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Kshamapana
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or god - everyone is bound by the rope of Karma. The rope was being out that way. Mahavira got released from the kings gallows, but in fact he was cutting the bondage.
Six long months passed by. He did not got enough food by begging. But it was not in Mahavira to bow down. The gold of his soul stood at the test of fire.
At last, Sangam fell down in supplication at Mahavira's feet. This god's pride yielded to Mahavira's conquest over internal enemies viz. lust, anger, greed, etc. His tolerance melted Sangam's heart, agonizing like bee's wax. Bhagwan Mahavira forgave Sangam who had agonized him in a number of ways for six long months. The Jain scriptures describe this spirit of forgiveness as under :
जहिं आकोसणवयण सहिज्जड़,
जहिं परदोस ण जणि भासिज्जड़ । जहिं चेयणगुण चित्त धरिज्जइ,
तहिं उत्तम खम जिणे कहिज्जइ । ।
[The people who regard the harsh words of wicked persons as fruits of their own accumulated Karma, and do not blame others and get engrossed in the experience of the natural qualities of the soul, and it is this that God calls forgiveness par excellence.]
The Jain monk is forbidden to let the spittle pass down his throat before he asks forgiveness for his error. To love him, who has spread thorns for you, is the real test of forgiveness. Excited by jealousy, Bhagwan Buddha's own disciple once threw a slab of stone at him. Bhagwan Buddha was hurt on his leg. For a number of days, he could not walk. Even then Bhagwan Buddha had no feeling of bitterness towards his disciple. Moreover he said, "If we bear this, they will ultimately realize their mistake."
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