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TOPIC: Forgiveness - by Cherag Regina Coeli McKnight 

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FROM THE HINDU SCRIPTURES 
The Upanishads  

Like two golden birds perched on the selfsame tree, 
Intimate friends, the ego and the Self 
Dwell in the same body.  The Former eats 
The sweet and sour fruits of the tree of life 
While the latter looks on in detachment. 

As long as we think we are the ego, 
We feel attached and fall into sorrow. 
But realize that you are the Self, the Lord 
Of Life, and you will be freed from sorrow. 
When you realize that you are the Self, 
Supreme source of light, supreme source of love, 
You transcend the duality of life 
And enter the unitive state..... 

Those who realize the Self enter into the peace that brings complete self-control and perfect patience.  They see themselves in everyone and everyone in themselves.  Evil cannot overcome them because they overcome all evil.  Sin cannot consume them because they consume all sin.  Free from evil, free from sin and doubt, they live in the kingdom of Brahman. 

FROM THE BUDDHIST SCRIPTURES 
The Dhammapada 

"He abused, me he beat me, he defeated me, he robbed me,"--in those who harbour such thoughts hatred will never cease. 
"He abused me, he beat me, he defeated me, he robbed me,"--in those who do not harbor such thoughts hatred will cease. 
For never does hatred cease by hatred here below;  hatred ceases by love;  this is an eternal law. 

FROM THE ZOROASTRIAN TRADITION  

For almost 50 years Zarathustra, the prophet of Zoroastrian tradition, spread the message of God.  'And finally, while offering before the altar of fire which has since the time of Zarathustra been the symbol of dedication to truth, Zarathustra was attacked and killed by the thrust of a javelin.  But before he died, he removed the amber beads from around his neck and placed them around the neck of his assailant saying, "May the Lord forgive you as I do." 

Let us share in the 
Daily prayer of the Zoroastrians for forgiveness and healing of our thoughts, emotions, and actions.... 

"I repent for all the evil thoughts, the evil words, the evil deeds, deliberate or unintentional, which I started on their nefarious journey, related to my body or soul, connected with the material or spiritual world.  I repent with the power of the Triple Word." 

FROM THE CHRISTIAN SCRIPTURES 
Matthew VII 

Judge not, and ye shall not be judged;  and condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned;  release, and ye shall be released;  give and it shall be given unto you;  good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, shall it be given unto your bosom.  For with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. 

And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?... ... ...Cast out first the beam  out of thine own eye, and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote that is in thy brother's eye.  And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them:  for this is the law. 

From the Lord's Prayer, 
"And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us." 

FROM THE JEWISH SCRIPTURES 
Jeremiah 31 

Truly Israel is a dear son to me. 
A child that is dandled! 
Whenever I have turned against him, 
my thoughts would dwell on him still. 
That is why my heart yearns for him. 
I will receive him back in love."  declares the Lord. 
....For I will forgive their iniquities, 
    And remember their sins no more. 
.....Thus said the Lord:  If the heavens above could be measured, and the foundations of the earth below could be fathomed, only then would I rejct the offspring of Israel for all that they have done--declares the Lord. 

FROM THE SCRIPTURES OF ISLAM 
THE KORAN 

Each man shall reap the fruits of his own deeds;  no soul shall bear another's burden.  In the end you shall all return to your Lord, and He will resolve for you your disputes. 
.......  Swift is your Lord in retribution; yet He is forgiving and merciful. 

Believers, turn to Allah in true repentance.  Your Lord may forgive you your sins and admit you to gardens watered by running streams, on a day when the Prophet and those who believe with him will suffer no disgrace at the hands of Allah.  Their light will shine in front of them and on their right, and they will say: "Lord, perfect our light for us and forgive us.  You have power over all things." 

also:
From the Koran 003.AAL-E-IMRAN.133-136
Be quick in the  race for  forgiveness  from  your  Lord,  and for a Garden  whose  width is that (of the whole) of the heavens and of the earth, prepared for the righteous,- Those who spend (freely),whether in prosperity,or in adversity; who restrain anger, and pardon  (all)  men;- for God loves those who do good;- And those who,  having  done  something  to be ashamed  of,  or  wronged   their  own  souls,earnestly  bring  God to  mind,  and  ask  for forgiveness  for  their  sins,- and  who  can forgive  sins except  God?-  and are never obstinate  in  persisting  knowingly in (the wrong) they have done. For such the reward is forgiveness  from their Lord,  and   Gardens   with  rivers  flowing underneath,- an eternal dwelling: How excellent a recompense for those who work (and
strive)! 

FROM THE GAYAN, VADAN, NIRTAN OF HAZRAT INAYAT KHAN 

There are three things that hinder on the spiritual path--enmity, spite, and bitterness.  All other sins don't matter. 

Forgiveness belongs to God;  it becomes the privilege of mortal man only when asked by another. 

He who says, "I cannot tolerate," shows his smallness; he who says, "I cannot endure," shows his weakness; he who says, "I cannot associate," shows his limitation:  he who says, "I cannot forgive," shows his imperfection. 

Perfection forgives; limitation judges. 

The first step towards forgiveness is to forget. 

Love manifests towards those whom we like as love; towards those whom we do not like as forgiveness. 

The quality of forgiveness that burns up all things except beauty is the quality of love. 

What feeling it is to ask forgiveness of those who must ask forgiveness of you, and to thank those who must thank you! 

We help God to forgive us by forgiving ourselves. 

When we find faults and see no excuses, we are blind to the Light which can free a person from his faults and give rise to that forgiveness which is the very essence of God and which is to be found in the human heart. 

In order to learn forgiveness, man must first learn tolerance 

He who expects to change the world will be disappointed;  he must change his view.  When this is done, then tolerance will come, forgiveness will come, and there will be nothing he cannot bear. 
also see: forgiveness