Forgiveness

We cannot expect that all men will be first class. There may be men in goodness or in passion or in ignorance, but one should always be tolerant and forgiving. In Krishna consciousness one doesn't really have any connection with this man or that man. He is simply connected to the philosophy and the process of life. On a ship one may not find everyone to his liking, but he should nonetheless sit down firmly in his cabin and take advantage of the crossing. The minor offenses of others should be forgiven as a penance. Lord Chaitanya says that if one wants to chant Hare Krishna he should become as tolerant as a tree. Everyone commits offences against trees. People cut them down, snatch leaves from them and break twigs and branches. But still the trees supply fruits and flowers and shade. To chant the Hare Krishna mantra, one should be as forgiving and forbearing as the grass which does not protest even though it is trampled down. After all, offenses are committed against the gross body. How is it possible to offend the ever blissful soul? Puffed-up artificial honor is simply connected with the body. Whether one is a king or a poor man, whether one is honored or insulted, kingdom, poverty, insult and honor will all be finished at death. One should realize that he is spirit and has nothing to do with honor or dishonor. Becoming God conscious is declaring war against material nature. And so material nature puts all impediments in one's way.

One may be insulted, but one should never become disturbed by this. Ananda, one of Lord Buddha's disciples, was once asked by Lord Buddha what he would do if, when going to a town to preach the dharma, the inhabitants insulted him. Ananda replied, "Oh, I would bless them for not injuring me." Then Lord Buddha asked what he would do if the inhabitants threw stones at him and injured him, and Ananda replied, "Oh, I would bless them for not killing me." Finally Lord Buddha asked what he would do if they killed him, and his disciple replied, "Oh, I would bless them for delivering me from all the sufferings of this material world." Similarly, Lord Jesus Christ was crucified because He preached God consciousness. And yet while He was dying on the cross, He said, "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do." Lord Jesus, by His very life and teachings, emphasized the importance of forgiveness in this Age of Kali. Similarly, Lord Krishna says that the wise man is always forgiving and is the same both in pleasure and pain, honor and dishonor. In Srimad Bhagavatam Maharaj Parikshit insulted Samika Rishi by placing a dead snake on his shoulder, but the sage considered this unimportant and readily forgave him. However his son, Sringi, who was puffed-up with brahminical powers, did not forgive Maharaj Parikshit, but cursed him, and for this Sringi was condemned. The best policy then in this Age of Kali is to forgive others as one would have himself forgiven by Lord Krishna.