08-26-2008, 10:29 AM
Why should we forgive others?
When you don't forgive a person, you still want to prove to him something.
For instance, you may want to prove that he was not simply wrong, but very, very wrong and so on.
But if we have this atitude, it means that YOU HAVE A PROBLEM. Yes, indeed: you have a problem.
Why? Because your desire to prove to other person something that he rejects, links you CLOSELY to the bad facet of that person. And this link makes that other person to control your thoughts and emotions. From that moment you are not totally free, your thoughts and emotions depend on how the other person will react.
Besides, in this case, you don't respect the other person's "dignity to be wrong". In a sense, you kind of require, in your mind, from that person to give up and agree with you: "Don't dare to disagree with me!" So the problem, in this case, is that you rob yourself of freedom and don't allow other person to be free from your persuasion. It means that you respect neither your freedom, nor the freedom of other person. But forgiveness makes you totally free. Indeed, you give to other person a loving advice, and if he disagrees with you, you respect both his choice and his dignity. And by forgiving others you open the way to love. And love makes wonders for your moral, spiritual and physical health.
When you don't forgive a person, you still want to prove to him something.
For instance, you may want to prove that he was not simply wrong, but very, very wrong and so on.
But if we have this atitude, it means that YOU HAVE A PROBLEM. Yes, indeed: you have a problem.
Why? Because your desire to prove to other person something that he rejects, links you CLOSELY to the bad facet of that person. And this link makes that other person to control your thoughts and emotions. From that moment you are not totally free, your thoughts and emotions depend on how the other person will react.
Besides, in this case, you don't respect the other person's "dignity to be wrong". In a sense, you kind of require, in your mind, from that person to give up and agree with you: "Don't dare to disagree with me!" So the problem, in this case, is that you rob yourself of freedom and don't allow other person to be free from your persuasion. It means that you respect neither your freedom, nor the freedom of other person. But forgiveness makes you totally free. Indeed, you give to other person a loving advice, and if he disagrees with you, you respect both his choice and his dignity. And by forgiving others you open the way to love. And love makes wonders for your moral, spiritual and physical health.