Jain Journal 1966 10

Author(s): Jain Bhawan Publication
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication

Page 3

OURSELVES
Kṣāmemi sabbe jibe sabbe jivā kṣamantu me Mitti me sabbabhūesu beram mājjham na kenai
I forgive all creatures
And they all give me back forgiveness. I have love for all
And no enmity towards any.
This is the Jaina way of greeting after the greatest of their festivalsthe Paryuṣaṇa. This is perhaps the universal greeting that emanates from the human soul. We send this greeting to all.
By forgiving and asking forgiveness we not only get rid of hatred and jealousy but positively feel the joy of spiritual freedom. In a way it is the sure way to that eternal bliss for which every human soul aspires. Thus wrote Sarat Chandra, the great Bengali novelist, "When I was wandering in the dense forest of distress with my eyes tied and when there was no way out for me except death, I knew not that there was such a sure way to freedom so near at hand. . . . I forgive, I forgive,beasts, birds, worms, insects, whosoever and wheresoever they may be, I forgive them all. From this day, I have no grievance against anybody and I complain not. From this day, I am free, I am independent, I am all bliss."