Forgiving – the closest you can get to divinity..

                           

Thanks Susan for bringing up this topic. 

I have just written about the 'dilemma of good and bad' and this is an interesting topic just related to that.

Let me cite some interesting Bible verses I found on this.

''For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.

But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.''

(Matthew 6: 14-15)

''So watch yourselves. “If your brother or sister sins against you, rebuke them; and if they repent, forgive them.

Even if they sin against you seven times in a day and seven times come back to you saying ‘I repent,’ you must forgive them.”''

 (Luke 17:3-4)

I myself am more familiar with Buddhist tradition, and by citing these biblical verses, I want to make it a point to show the deep connection every religion has underneath. 

When you meet up the Creator, as we discussed in the previous post – both good and bad lose their validity. 

 There are no good or bad people in the chamber of ‘God’ or - as I would use the word – the Creator, all are equal. (I am not sure how this idea would agree with contemporary Christian thinking.)

The best that you can get close to that height in this mundane life is through the wonderful quality we may call ‘forgiveness’. 

When you forgive – for a moment you opt not to see the ‘badness’ of the act that you are forgiving.

Some of these acts could be really bad, harming yourself, harming others, intentional mal doing, wicked intentions shown by others making your blood boil. How can you think of forgiving them?

Badness is closely connected to goodness. How much you rejoice in ‘goodness’ that much you will be shocked by badness. This is because badness is judged by how contrasting it is to ‘goodness’. The more criteria we have for ‘being good’ the more criteria automatically are created to define ‘bad’. 

When there is no criteria for being ‘good’ can there be any ‘badness’ left?

Good and bad are only points of views. They are judgments existing in the minds of people. Usually the rule that follows is, ‘if you make me happy or do a favor to me, you are good’ and ‘if you make me scared, do damage to me you are bad’.

If it does not directly relate to you but concerns two external parties, you replace yourself with the favorite party of yours and judge in the same way. ‘If it does not make my favorite party happy, it is bad; if it favors my favorite party it is good’.

Then you are ready to fight with the bad, and you fight and do damage and sometimes kill – for the good. What you judge as bad also fight from their side, because there are those whom that side favors and their point of view is – they are good.

Good and bad are only points of views and they only exist in the minds of people.  Apart from the people’s minds, is there any good and bad in the nature?

The nature does not know good or bad and this is the Creators world. Clung to good and bad, people have lost their peace of mind; they are ever restless being worried by ever approaching shades of ‘badness’. 

The nature stands in total stillness, without fear, and total peace of no judgment. 

Forgiving is a wonderful state which offers a mortal human the chance to simulate at least for a moment that total peace of nature, the world of God the Creator. And I appreciate it as a great Christian value present in today’s world.

A great example is when a Pope forgave the man who tried to kill him years back, it’s an imitation of the Creator, great example for many to remind themselves of where they come from.

And this reminds myself of the words of another man of nature, who also transcended the sphere of good and bad, 

He tells his followers –

 ‘friends, if some ferocious thieves were to capture you in the forests, and they were to start cutting your limbs one by one with a saw, if you were to think bad of them even for a moment, I am sorry, you are not a follower of mine!!’

The Buddha said that.

Let me conclude with another secret of nature.

It is that all religions spring from none but one source, in this source are found the founders of all religions sitting around just one table. They are all of one unity. If you follow through this path of unity yourself, you can have your own seat in the round table among them.

Grow out of all differences and reconcile yourself with the true nature! And help others do the same, if you will help me take the word to more of those who understand! All your help is appreciated!

Thanks my friends, 

Cham