Book Title: World of Philosophy
Author(s): Christopher Key Chapple, Intaj Malek, Dilip Charan, Sunanda Shastri, Prashant Dave
Publisher: Shanti Prakashan
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self. They are found to be embedded within the sub-conscious mind. These traces are eventually responsible for several unexpected good and evil consequences.
The question that lies before us is, do we have a solution to this pitiful situation? Can animosity, grievances, hatred ever be washed off without violence, or shedding a drop of blood? An attempt has been made to answer these queries.
The first part of the paper will highlight the definition and world views on forgiveness as comprehended in general.
The second part will deal with the definition and discussion of the significance of forgiveness which is supposed to be the highest virtue according to Jainism, and technically observed as a very important daily ritual wellknown as 'Pratikramana'.
At the outset, let us have a glimpse of some historical, social illustrations that revolve around Forgiveness:
SOME REAL LIFE EXPERIENCES AND ILLUSTRATIONS FORGIVENESS IN ACTION OR PRACTICE 1. On the 12th of March, in the year 2000, Pope John Paul II (from a note left by the Pope at the Western Wall in Jerusalem) made a comprehensive apology for the sins committed by the Roman Catholic Church and its members against groups of people and it worked wonders. The resentment that was seen literally vanished“. 2. In South Africa, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission submitted its Final Report to President Nelson Mandela and this helped grant amnesty to qualified perpetrators being as a gesture of peace and reconciliation. 3. So also, according to the news in "The Independent', dt.2nd June 1997, Prime Minister Tony Blair of the United Kingdom, sought forgiveness for England's role in the Irish Potato Famine 1. One of the reasons responsible for the Mahabharata war was the insulting words uttered by Draupadi the queen of the Pandavas. When Duryodhana fell into the water, having been illusioned by the appearance of the floor, Draupadi laughed and uttered:
"After all a blind man's son!
These disrespectful humiliating words pierced his heart and made him restless. He swore to take revenge for this insult. The harsh words remained embedded in his sub-conscious mind only to take planned revenge and punish not only his sister-in-law but all of the Pandavas.
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