You should forget the good acts done by you as well as the evil ones done by others. Shanti Vachan Bhandar, 906.
Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing." Luke, 23:34.
And these Thy servants who are gathered to slay me, in zeal for Thy Religion, longing to win Thy favor, forgive them, Lord. Have mercy on them. Surely if Thou hadst shown them what Thou has shown me, they would never have done what they have done (...). Whatsoever Thou dost will, I praise Thee! Al-Hallaj (888-922), a Sufi mystic, who according to Sufi tradition was crucified for declaring that he and the Real (al-Hagg) were One, quoted after: Novak Philip, The World's Wisdom, P.323.
The servants of God are those who show patience, firmness and self-control, who are true in word and deed, who worship devoutly, who spend time in the way of God; and so pray for forgiveness in the early hours of the morning. Quran 3:15,17
Any one can do good to a good person but to return evil with goodness can be done only by a noble, virtuous person. Shanti Vachan Bhandar, 1005.
Let bygones be bygones. Always say that in it lay your welfare. Shanti Vachan Bhandar, 1258.
Yes, if you forgive others their failings, your heavenly Father will forgive you yours; but if you do not forgive others, your Father will not forgive your failings either. Matthew 6:14-15
Then Peter went up to him and said, "Lord, how often must I forgive my brother if he wrongs me? As often as seven times?" Jesus answered, "Not seven, I tell you, but seventy-seven times." Matthew 18:21-22
"You wicked servant," he said, "I canceled all that debt of yours when you appealed tome. Were you not bound, then, to have pity on your fellow servant just as I had pity on you?" And in his anger the master handed him over to the tortures till he should pay all his debt. And that is how my heavenly Father will deal with you unless you each forgive your brother from your heart. Matthew 18:32-35
It has been said that the continuation of the species is due to man's being forgiving. Forgiving is holiness; by forgiveness the universe is held together. Forgiveness is the might of the mighty; forgiveness is sacrifice; forgiveness is quiet of mind. Forgiveness and gentleness are the qualities of the self-possessed. They represent eternal virtue. Yogananda, Autobiography of a Yogi, P.513.
We resemble God most when we forgive our neighbours. God is Love, Goodness, and Mercy... (...). Faustina Kowalska, The Diary, 1148.
(…) For God to live in your hearts, you must love. (…). Our Lady of Medjugorie, November 25, 1995. Words from Heaven, P.281.
Come, come, whoever you are. Wonderer, worshipper, lover of leaving.
It doesn't matter. Ours is not a caravan of despair.
Come, even if you have broken your vow a thousand times. Come, yet
again, come, come. Attributed to Rumi, a Sufi mystic.
It is easy to strike back, but to give love is the highest way to try to disarm your persecutor. Even if it doesn't work at the time, he will never be able to forget that when he gave you a slap, you gave love in return. (...) Give love and forget. Don't expect anything, then you will see the magical result. Paramahansa Yogananda, Man's Eternal Quest, P.207.
Those who store up grievances and rancour in themselves are like people who draw water and pour it into a cask full of holes. St. Evagrios the Solitary (345-399 C.E.), quoted in: The Philokalia, Vol. I., P.59.
The sing of sincere love is to forgive wrongs done to us. It was with such love that the Lord loved the world. St. Mark the Ascetic (4th Century C.E.), quoted in: The Philokalia, Vol. I., P.129.
It acts like love – music,
it reaches toward the face, touches it, and tries to let you know
His promise: that all will be okay.
It acts like love – music, and
tells the feet, “You do not have to be so burdened.”
My body is covered with wounds
this world made,
but I still longed to kiss Him, even when God said,
“Could you also kiss the hand that caused
each scar,
for you will not find me until
you do.”
It does that-music-helps us
to forgive.
Rabia (c.717-801), quoted in: Ladinsky Daniel (2002). Love Poems from God. Twelve Sacred Voices from the East and West. P.21.
See the related subjects: Charity, Humanism, Human Love, Humbleness, Justice, Mercy, Patience, Prayer, Tolerance and Wisdom.
Last updated: 2008/10/28