Greatness of the forgiving nature of devotees! Must read!
A woman devotee (Name hidden) asked like this:
“ Hare Krishna, In several Posts I have read that you advice, not show your anger, your emotions, your weakness to the one that has hurt you? Why is that? What I mean is: why don’t show that you are hurt by the other? He/she has to know that you are hurt or not? Why should the devotees forgive others? Thank you. Jai Radhey Krishna.”
REPLY:
I always reiterate the Greatness of the forgiving nature of devotees and I always advise NOT TO RESPOND or REACT EMOTIONALLY as if you are wounded if anyone hurts you. Why? This is your question.
Because, In my experience with all the levels of people for more than three decades, I have experienced that MOST of the people have ego. A part of them expect that they only deserve appreciation and others should be under them. If others are appreciated, but he is not, he gets frustrated and he develops jealousy on the appreciated person(s).
So, he starts to think or act against that appreciated person.
(If Krishna forgives sinners, what is the justice to the affected persons? READ HERE!)
If a person tries to compete with you directly for genuine reasons, it is welcome. Srila Prabhupada encouraged such competitions in book distribution. But, if the accusations are out of jealousy & vengeance, we should not encourage it.
If you scold him as DOG, he will scold you as DONKEY. If you give a single slap, he will give you two kicks. He may not have decency. He may be ready to fight on street. He may not have any good image for him in the society as he is a rascal. That is why, he is jealous with the good and innocent people.
But, you have a good image in the society. So, if you fight with him, the world will think as if you too are involved in it and you are also interested in street fighting. Whether the ink drops on the saree, or the saree falls on the ink, the affected one will be the saree, not ink. Similarly, he has no shyness. So, this is also a normal incident in his life. But, for us who are more interested in productive activities only, every minute spent with him is a mere waste of time.
(Is a Vaishnava’s pardon for Vaishnava Aparatha approved by Krishna? READ HERE!)
In my inexperienced age, when I too faced such situations, I have initially responded to those who voluntarily pulled me for argument. In such situations, the argument would go limitlessly and we can’t predict when it will end. And, we may have to lose that person if we win the argument.
But, with the advancing of age, experience, maturity and Krishna Consciousness, I started to be patient when I am targeted. They cry once, twice and thrice. Then, they become tired of their acts and go away. Because, if we do not respond them, they lose their interest in arguments. Only if the two hands join, we can make sound. If one hand stays away, they will be waving their hands for some time and become tired and go.
The benefit of the Greatness of the forgiving nature of devotees and NOT CARING the insulting person is: He may realize in future and ask for pardon if we keep silent. If we also had reacted and accused him, he may not realize and come to us. Only the distance between us and him would have increased.
Above all, we should not waste our time in arguing and retaliating, as it is the duty of KARMA NETWORK. It will take care of him by punishing him suitably.
If you chant two more rounds in those 15-20 minutes of arguing, you are really benefitted and he too may appreciate you as you believe Krishna more than men.
Usually, our people have the tendency of exploiting only the person who is showing himself as weak and of forgiving nature. So, if you are silent, they will in fact appreciate your courage in avoiding arguments and sinful acts. So, if you speak to the arguers more, they may under-estimate you and treat you badly. So, it is better to be silent that increases your image.
(How should a Vaishnava live? Lord Caitanya’s advice! READ HERE!)
If you speak to him, it may even expose your hidden negatives. Why should you unnecessarily expose your weakness by responding them?
Example: If a girl speaks to a criminal minded person too much, he judges her weak points and makes use of them and brings her under his control. But, if a girl is a silent and strict person, others will fear to come near to her with wrong motive. More talks-more exposure of weakness and hence more problems. This is the principle.
We are also showing ourselves as the devotees of Krishna. So, we have greater responsibility of protecting the glories of the image of Vaishnavas. If we involve in unnecessary acts, along with our image, the image of the whole devotee community will also be affected. Krishna will feel for it.
So, it is better for us to maintain as much patience as possible and it is advisable if the devotees forgive the offenders.
(VAISHNAVA ETIQUETTES EXPECTED FROM THE VAISHNAVAS! READ HERE!)
Do you know even the Lord Vishnu never punishes though He is insulted?
Let us read a Popular Legend from the scriptures:
LORD VISHNU KICKED BY THE SAGE BRIHU
Once when the sage Brihu went to Vaikunta, the Lord Vishnu was sleeping in his Ananta-Shayana pose, resting on the Adi-Ananta-Shesha and Lakshmi sitting near his feet.
Obviously, sleeping Vishnu didn’t recognize the rishi Brihu.
Brihu tried to wake up Lord Vishnu by calling out his various names. But, Lord Vishnu acted as if he didn’t hear anything and didn’t seem to wake up from his deep slumber.
This agitated the sage Brihu and he stepped up the serpent and kicked the Lord Vishnu in his chest, thereby waking him up.
Now awaken Lord Vishnu, apologized for his forgetfulness of Brihu’s presence and washed the sage’s feet and performed all the rites and rituals relating to athithi-agaman.
Brihu was satisfied with the receiving and left Vaikunta after glorifying the lord Vishnu.
But, the goddesses Lakshmi seemed to be offended by this activity where her Lord, her husband was kicked by the a ‘mortal’ sage and argued with Lord Vishnu stating that he is called “Sripati” and “Srinivasa” because that Lakshmi (Shri) resides in his heart, and now a mere sage has kicked his chest where she resides. This demeaned her and so she left Vishnu and came to earth.
Later, Lord Vishnu came down to earth as Lord Venkateshwara (Tirupati Balaji) and married Lakshmi who was in the form of Padmavati.
Therefore, Let us not follow what materialistic people follow. Let us behave like Lord Vishnu who never got angry even when He was kicked by a mortal sage. Let us, as the devotees forgive the offenders and follow an approach dominated with Satva Guna.
Hope you are clear about the Greatness of the forgiving nature of devotees!
(VAISHNAVA ETIQUETTES EXPECTED FROM THE VAISHNAVAS! READ HERE!)