How to Forgive-1

How to Forgive-1

Forgiveness is a gift. It's as much about the recipient as the giver.This is a question I get asked more frequently than any other: how to forgive? Often readers tell me that they have forgiven the other person but they are still hurt. That, thoughts or sight of the other person still triggers emotional pain. That, even though they have forgiven, they are still unable to feel love for the other person. That, the good old times have not returned. I know what you mean.

There's a common misconception about forgiveness — we often believe that once we forgive someone we'll immediately start feeling love for them again. It doesn't work this way. Before we reach the point where we contemplate forgiving the other person, we have already been hurt. Until we recover from the hurt, the harmony and peace can't be restored. The period of recovery can range from a minute to a lifetime. It depends on the quality of the relationship, our personal strength and the nature of the transgression.

Further, forgiveness must not be confused with reconciliation. They are not the same. When you forgive someone, it doesn't mean you've accepted their manner, demeanor, or actions. It simply means that you have decided, out of compassion or care, for the good of the other person or your own, to not let their past actions ruin your peace. The peace you experience upon forgiving someone quickly vanishes if they repeat the mistake or don't value your kindness. Think of forgiveness as a gift you give to the transgressor. When the other person doesn't acknowledge it, or devalues it by repeating their actions, they have basically not accepted your gift. Your gift is returned and it's lying with you again now. You are back to square one — hurt, resentful and perturbed.

True forgiveness is not possible without reconciliation. And, reconciliation is not possible without a confession. Unless the other person confesses his act, you can't really forgive. When they don't believe they made a mistake or when they don't care about what or how you feel, in such circumstances, I'm sorry to tell you, it's not possible to forgive. A confession and an apology from the other person, with a sense of remorse, are absolutely integral for forgiveness. Yes, it is possible to forgive someone a hundred times, if they come and confess and apologize a hundred times, but it's not possible to forgive them even once if they don't seek your pardon. This is where I see the root cause of the problem: you want to forgive and not resent the other person, but, you can't do so because they won't admit they wronged you.
Monks, these two are fools. Which two? The one who doesn't see his transgression as a transgression, and the one who doesn't rightfully pardon another who has confessed his transgression. These two are fools.

Om Namah Shivay