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Jainism : The Cosmic Vision Forgiveness should be genuine, not artificial. We are to pray in the festival of Paryushan, not to celebrate it. Is forgiveness infused into life or is it simply verbal or formal? Forgiveness is the tremendous power that takes the soul near supersoul in a single leap. Have we made this forgiveness a matter of convenience ? Are we sure that we do not believe that the evil deeds that we did for 364 days have been suddenly washed off only by saying. "I beg pardon of all sentients ? May all sentients pardon me !" Joining two hands in supplication, saying over the phone or sending a printed card is of no use. The real forgiveness is that asking, which the mind does not hesitate or the creeper of the heart does not wither. The real forgiveness is that which decorates the street gates with wreaths of flowers of love and overturns the deadly thorns of past quarrels. The real forgiveness is that which showers nectar from the heart and regards all with love. About natural forgiveness, St. Jnanadeva says,
सहन करत सबमें बडो, गर्व न क्षमा कराय ।
जिमि शरीर रोमहिं धरत, ताको सुधि विसराय ।। (There are innumerable numbers of hair on the body, but the body takes no notice of them. Similarly, enduring everything, we should not be proud at all.)
Forgiveness is the brilliance of the brilliant and the penance of ascetics. But are we really brilliant or is ours only a cover of hypocrisy, fear of cowardice ? We see that a number of people are afraid not of lies, but of detection of lies; not of evil deeds, but of being caught doing evil deeds; not of stealing, but of being exposed as thieves.
As long as man is fearful, he cannot attain forgiveness. We do not torment the minds of others only, we do not say bitter
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