There is a saying ‘to err is human and forgiveness is divine.’ Forgiveness is taken to be such a simple process that we assume that we can forgive people even if we can not forget them or the deeds. Question is what is forgiveness? Do we really forgive? How many times do we forgive ourselves?
The last one is the most important but is also the most unpopular or most ignored question of all the questions. Another question (for the Christian Belief) is that if we do not have to judge others why forgive? The forgiveness is not possible without guilty verdict. But that is not for me to ponder. Forgiveness is stressed in every religion/culture/region.
The other questions raised above can not be answered without observing/knowing or realizing as to what happened in the whole process from where the misdeed or guilty conduct started, the point of forgiveness (so-called) and the today, if that happens to be after the forgiveness.
So we are hurt by a betrayal, ignorance or violence of our tormentor. First two are psychological even if it involves money but last is physical.
Psychological hurt stands on entirely different footing. The relative value of money also differs for different people. What constitute ‘insult’ for one person differs from other. Psychological hurt have to be dealt with by looking at our expectations from society/life/people and can be resolved without the need of forgiveness, an aspect I shall advert later.
Violence is a rather difficult matter. We get over physical pain, wounds are healed but the psyche or the memories hound for such a long time that it is very difficult to concentrate on anything. It appears that pain never left. Shadows become terrifying images. Images become horrifying objects and people look like tormentor. It is a very long journey back from the tunnel of darkness to the light of present. With human tenacity for survival, most people do get back but are never without fear of repeating the past. If the tormentor realizes the mistake and his contrite conduct is apparent, it sometimes helps in recovery, sometimes it does not. At the stage of recovery/survival, no question of forgiveness arises.
Forgiveness without penance
Now that we have survived the tormentor, psychologically and physically and we have ensured our just retribution, through the course of justice we decide upon forgiveness. Tormentor does not ask it nor becomes entitled to it by being penitent yet we want to forgive ‘him’. Why? What is the point and how is it relevant?
We do it for our psychological peace or as religious/moral duty. We feel superior with our ability to forgive. Do we really forgive? Can we forgive?
Will we share a meal with tormentor? Can we spend some time alone with tormentor? Can we trust our tormentor? If no, where is forgiveness? Truth is there is no such thing as forgiveness unless it is asked for, with honest penance and we are able to blur if not forget the whole matter.
Easiest thing to do is to forgive blood or murder, for if I am going to die, what else can I do?
However there is one forgiveness which is very important but we never grant it. It is forgiveness to ourselves. We never forgive ourselves for trusting people. We never forgive ourselves for not knowing what was coming. We punish ourselves everyday by trying to change the society which refuses to listen. We want people to learn from our mistakes but nobody listens or understands. We torment ourselves to do better. Study better. Understand better. From psychology to chemical changes to behavioral patterns to victim rehabilitation. One event changes the flow of life in a direction we had neither imagined nor we liked. We hide from ourselves by slipping under tons of knowledge but we do not forgive ourselves. There can be no forgiveness without clean slate and if we can not have clean slate with ourselves, any other forgiveness is a pretence which does not help living but becomes another stretch on our attempt to balance the life.
There can be no peace till we see all the movements of mind and understand it.
© Sandeep Bhalla
Sandeep Bhalla's Blog 
Both of you guys are sweet! I never discover these “threads” until they are already cold. Otherwise, I would jump in and “play” myself. Have a good weekend my good friends.
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IMO, that’s up to the individual.
I couldn’t help but chuckle at you calling me a Blogging Guruain. Another person I’ve know for many years was reading your blog the other day and noted that you came across as a guru. lol You do seem to use a lot of guru phraseology.
Anyways, thanks again for sharing your opinion. It adds spice to life. 🙂
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That is absolutely correct that I use ‘guru’ every day because every tom dick Harry from this part of land, crams few fancy words and stories, goes to USA, mislead people and creates more chaos in chaotic life’s of innocent and trusting people.
I denounce these guru everyday.
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Indeed many do. Many do not. What’s good for the goose is not always good for the gander.
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Now that is the problem. Goose wants a reply as gander.
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LOL
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I like the part about forgiving yourself. Some really great points.
You also said:
“We feel superior with our ability to forgive.”
Why say ‘we’ when you seem to mean everybody else except yourself? I’m sure you are fully aware that your views on what forgiveness is and is not is your opinion and perspective, only. It is your truth.
You said: “Will we share a meal with tormentor? Can we spend some time alone with tormentor? Can we trust our tormentor? If no, where is forgiveness?”
Forgiveness does not require reconciliation. Here are other opinions and perspectives on forgiveness.
Thanks for sharing your opinion, your perspective, your truth with us.
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Sorry for removing the links of others opinions on the subject, due to objection by my Blogging Guruain (means female Guru). I am not writing here anything based on third party opinions. My writing is based on my experience of human mind not on readings, research-papers or litrature. We invent new words and hide behind it. Now reconciliation appears to be another such word. Before South Africa was liberated, it used to mean trade union negotiations. I may reiterate that mere use of word ‘Forgiveness’ per se means nothing. In the same way as writing word ‘Cow’ here is not the ‘Cow’ and no milk will be delivered. BTW, I had not and I do not expect that everyone should agree with me. If Every one thinks the way I think, there was no point in writing. Ofcourse this blog is my version of truth. Since I am not a Religious Guru, I can not impose my views as Universal Truth. Thanks for expressing your points of disagreement. It will help me understanding things better.
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You are forgiven. 😉
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Thanks. And Reconciliation? When we start?
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By “non-sense” I mean that we are delving into matters that go far beyond “sense” or reason, these are matters of the heart, of the spirit. There is nothing nonsensical about these matters in the traditional sense of the term.
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I’ve been awaiting your observations of forgiveness since you spoke of it being forthcoming. I like the note of hiding from ourselves by “slipping under tons of knowledge” which nevertheless does not suffice for the experience of forgiveness. In my Christian tradition, forgiveness has always been more or less a rational, conceptual enterprise which does have a certain value—it can allay our fears and calm our soul. But I think there is a forgiveness which goes deeper into the heart, a forgiveness which taps into the cosmic realm as it reaches into the very depths of our heart, into the hidden (unconscious) regions of the heart. And that is more of a challenge and is more of an intrinsically “spiritual” enterprise. And I think that involves a willingness to forgive ourselves. Oh, I could go on and on….and perhaps will. This is such a powerful subject and is so personally relevant. (Btw, I’ve recently learned the value of “threads” and I know we have several very astute people who follow this “non-sense” of ours. And to those dear friends, have at us! Take us to task! I value your perspective on this stuff. Now, I admit that Sandeep and I are a little more insightful, intelligent, and spiritually gifted that the average bear in the forest…though I often have grave doubts about Sandeep!…but we can value from a critical perspective.) Now please don’t forget I am pathologically ironic!
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There are many examples in mythology but the problem is that these flight plans confuse our flight through the life. I would reiterate, we can not forgive unless it has been asked for and we are ready for it. Regarding, being taken to task, I am waiting for the army of intellectuals. Regarding ‘Non-sense about non-sense’, That is also simmering and shall be served asap.
Ironic is fine. Life is an irony. A supreme consciousness covered with shallow consciousness covered by intelligence which is blind.
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