by Dharmacharya Gurudas Sunyatananda

Created on: January 15, 2007   Last Updated: January 08, 2008

We live in what appears to be a hostile, angry, violent society. Wars are being fought over control of oil, control of religion, control of race, and a lust for world domination. Women are being physically abused in far-away places like Darfur, and in our own neighbourhoods. And in so many homes, deep-seated anger and resentment are tearing lives apart.

Passing anger is natural, and allows a release of frustrations. I'm not talking about that kind of anger. But when we allow anger or resentment to consume us to become our preoccupation and fixation then we become seriously diseased. Deep-seated anger and resentment are toxic. They poison our minds and our bodies. Anger and resentment are often overlooked as forms of violence.

But equally important, our hatred and anger are poisons, which can corrode and destroy our physical health, our mental stability and our peace literally making us sick. One wise person once reminded me that allowing ourselves to be consumed by anger and resentment is like taking poison, and hoping the other person dies. It's counter-productive, irresponsible and immature.

There is a grace, freely available to every one of us, but seldom fully taken advantage of. That grace is called reconciliation. Reconciliation is the result of reminding ourselves that whatever seems abrasive in others is nothing more than a reflection of things we dislike or are afraid of in ourselves. We are quick to remind others that "we are only human", but sinfully slow to remember that others are too.

We have to learn to recognise the Divine Light in others, by whatever Name or Names we recognise that Light... no matter how hidden It may be no matter how difficult It may be to find It there. And only when we do that, can we begin to participate in the awesome power of forgiveness.

Often, we fool ourselves into thinking that forgiveness is something we do to others. And in our immaturity, we say to ourselves, "Well I am not forgiving that person, because they don't deserve it."

Here's a newsflash we don't forgive people because they "deserve" it! Grow up, and get over yourself!

The word forgiveness indicates an attitude within ourselves, a commitment to be in favour of ("for") giving. When we are forgiving, we are "in favour of giving Divine Love in response to the Indwelling Divine in each person". Dr. Brian Luke Seaward writes, "Forgiveness is a component of the human spirit that acts as a bridge to connect the mind and body."

In fact, I firmly believe that the path

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