Forgiveness – if the offender asks for forgiveness, and the offended person forgives, then is the misdeed nullified?

Sunil, 06th February 2012

Hare Krishna everyone!

Please accept my humble obeisances

All Glories to Srila Prabhupada

If a person does wrong or hurts another person but asks for being forgiven and even gets forgiven by the offended person then is that misdeed nullified?

Regards

Sunil

Mahabhagavat Das SDA, 07^th February 2012

Hare Krishna Bhakta Sunil,

Please accept my humble obeisances.

All glories to Srila Gurudeva.

All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

>If a person does wrong or hurts another person but asks for being forgiven and even gets forgiven by the offended person then is that misdeed nullified?

Yes, if the repentance and apology by offender is truly sincere and heartfelt, and if the offended person has sincerely and truly forgiven, then there is no more offense. There is one important point to understand…especially for devotee relationships, I learned this from Srila Gurudeva and also from His Holiness Bhakti Brhad Bhagavat Swami Maharaja…

To offend a devotee is Vaishnava Aparadha. Even if devotee does not take offense, Krishna does not like it. However, if that devotee forgives, then Krishna accepts and pardons. However, and this is even more important… a Vaishnava who does not forgive, that unforgiven offense is an obstacle to their own devotional service… actually no Vaishnava is hard-hearted, but if a Vaishnava does not forgive, then there is every danger that they become hard-hearted. So it is better not to offend, even better not to take offense, and if somehow these things happen, then better to fall at that Vaishnava’s feet and beg forgiveness, and when someone begs forgiveness, better to forgive as soon as it is possible. This depends on relationship also, for example, a devotee who looks up to me for advice may be embarrassed and uncomfortable more than anything if I fall at their feet – in such a situation, I fall at their feet within my heart, and externally beg for forgiveness sincerely, not out of any kind of demand or authority, but in the mood of their servant. Also, this does not mean that we become open to being exploited… we must be smart, we can forgive, but not forget what someone’s actions have been… and we should be careful and not put them in a situation where they can make the same mistake again… in other words, we should try to help others avoid offenses.

For this reason, for example, spiritual masters give light instructions to those who are not yet fully dedicated, because if spiritual master says something and the devotee does not do it, then that is also an offense to the spiritual master. However, one can observe that spiritual master is very strict with those who are more surrendered, because they know the spiritual strength of that devotee.

I hope this help. Do what is best for your service to Krishna.

Sincerely,

Mahabhagavat Das

Sunil, 07th February 2012

 

Hare Krishna everyone!

Please accept my humble obeisances

All Glories to Srila Prabhupada

Respected Mahabhagavat Das your answers are so very nice and so much detail importance you give to the questions

Regards

Sunil

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