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DASA-DHARMA
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ignorance of the importance of the codes of saintly life and that he should forgive all those who might be prone to cause him mental or physical pain.
Bhagavãn Mahāvira was once questioned by his disciple : “Sire, what does the soul get by practice of forgiveness ?" He replied : “By forgiveness, the mind gets peace and kindness of disposition; kind disposition, creates affection towards all living creatures; by an affectionate disposition the mind becomes pure; by purity, it beomes fearless."]
Anger is the chief enemy of self happiness, self-restraint and detachment are all the qualities of the soul. Anger destroys all these qualities and degenerates the quality of the soul. Anger puts the mind out of gear and one does not know what a person who loses his balance of mind will do in a moment of heat. Most of the misdeeds and criminal actions are committed wher are overcome by anger. Anger dries up the very springs of humanism. A person in anger might act like a beast lose all the best qualities of the mind and the heart.
Angry words are the expressions of a perverted mind; such words cause pain to others and entangle their author into sins. They can be controlled by patience which is the outcome of wisdom and forbearance.
Ksamā is another word in Sanskrit for the earth; she petiently bears all the inroads that are committed by people; she offers fruits and protection to all living beings. Anger begets hatred; hatred begets enmity; enmity is the cause of sustained misery to all parties concerned. Patience and forbearance can be acquired by observance of the vow of Ahjmsā. Forgiveness is a divine quality. When Jesus Christ was crucified, he said "Forgive them, Father, they know not what they are doing.” Mahatma Gandh breathed a word of forgiveness towards his assassin before his death. Thus forgiveness begets love and brings peace of mind. It stops the influx of new Karmas and helps to purge off the old ones. Peace and happiness are the most enviable possessions of man; they are lost by anger but regained by forgiveness.
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