Forgiveness

Posted on December 14, 2020 by Come Meditate

“It goes to a long extent to forgive and forgive and forgive. Forgiveness is one of the qualities of the Spirit.”
Shri Mataji, 1981-0403

Have you ever faced a situation where you really, really had a tough time to forgive? And maybe it did not even feel right to forgive because, after all – how can we just let it go when someone bullies us? When we had to face cruelty? Maybe even torture? When we still carry the wounds, be it physically, emotionally or mentally that others inflicted on us?
Wouldn’t “forgiving” mean that we kind of accept what the person did, that we somehow “ok” it? That the person would escape the deserved punishment; that justice would not be served; that a person would not learn from his mistakes?
Some or all of these reasons may jump into mind when it comes to forgiving, right? And understandably so. Most of us have something to chew on that we cannot quite forgive. But… let me ask this question:

By not forgiving – has the person learned from his/her mistakes? Has the person changed? Has that person been punished? Was justice served? Has it made your life easier by holding on to what happened to you (I know… this is an anger-trigger-question… because of of course life has not been easier… but…)

One of the most bitter pills to swallow (talking from my own experiences) may be that the person who has hurt us does not really bother if we forgive or not. They actually might lead a quite happy life (at least for the moment because yes, there is a higher justice and they will have to face the consequences of their actions) while we are trying to deal with what was done to us.
So, what does that mean? What is forgiveness really, then?
If we look deeper then we have to acknowledge that by not letting go, by not for-giving (give it away), we still allow someone to have power over us; because every time we think about what happened we again feel the pain; and again; and then again.

Shri Mataji said: “If you don’t forgive, then you play into wrong hands. The other person, who has troubled you or tortured you is quite happy, but you are tortured, you are playing into the hands of such a person. So the best thing is to forgive.”
Shri Mataji, 1990-0314

I would like to share a story that has deeply touched my heart and was a true inspiration for me.
It is the story of Eva Mozes Kor, a Holocaust survivor who put forgiveness into action and set an example of how empowering it is. She was one of the children used in experiments in Auschwitz. Here is what she said about her journey of forgiveness:

12:53: And at the end of it I said (to a pretend-in-the-room Mengele), “In spite of all that I forgive you.”
Made me feel very good that I, the little guinea pig of 50 years, even had the power over the angle of death of Auschwitz.

13:35: I felt free. Free from Auschwitz, free from Mengele.

13:55: But what is my forgiveness? I like it. It is an act of self-healing, self-liberation, self-empowerment. All victims, all hurt, feel hopeless, feel helpless, feel powerless.

I want everybody to remember that we cannot change what happened. That is the tragic part. But we can change how we relate to it.
Holocaust Survivor

For anyone who would like to see the full story here is the link (please know that it has very graphic and disturbing descriptions so it may not be advisable for some to watch it):
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=10156791799070329

In the practice of Sahaja Yoga Meditation forgiveness is a fundamental part in the awakening of our Inner Energy, our Kundalini. And once our Kundalini is awakened if becomes so much easier because the energy-center which carries the quality of forgiveness in us, the Agnya Chakra on the forehead, starts opening out and we can let go of past events and our reactions to them.

So please join our meditations and experience the richness of your own energy-centers, the store-houses of so many qualities waiting to unfold in you!