Forebearance And Forgiveness

Forgiveness is truth, Dharma, yoga, non-violence, happiness and is everything in all the three worlds.

Man should strive to develop this quality of forgiveness which acts as a armour in all times of crisis by practicing it in daily life. Only when faced with difficulties can a person cultivate this quality. It can neither be learnt from books nor can some teacher give it to you. It can neither be bought in a shop nor can it be given as a gift by friends. There can be no forgiveness in the heart without the feeling of surrender to God.

One should have some discrimination while showing mercy also. Prithviraj forgave Mohammed Ghori seventeen times. Each time the latter was defeated, Prithviraj released him and finally the eighteenth time Ghori took the help of Raja Jaichand and defeated Prithviraj. But he forgot the mercy shown to him by Prithviraj and blinded him.

Sakkubai was an ocean of patience and forbearance. Unmindful of all the insults and troubles heaped on her by her husband and mother-in-law, she continued to pine for Krishna and a visit to Pandarpur. She took everything as God's will and did all work as His work. She sang, "I am bearing all this in life only for You. Oh Krishna, I cannot forget you, at least give me darshan in a dream". She also prayed that Krishna should at least point out her mistake, since she felt that she was not able to have a glimpse of her beloved Krishna because of some gross mistake in her devotion and had to face all the difficulties in life. Finally Krishna had to take her form and do all the household work and had to send her to Pandarpur to fulfill His devotee's desire.

It is very easy to get God's darshan. Only the heart has to be pure. Without the lining of mercury you cannot see the image in a mirror. Similarly you cannot see the image of God in your heart without the lining of love. Even a person like Lakshmi, the consort of Vishnu was subjected to ego when she saw Vishnu going for rescue of the elephant king without telling her. The only way to crush ego is by cultivating the quality of forgiveness.

Draupadi was an epitome of mercy. When Arjuna brought Aswathama, after the latter had killed the children of Draupadi, she asked him "All these husbands of mine and you were trained by the same Guru Dronacharya. Was it justified for you to kill unarmed and sleeping children. How could you do this". Sensing that Draupadi was about to forgive Aswathama, Bhima was enraged and wanted to kill him. She pleaded with Bhima and Arjuna that they should not kill Aswathama, as one should not kill persons who are defeated, who are drunk, who are afraid, who are asleep, who have surrendered and the ladies. She reminded them of the despair and sadness she was undergoing because of the loss of her sons and did not want Aswathama's mother to feel the same agony. Since there were virtuous ladies like Draupadi who had control of five senses (Pandavas) the glory of Bharath had spread everywhere.

One should always wear this armour of forbearance and forgiveness. If people provoke you by speaking ill of you, do not retaliate. You should not lose you composure, which is your greatest strength. That is why Thyagaraja sang that there is no happiness without peace. For small things, one should not quarrel or lose one's inner peace.