Jain Center Minnesota MN 2007 07 Pratishtha

Author(s): Jain Center Minnesota USA
Publisher: USA Jain Center Minnesota

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Thus as a lover of peace and harmony everywhere at all levels, it is absolutely essential for us to cultivate and maintain the attitude of forgiveness all the time whenever the situation so demands. Not only that, it is the privilege only of man and not of animals to maintain that attitude all throughout his life. Only human beings are blessed with this divine virtue of forgiveness by nature and not the animal kingdom. As rational animal, we are duty-bounded to live with this attitude of forgiveness all throughout our life, if we really want to evolve from manhood to godhood. Otherwise we will be no better than two-legged animals without a tail.
In the absence of this virtue of forgiveness, we will behave more cruelly towards others in one or the other way than even the animals. It is only by cultivating a habit of sincerely seeking and imparting forgiveness, whenever the situation so demands, by subduing our senses of ego, that we can maintain the attitude of forgiveness or forbearance in all the situations which we are required to face in the short span of life awarded to us. This is the only way to maintain peace of mind which is a pre-requisite for growing in the knowledge of the Self or Atmagyana. It requires great inner strength and courage to maintain forgiveness and seek or impart pardon in a given situation. Only those who have developed. the art of looking within can gain such strength and courage to maintain the attitude of sincere forgiveness all throughout, and shower their blessings of love and compassion not only on their fellow beings but on the animal kingdom as well.
Now by cultivating and developing this attitude of forgiveness, the life becomes as light as feather of a bird to soar as high as it wants to reach the pinnacle of Truth. Heart becomes extremely pure for proper study of our scriptures and application thereof in our daily life. As a result of these two, all our transactions remain as clean as sun-light, cleaning not only our own heart but also the hearts of all others around us. The life then will be worth living all throughout in any situation in which we are placed, irrespective of the fact whether it is conducive or non conducive to us.
Even a cursory look at our own life and the lives of others around us, will reveal to us that active and sincere forgiveness undoubtedly bears its fruits, sometimes earlier and some times later, with the result that all our stress and strain of our agitated life in our family, society, country and in the world at large, disappear and we start living a fresh life of love and compassion for all the beings around us. Innumerable instances have been recorded wherein ardent enemies have become friends by seeking and imparting forgiveness for the wrongs committed by them, even in extreme cases, setting examples of the real happy life of love and compassion in the society.
Now, when the attitude of forgiveness is so strong as to change the hearts of the others and revolutionize our own vision of life, the sadhaka on the spiritual path must cultivate the same by adhering to it in any situation he is required to face. It is a first step to be taken by him to reach the goal of his life which can be no other than liberation from the limitations of life while living. One not adhering to this attitude of forgiveness or forbearance will never be able to walk on the difficult path of spirituality.
None of his Sadhanas without forgiveness will bear any fruit whatsoever, even in dreams.
Thus, we must set up a free flow of forgiveness from within us, so that into that rushing flood, we can flush out all our negative and suicidal inner disturbances. More than forgiveness, a man who is building himself up for the highest achievement, must have plentiful ability to forget the follies of others around him, the dishonesty of those who are walking with him and the vulgarities of the members of his team. All cannot have true inspirations; even when they are inspired, all may not have real efficiency in them or constancy of purpose with them - forget about them. However, without forgiveness it is difficult to
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