Gold From a Filthy Place
Glories to the Vaisnava devotees,
Around two weeks ago I was sitting in my living room during the early evening. I was brooding and pondering over a recent incident, in which I had been rude and obnoxious. Typical kind of thing that causes such despondency. I had taken an opportunity to air out old emotional garbage and was realizing the results of that type of behavior.
When in walks my wife with two folded sheets of paper in her hand. She said she had been across the street disposing of some organic refuse. She then noticed these papers on the ground and picked them up. What was written on those papers, clearly legible despite their slightly tattered and torn condition, were beautiful quotes on the subject of forgiveness. There were 16 quotes by Prabhupada or from the Vedas, and 18 more from various people As soon as I read them I immediately understood that most if not all of our grudges and unkind sentiments will be quickly erased by a simple act of forgiveness.
What is more, as I was reading them, I could see that just as we hear and chant about the Lord in order to remember Him, if we hear and chant about forgiveness that type of remembrance will also awaken.
I herewith submit three from each category so as not to make this article too long.
“The material world is full of embarrassing and irritating situations, and unless one is inclined to be very much forgiving, he will become infected by a vindictive mentality, which spoils one’s spiritual consciousness”.
“A sadhu, a devotee, is never angry. Actually, the real feature of devotees who undergo austerity is forgiveness”.
“Anger and resentment are due to ignorance because of material attachment. We have to solve the problem through knowledge and purification”.
“The remarkable thing is that we really love our neighbor as ourselves; we do unto others as we do unto ourselves; we are tolerant toward others when we tolerate ourselves; and we forgive others when we forgive ourselves”. (Eric Hoffer)
“When you hold resentment toward another, you are bound to that person or condition by an emotional link that is stronger than steel. Forgiveness is the only way to dissolve that link and get free”. (Catherine Ponder)
“The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong”. (Mahatma Gandhi)
Twice now my wife has commented how nice it is to live in a place where even the apparent refuse along the street may bear great transcendental significance.
If anyone desires the entire 34 quotes that will be available by request.
Damodar
nvdamo@aol.com
