Ramakrishna-Vivekananda Center of New York

A Vedanta Temple for Universal Worship

Teachings

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Back to Teachings by Swami Yuktatmananda
Divine Qualities
- Part 1
- Part 2
- Part 3
- Part 4
- Part 5
- Part 6
- Part 7
- Part 8
- Part 9
- Part 10
- Part 11
- Part 12
- Part 13
- Part 14
- Part 15
- Part 16
- Part 17
- Part 18
- Part 19
- Part 20
- Part 21
- Part 22
- Part 23
- Part 24
- Part 25
- Part 26
- Part 27
- Part 28
- Part 29
- Part 30
- Part 31
- Part 32
- Part 33
- Part 34
- Part 35
- Part 36
- Part 37
- Part 38
- Part 39
- Part 40
- Part 41
- Part 42
- Part 43
- Part 44
- Part 45
- Part 46
- Part 47

Divine Qualities (Part 37)

Forgiveness (Continued)

Why Cultivate Forgiveness (Continued)

2. Freedom from anger

Forgiveness and freedom from anger are closely related. Sri Shankara explains the difference between the two: "If no reaction arises in the mind when someone scolds or insults us, it is forgiveness. If there is a reaction, calming down the mind is called freedom from anger." Forgiveness prevents us from manifesting anger and suffering its train of after effects: delusion, loss of memory, loss of discrimination, and spiritual ruin.

3. Freedom from faultfinding

Faultfinding is a tendency of an outgoing mind that has not been disciplined by spiritual practice. Besides being ignorant of our own faults, we stain our mind by looking for faults in others. Says Holy Mother Sri Sarada Devi: "A man first makes his own mind guilty and then sees another's fault. Can you injure anybody by enumerating his faults? You only injure yourself. I cannot see anybody's shortcomings. If a man does a trifle for me, I try to remember even that. To see faults in others! Forgiveness is a great religious austerity. There is no higher virtue than forbearance....I cannot see others' faults. I am simply not made that way. There are enough people to criticize others. Surely the world will not come to an end if I refrain from doing so." Faultfinding makes any spiritual practice difficult, since we remain enslaved by the uncontrolled mind. Forgiveness is an antidote to faultfinding.

4. Mental health

The natural tendency of our mind is to remember insult or harm inflicted on us. When the memory of an unpleasant incident arises in the mind, we relive the incident and suffer mental anguish. This intensifies our pain and sometimes kindles a feeling of vengefulness. Unable to forgive the offender, we make ourselves miserable. Until we forgive, we remain mentally captive to him long after the incident. Forgiveness sustains our mental health and spiritual life.

Part 38