BLISS BLOSSOM - DO NOT RETALIATE

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Baba said, "If anyone does any evil unto you, do not retaliate" in

Sri Sai Satcharitra Ch.X.

 

Never grieve over an injury that may be caused to you by another;

know it to be the result of some evil action performed by you in the

past. Never allow the thought to enter your mind that such and such a

person have done you this injury. Know it for certain that injustice

is never done in the Kingdom of God. The harm that has come to you or

the mishap that has befallen you is undoubtedly a result of you past

actions. Truly speaking, no one can ever inflict any suffering on you

without any cause. Nor is it possible that the effect should precede

the cause. Therefore, whatever suffering comes to you is undoubtedly

the result of your own Karma. God in His mercy metes out justice to

you in order to absolve you of your own sins. Know that person who

has caused you suffering to be a mere instrument; it is through

ignorance and folly that the poor creature has played this role. He

has sought his own ruin and invited suffering on himself by

inflicting pain on you. It is quite evident that he who invites

suffering on himself is surely not wise; he is self-deluded, and

therefore deserves our pity. Do not be angry with him, do not wish

him harm in return, never desire that evil may come to him; on the

contrary pray to God that He may be pleased to bring back the deluded

brother to the path of virtue, awaken his good sense and forgive his

sins committed through ignorance.

 

It is possible that, forced by circumstances, he committed through

mistake the act which caused you suffering; but, if the fire of

repentance is now burning within his heart, and he is feeling

uncomfortable in mind, it is your duty under such circumstances to

extend your love towards him and treat him with the utmost kindness.

Tell him frankly, `Brother, why are you so sorry? Surely you are not

to blame for this. This pain that has been caused to me was due to my

own past Karma. You have rather done me a good turn by helping me to

work out my Karma. You should therefore no longer feel embarrassed in

your mind.' These words coming from a sincere heart will surely

assuage his feelings; he will come to his senses and will never do

harm to others to others in future. If, however, he inflicted on you

knowingly and deliberately and through evil intent, and instead of

repenting for his action he may be chuckling over it, your noble

conduct and loving behaviour will change his mind and move him to

repentance. Your magnanimity will automatically evoke his homage. His

heart will be purified. This is as certain as anything. But if this

does not happen, you are in no way the loser. Through your ideal and

loving behaviour your own mind will remain perfectly calm and

composed.

 

Never bear with him any grudge. If you entertain this feeling towards

him you will be sowing in your own mind the seeds of many other

sinful propensities of a similar nature. His mind will also know no

peace. Even if he had no grudge before, your unfriendly behaviour

will now estrange him from you. The result will be that the fire of

hatred will smoulder in the hearts of you both; the feeling of

animosity will make both of you miserable and drag both of you to

morass of sin. Therefore, banish altogether from your mind the idea

that such and such a person ever did you any harm.

 

By. Shri Hanumanprasad Poddar in `Wavelets of Bliss and Divine

Message'

(Shri Vasuki Mahal Shirdi Saibaba Trust, Coimbatore, India)