Unforgivable sins - what to do

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Posted from another website:

 

I have put myself in a very nasty situation.

Can anyone shed any light . . . .

 

I committed an unforgivable sin 8 years ago i.e. I cannot forgive myself let

alone others around me forgiving me. (I do not seek their forgiveness as it

will bring me no peace, since "what is done is done".

 

It was a low act, unforgivable, hurting the people closest to me.

 

I lost all self respect.

 

I lost the respect of the same people aove.

 

Now, I do not seek anyone else's forgiveness or respect. Nor do I actively

seek happiness.

 

I have been constantly restless, uncomfortable, almost nervous for the past

8 yrs as I am in caught in lingo.

 

I do not actively seek happiness, SIMPLY PEACE OF MIND WOULD DO.

 

(I am a hindu and understand broadly Gita's teachings.)

 

Questions:

 

1. Does a person who has committed such a horrible, low, unforgivable act

deserve peace of mind? Even happiness?

 

2. I have lost all self respect (although I continue with day to day life),

can this be rekindled?

 

3. How can I leave a normal life from now on?

 

4. Does Gita provide any answers?

 

 

Confused one.

 

My response:

 

Dear Prabhu,

 

Thank you very much for your straightforwardness and frankness. You are

simply very wonderful. Here are the answers for your questions.

 

>>(I am a hindu and understand broadly Gita's teachings.)

 

Questions:

 

1. Does a person who has committed such a horrible, low, unforgivable act

deserve peace of mind? Even happiness?

 

Ans: You definitely DESERVE peace of mind and happiness, simply because you

have admitted your mistakes, and truly repenting for your past misdeeds.

There is no need to tell what exactly you did wrong as it may be personal.

However, if there is any possibility, please go to the people to whom you

committed wrong, and fall at their feet and beg for forgiveness. If they

forgive you, then you have done your 'prayaschitta' or atonement for your

sins.

 

If this is not possible to directly meet them, then at least write to them,

begging for forgiveness. Krishna will appreciate that.

 

If both are not possible, that is if those people are not there on this

planet or you don't know where they are, or there may be other practical

problems, that by your getting in touch with them you will be only

aggravating the already sour situation, then you ask for their forgiveness

mentally and pray to Lord Krishna to forgive your sins.

 

2. I have lost all self respect (although I continue with day to day life),

can this be rekindled?

 

After doing the above, please take up to the process of Krishna

Consciousness or devotional service or Bhakti Yoga to Lord Krishna.

Depending on one's sincerety, Bhakti will remove all the sins, in the course

of time, and Lord Krishna gives you this guarantee in Bhagavadgita. 18.66

"Sarva Dharman Parityajya Mam Ekam Saranam Vraja, Aham Tvam Sarva Papebhyo

Mokshayisyami Ma Sucha" --Abandon all varieties of religion and just

surrender unto me and I shall deliver you from all SINFUL reactions. Do not

fear.

 

Bhakti Yoga is very simple:

 

Step 1: Admit one's mistakes, and truly repent for the mistakes done.

Step 2: Do not repeat the mistakes.

Step 3: Simultaneously Pray to Krishna, to give you strength to do the steps

1 & 2.

Step 4: There is simple prayer which you can chant every day as much as

possible, for 10 minutes, 30 minutes, 1 hour, 2 hours or as much as your

time permits. It is better you regulate the timing initially for 10 minutes

and then build upon it.

 

The prayer is "Hare Krishna Hare Krishna; Krishna Krishna Hare Hare; Hare

Rama Hare Rama; Rama Rama Hare Hare". This simply means "O Krishna, O energy

of Krishna, please engage me in your service". Chant this Maha Mantra/Holy

Names then Lord Krishna will hear to your prayers, and engage you in His

service, and He will remove all our sins in the course of time. It is

so.......o simple.

 

Here is a quotation from Srimad Bhagavatam 6.2.13 (6th Canto, 2nd Chapter,

13th verse) "One who has killed a Brahmana, one who has killed a cow or one

who has killed his father, mother or Guru (spiritual master) can be

immediately freed from all sinful reactions simply by chanting the Holy Name

of Lord Krishna or Narayana. Other sinful persons, such as dog-eaters and

chandalas, who are less than sudras, can also be freed in this way".

 

Also Srimad Bhagavatam 6.2.9-10

"The chanting of the Holy Name Lord Krishna is the best process of

atonement(prayaschitta) for a theif of gold or other valuables, for a

drakard, for one who betrays a friend or relative, for one who kills a

brahmana, or for one who indulges in sex with the wife of his guru or other

superior. It is also the best method of atonement for one who murders women,

the king or his father, for one who slaughters cows, and for all other

sinful men. Simply by chanting the Holy Name of Krishna, such sinful persons

may attract the attention of the Supreme Lord, who therefore considers,

"because this man has chanted My Holy Name, My duty is to give him

protection."

 

One must not chant the Holy Names and continue to do sins thinking, that the

chanting will cleanse all the sins. That does not work. One has to admit

one's mistakes, truly repent for one's mistakes, and simultaneously

incessantly every day chant the Holy Names, which will give strength and

protection from committing any further sins.

 

3. How can I leave a normal life from now on?

 

Answer: As explained above, in answer to your second question. You be what

you are, and just add Chanting of Krishna's Name to your life. That makes

everything perfect.

 

4. Does Gita provide any answers?

 

Answer: Yes Gita provides answers for all the questions of life. Just stay

in association with this website, and go through all the discussions, Read

Bhagavadgita, and in the course of time, all your questions will be

answered.

 

Bhagavadgita is the supreme instruction on morality. The supreme instruction

of morality is stated in 9-34 "man manaa bhava mad bhaktah" One must become

a devotee of Krishna. To become a devotee, you must be in the association of

devotees. So stay tuned to this website.

 

Also, if you let me know which city you belong to, (no need a complete

address, just the city), then we can see, if any Krishna devotees are in

your locality and we can post the addresses here and you may get in touch

with them.

 

You are not alone. I too have committed, most abominable sins, and now I am

practicing Bhakti Yoga and this has cleared all the gloom and given me

immense happiness. You too please try out.

 

Hare Krishna. Please feel free to ask all your questions with out hesitation

and clear your doubts.

 

I pray to Lord Krishna to show you the proper way. Please forgive me if I

have said something wrong and offended you by writing the above answers.

 

Your humble servant,

Bhadra Govinda Das.