Importance of seeking Pardon from the affected person!
If you know that a devotee or even a non devotee has been affected by you or your words, either knowingly or unknowingly, it is recorded in our karma network as an offense unforgivable even by God.
The karma network erases that karma only after we seek pardon from the affected person and get that at any cost.
(I have clearly explained this fact in THIS POST. Read that to know the seriousness of the Vaishnava Offense.)
Do not worry.
Even Krishna does not clear that offense. But, the affected person can clear.
What if the affected vaishnava dies before we seek our pardon?
That is why, we should ask the pardon immediately after we realize that we have committed the offense. We should not wait till he cools down or till we cool down.
In case, he dies immediately after our offense before we seek his pardon, what should we do?
In such case, you should take care of the welfare of his family and save them from suffering. Your treatment should be almost with the same sincerity and care the deceased person would have given to that family had he been alive.
(What is Vaishnava Aparath? How to get relieved from it? READ HERE!)
If the deceased vaishnava has a child or parent, you should fulfill the recommendation of seeking pardon from them and give your care in their life in future.
What if the affected Vaishnava was imperfect?
Somehow we have committed vaishnava offense. He may even an imperfect vaishnava. But, he is also a devotee.
So, though the affected vaishnava is not a perfect devotee, we should fulfill the recommendation of seeking pardon.
EXAMPLE IN THE LIFE OF BHAKTI VINODA THAKKUR
This is an example in the life of Bhakti Vinoda Thakkur for the power of seeking pardon.
In the year 1908 just three months before Thakura Bhaktivinoda took sannyasa, one of his sons, who at that time was working at the writer’s building in Calcutta, came home one day and informed his father that Sir William duke, who was the Chief Secretary to the governor, was in Calcutta.
(How to deal with the erring devotees without Vaishnava Offence? READ HERE!)
Thakura Bhaktivinoda had worked under this gentleman when he was a magistrate.
The next day Bhaktivinoda made an appointment with him and went down to the writer’s building to see him.
Just outside the building Sir William Duke met Thakura Bhaktivinoda personally and taking him into his office with folded hands, he made a plea to the Thakura:
“My dear Kedaranatha, when you were District Magistrate I wanted to take you out of the office. I thought that if there were many men as qualified as yourself in Bengal, then the English would have to leave.”
Sir William Duke used to read the judgments that Thakura Bhaktivinoda would make on his court cases and he always became amazed.
He would also come to the house of Thakura Bhaktivinoda and study his actions.
He saw that he was always writing. At that time he was writing the Caitanya-siksamrita.
(How to deal if we find any devotee committing offenses? READ HERE!)
Bhaktivinoda Thakura’s wife, Bhagyavati, would feed Sir William Duke with puris, luchi and sweets every time he came to their house. William Duke was always so amazed at how Bhaktivinoda was so active.
In this way Sir William Duke admitted that he wanted to do some harm to Bhaktivinoda without letting the Thakura know, but now he was begging for the Thakura’s forgiveness.
The English custom is that when a man becomes aged he would approach anyone who he had committed some offense to beg their pardon so that when he died he could pass away very peacefully.
After Thakura Bhaktivinoda heard this apology he said, “I consider you to be a good friend and well-wisher all along.”
The Thakura admitted later that he was astonished that this man was seeking the opportunity to harm him.
Because of Sir William Duke’s noble and honest conduct, Thakura Bhaktivinoda became very much pleased with him and gave William Duke all his blessings.
This is the good result of seeking pardon.
(Dealing with a rude devotee without Vaishnava offense – Best Tips! READ HERE!)