Aspirants Guide

Author(s): Atmanandji Maharaj
Publisher: Shrimad Rajchandra Sadhna Kendra Koba

Page 12

FORGIVENESS
part of the mind. Thus, the lack of clear knowledge about the basic nature of our true self is the main reason for the rise of anger. 2. EXPERIMENTING WITH FORGIVENESS IN DAILY LIFE :
One who has firmly resolved that this soul is of the nature of forgiveness. has to remain awake and alert when anger seems to overtake him. He should then ponder in his mind this way, "This anger is not found in my original nature; it is the result only of the rise of Karma or action done in the past life. Why should I, then, give a place to this extraneous emotion in my soul ? This anger is unholy. It is an enemy to my nature and it even leads to sorrow in this world.
Moreover, the Karma that will shape itself due to anger will again arise and lead me to sorrow in future. I must, therefore, discard anger that causes loss to me in all respects; and at the same time I must get firmly established in forgiveness, in equanimity of mind, and in the state of the knowledge, because I have the ability to recognize anger before it arises or immediately when it arises."
A great soul-force is created in one's self, by constantly practising in this way the awareness to separate the perversion of anger from one's true self. With this soul-force, one gets firmly established in Samadhi, a form of unique forgiveness. Then the person is not tied by the bondage of Karma, but experiences unique and unparalleled peace of mind and heart. Be aware, O Great Souls, that constant and patient experimental training, through a state of awakening of the soul, is precisely the right way to cultivate the virtue of forgiveness and to conquer anger.
Just as a person resolves to abstain from food at the time of a fast, or while taking any other religious vow, similarly, one who wants to root out anger, should take a vow of training everyday, "I shall not subject myself to anger today." He should also fix a small penance for each lapse so that mistakes committed every day can be counted. If a person trains himself for some time in this way consciously, his nature will change. Such is the great power of this small vow, and hence, its great utility to the Sadhaka.
OBSTACLES TO THE SADHANA OF FORGIVENESS
KSHAMA