The positive aspect of forgiveness does not imply any weakness: it is an inclination, a feeling, an inner act which can be connected with firmness, with external resistance, especially when it involves defending other people. There is no connection with passivity or inactivity.
By Roberto Assagioli, date unknown, From the Assagioli Archive in Florence. Translation by Gordon Symons. Original title: Che La Parola D’ordine Da Parte Di Tutti Gli Uomini Sia Ora: Perdono
This carries deep meaning. Each time we fail to forgive, we assume the role of judges and avengers, a dangerous function for someone who doesn’t have the necessary love, understanding and wisdom.
But, who among us has these, or can dare to declare that they possess them? This is the main role of some Great Beings, the Kings of Karma, who are able to, in that they carry the knowledge of the Divine Laws. So let us leave this to them and free ourselves from that hard and unpleasant task.
The positive aspect of forgiveness does not imply any weakness: it is an inclination, a feeling, an inner act which can be connected with firmness, with external resistance, especially when it involves defending other people. There is no connection with passivity or inactivity.
Spiritual qualities are always connected with each other, so we can say that:
FORGIVENESS IS HARMLESSNESS
FORGIVENESS IS UNSELFISHNESS
FORGIVENESS IS LOVING UNDERSTANDING.
He who really understands can’t forgive .
If we do not forgive, if we persist with our resentment, our criticism, we are not harmless. Forgiveness is a kind of compassion, it involves both the guilty party and the victim. He is guilty who, acting in ignorance, gets into karmic debts that he will be obliged to pay for both in a near and a remote future. And he forgets for himself hard chains due to the Law of Cause and Effect (karma). As a matter of fact, the culprit causes damage to himself as well as to the victim; and therefore deserves the same compassion.
We can and we must therefore defend ourselves, when that is the case; but we must do it in a loving spirit, desiring the redemption of the culprit. Let us remember: that the sinner should be converted and “live”. Let us remember too, the supreme words of Christ, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they are doing to themselves.” Sin is, after all, the fruit of ignorance.
In reality, each time we perform an act of “magic”, in that we break a karmic chain and in doing that we liberate the other person, we also liberate ourselves; we liberate ourselves from samsara, the cycle of rebirth; this is the attainment of Glory, of Beatitude, of Everlasting Life, God’s Life, Nirvana.
This great purpose points to the supreme attainment of humanity and the fulfillment of the Divine Plan. This liberation, the dissolving of all the shackles that bind humanity, requires forgiveness.
If in this moment, all men forgave each other, individually and collectively, the world would immediately find Peace. Such forgiveness could spring naturally from understanding that we are all “sinners” in the presence of God and in some way, individuals and nations, have our share of wrong, are caught up in illusion, and have reciprocal reasons for forgiveness.
It is fruitless to attempt to determine the rights and wrongs, since we are unable to discover the true causes, to trace the influences, to disentangle it all.
In this regard Maeterlink’s quote is most appropriate: “A passing wise man interrupts a thousand dramas”. Why so? Because he brings understanding, love and wise forgiveness.
The spirit of Forgiveness, the forgiveness which is a conscious act of Will and of Love, forgiveness that truly knows how to forget, which breaks the sad chain of grudges, of vendettas, of conflict between men, and is the most effective way to bring peace to the souls of the world.
This kind of Forgiveness could in a natural way spread out by our perceiving that we all are sinners in front of God, as all of us, men and nations, have a side of fault, are wrapped in the illusion, have mutual forgiveness reasons.
Not worth or useless laying down whether one is in the right and the other in the wrong, it is not up to us to fix the real causes, to find the real reasons, it is a tangle hard to extricate. Interesting to remind the Maeterlink saying: “The passing wise man can break off 1000 tragedies” Why? Because he brings understanding, love and wise forgiveness
The spirit of Forgiveness, forgiveness which relates to a conscious Will and Love action; Forgiveness which can really forget , cuts off the sad chain of grudges, revenges, struggles between men, it is the most functional way to give peace in souls and in the world.
Roberto Assagioli
