What does forgiveness mean to you? As the nasal voice of Brian Adams croons on the radio "...Please Forgive Me..." do you stop a moment to dwell on the topic? Thinking of a past when you wished with all your heart that a friend you hurt inadvertently, will suddenly be attacked by a selective amnesia and actually forgive you? Or perhaps fervently wish that you could just move past that little incident by forgiving the cruel words of a colleague?
Whatever the word 'forgiveness' may mean to you (I am fairly certain it means something to you!), the fact is that most of us have trouble admitting to having forgiven someone. "Why should I? He doesn't deserve it!" These are words I have spoken myself, and I realised that they really don't make me feel any better. So is revenge the key to the problem? Hardly.
Forgiveness a topic spoken about by some of the most powerful teachers - from Hindu seers and Sufi masters to Jesus and Buddha - is also perhaps the least employed. So is forgiveness the key to happiness. There is no way to know unless we try it! Learning to forgive is hard, but it is surprisingly healing. Forgive and move on. It works!
Whatever the word 'forgiveness' may mean to you (I am fairly certain it means something to you!), the fact is that most of us have trouble admitting to having forgiven someone. "Why should I? He doesn't deserve it!" These are words I have spoken myself, and I realised that they really don't make me feel any better. So is revenge the key to the problem? Hardly.
Forgiveness a topic spoken about by some of the most powerful teachers - from Hindu seers and Sufi masters to Jesus and Buddha - is also perhaps the least employed. So is forgiveness the key to happiness. There is no way to know unless we try it! Learning to forgive is hard, but it is surprisingly healing. Forgive and move on. It works!
2 comments:
Well well well,
Everyone has their own meaning of forgiveness. Well written.
Ashish
chat.with.ashish@gmail.com
'So is forgiveness the key to happiness. ...'
Well said sowmya...
When we say forgiveness it sounds very philosophical - that only great masters can practice. 'Acceptance' sounds a bit simpler and practical doesn't it?!
Coming back to the quote...
Mr. Shankaran Pillai was having a good friend... a colleague. One fine day, a usualy chat with his friend grew up as a hot debate which led to a unreconcilable break in their relationship. Now a days Mr. Pillar doesn't even like to look at his friends face. If at all he sees his friend, the whole day he will be upset. His friend is very clever... whenever he wants to irritate Mr. Pillai or to spoil his work... he simply takes a position where Mr. Pillai can see and give a sarcastic smile... that's it Mr. Pillai will start boiling!!!
Now the key of Mr. Pillai's happiness is with his friend!! He lost his freedom doesn't he?!
So forgivenss or acceptance is the way to freedom!!!
see u!
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