Forgiveness

[Guest guest]

Namaste:

 

I have a question which is age old for me in that it is something

that I have questioned much of my life. I understand that Swami

Yogeshanandaji is into the teachings of Christ, so maybe even he can

comment on this:

 

In Matthew 18:21,22, Peter asks Jesus: " Lord, how many times is my

brother to sin against me and am I to forgive him? Up to seven

times? " Jesus said to him, " I say to you, not, Up to seven times, but

Up to seventy-seven times. " Now in my mind, I am thinking, then you

would have to allow such a person in your life in order to forgive

him that many times, which would be putting you in a very abusive

situation. I can understand forgiving a person, but if it continues

then I can see that it would be better to forgive and let that

person go. Is there something I am not understanding in this verse?

It is hard now for me to imagine that Jesus would think this way. I

much prefer the liberating remarks of Sri Ramakrishna in " The Gospel

of Ramakrishna " where the conversation goes:

 

Bhavanath: " I feel disturbed if I have a misunderstanding with

someone. I feel that in that case I am not able to love all. "

Master: " Try at the outset to talk to him and establish a friendly

relationship with him. If you fail in spite of your efforts, then

don't give it another thought. Take refuge in God. Meditate on Him.

There is no use in giving up on God and being depressed from

thinking about others. "

Bhavanath: " Great souls, such as Christ and Chaitanya, have

admonished us to love all beings. "

Master: " Love you must, because God dwells in all beings. But salute

a wicked person from a distance. "

 

Which of course, does not allow you to be able to forgive " Up to

seven times seventy. " The reason I have asked this question is

because I am trying to understand Jesus' teachings. At the same time

I find Sri Ramakrishna's words very liberating and something that I

needed to hear since I have always been used to forgiving others

over and over and not " saluting them from afar. "

 

Thank you.

 

Amba