourselves or the offender. Rather it means that we value our spiritual growth more than we value the need to be right.

It is not possible for any man or woman to walk the face of the earth without being offended. Offences will come from all directions and are unavoidable. However, it is not a helpless situation. Because what really matters is how we respond to the offences instead of mercilessly reacting. You will always — for one reason or another — find it difficult to forgive yourself or those who’ve wronged you. It may be the gravity of the offence committed or just a stronghold of bitterness that has gone unchecked, leading to gossip and malevolence. All qualities that lead us to become the offender.

To forgive is to release oneself from the imprisonment of guilt and anger for wrongs done, letting the captive go. As yogis, it’s not that we’re commanded to forgive, but rather empowered. Forgiveness is for peace, and is of love, compassion, reason and knowing; knowing that sin is within us all and that it is not easy to thwart ignorance, evil or senselessness . Choosing good is hard and we know most people have not seen what true good is. So we aim to model it.

“There is nothing more conducive to happiness and nothing more proper for a man of power and vitality than forgiveness, in every place at all times. He that is weak should forgive under all circumstances. He that is powerful should show forgiveness by his adherence to virtue.” —Srimad Mahabharata B.5.c.39