Aspirants Guide

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

Page 14

FORGIVENESS
unholy, contrary to the real nature of the Soul, and the gateway to sorrow. 4. Uphold forever, in your heart, forgiveness that leads to peace in This Life and which is instrumental in bringing the highest and the best state in the Life Hereafter. 5. Just as a lamp shines of itself and shows the path to others by light, similarly saintly souls in spite of numerous calamities bring calmness to others. 6. Just as the earth tolerates digging, stomping and striking; just as trees tolerate cutting, similarly only the enlightened souls can tolerate insults and bad words. None others have that capacity. 7. The tree of religion, that grows through right conduct and right knowledge and is tended by self-study, austerity and faith, will be consumed to ashes by the fire of anger. Let us, therefore, keep anger away at a great distance. 8. Compassion, peace, equanimity, forgiveness, truth, renunciation and non attachment are found in the personality of a person aspiring after liberation. He is ever alert. 9. When causes leading to sorrow arise, great Sadhaka again and again resorts to forgiveness, thinking like this, "This is the occasion of a test of my life time Sadhana. Why should I not be on the alert ?" or, "Despite being an aspirant for liberation, if I retort by harsh words, like ordinary worldly people, I would be just one of them. What would, then, be the significance of my claim of being one aspiring after liberation ?"
Pondering again and again in this way, the tenacious "Sadhakas" are not shaken and steadfastly maintain forgiveness.
LIVING EXAMPLES OF FORGIVENESS (1) Shivaji was a great Hindu king of the state of Maharashtra, India, during the seventeenth century. He fought fiercely with the last Mogul Emperor, Aurangzeb, for the freedom of India. He was considered a great warrior, patriot, and administrator in western India.
Swami Ramdas was the guide and preceptor of the king Shivaji. It was with the training and inspiration of Swami Ramdas that Shivaji attained to a great success in his life.
Swami Shri Ramdas has been a famous saint in the History
KSHAMA