SUPREME FORGIVENESS

 

     The saints beg pardon of all living beings right from the one sensed (Aikendriya) i.e. having only one sense of touch, to the five sensed beings (Panchindriya), and pray, “All living beings may forgive me; I should cherish friendly feelings for all; I bear no ill-will for anyone.” The example of Kamatha and Marubhuti is well known in this context.

     Kamatha and Marabhuti both were brothers. One day Kamatha had sexual intercourse with Marubhuti’s wife in his absence. As a result the king exiled Kamatha from his Kingdom. Kamatha reached the hermitage of a sinful ascetic and started performing vicious penance. When Marbhuti, out of love for his brother, went to bring Kamatha back, the wretched fellow hurled a stone slab on his brother Marubhuti; consequently he died then and there and was reborn as an elephant. In the long run the elephant observed Anuvratas under the influence of the preachments of a religious teacher. Meanwhile, the spirit of Kamatha after death was reborn as a dragon and bit the elephant out of ill will of his previous birth. Likewise, up to ten births Kamatha’s spirit suffered the many-fold miseries of hell (nark) by nourishing uncalled for enmity with Marubhuti and by bringing tortures on him; but the spirit (Jeeva) of Marubhuti went on forgiving the spirit of Kamatha. Therefore, due to his forgiveness (Kshama) he was blessed to become Lord Parashvnath. In the end the spirit (Jeeva) of Kamatha came to the holy feet of Lord Parashvnath and asked for his forgiveness shedding all his bitterness and ill will towards him.

     While describing the virtue of supreme forgiveness, the great poet Reidhu writes:

     Utam karam tili yeh sari, utam kham jammi dahitari

     Utam karam ryantriya-dhari, utam kham dugayi duh hari

     Utam karam gun sehyari, utam khand munhivind payari

     Utam karam bahuyan chintamani, utam khand sampjan thir mani

     Utam karam mhnij syal janri, utam khand michhat tamo manri

     Jahim asmtham dosu khamijayi, jahim asamathahm rn u rusijayi

     Jahim akosanr vayanr sahijayi, jahim par dos nrjanri bhasijyi

     Jahim cheyanrgunr chitdharijayi, tahim uttamkaram jjinekehjeyi

     Iye utam karam juy nrr sur karag nruy kevalnranru lehvithuru

     Huye siddnrirnjnru bhavduh bhajnru aganriyrisi pundgavjchiru

1. Supreme forgiveness is pertinent in all the three worlds. It helps to sail across the ocean of birth and death; it enables us to be endowed with the three jewels i.e., Right Belief, Right Knowledge and Right Conduct and safeguards us from a miserable plight.

2. Supreme forgiveness contributes to horde of virtues; it is dear to the nude Jain monks. Supreme forgiveness is like the crown jewel (Chintamani) for the learned scholars. Only persons with stable minds can acquire the virtue of supreme forgiveness.

3. Supreme forgiveness is held in high veneration by all great men. Forgiveness works like a dazzling jewel to dispel the darkness of wrong belief. The faults of the helpless persons are pardoned by a forgiver and he does not get enraged with them. Freedom from the growth of evil passions in the mind is forgiveness.

4. The persons, who without finding fault with others bear patiently the harsh words of the rogues, accepting them as the outcome of the evil actions of their previous births. They experience their own celestial virtues and are deeply engrossed in their self-realization have been termed by Lord Jinendra as gifted with supreme forgiveness.

5. Thus the persons gifted with supreme forgiveness, worshipped by Gods (Devas) and Vidyadharas (Divine beings skilled in various arts and sciences); and the innumerable holy saints who vanquish all worldly miseries on attaining the eternal omniscience and getting rid of the blemishes of karma have become enlightened souls (Siddha). I bow with reverence a thousand times at the holy feet of those supreme saints who are gifted with the virtue of forgiveness.

     It has been said;

     Kshama kharang kare yaseya durjana kim karishayti

     Atrinre patito vahri swaymevopashamyati

     What harm can an ill-natured person do to one who holds the dagger of forgiveness in his hand? For ultimately one day fire is automatically extinguished on a grassless, barren ground.

     To sum up, “It is good to have a giant’s power, but bad to use it like a giant.”

     Only devil mind will try to follow this rule of the jungle;

‘Shathe shatayam samacharet’

     

‘Tit for tat -

     You killed my dog,

     I killed your cat.’

     There is a wise and saintly saying; ‘Revenge is a wild justice’. Hence, O Mortal Man! Pardon! Pardon! Pardon all thy oppressors and enemies.

     O aspirants for mental peace! Always remember:

     Mere vanity is sufficient to bring downfall,

     Mere passions are sufficient for bondage of soul,

     Hence I counsel you to shun these,

     Forgiveness alone is enough to attain Godhood.