| Craig Jensen 2004-12-24, 7:10 pm |
| On Sundays you learn about the divine law of forgiveness: if you are
slapped on the left cheek, turn the right cheek also. But do you
practice this in everyday life? or do you think it is foolish to do so?
Experiment. When you retaliate by giving the other person a slap, you
feel terrible; your action is just as bad as the other
person's....Why should you take on the contagion of the hatred of him
who slaps you? Why should you disrupt your mental peace? Isn't it
better to be able to say: "I am happy within myself because, in spite
of your blows, I have done no harm to you and have wished you well."
Though it is easier to slap in return for a slap, remember that the
aftereffects of such a reaction-loss of mental peace, and
physiological disturbance-are not worth the momentary satisfaction of
revenge. When you refrain from retaliating, you will find that you have
calmed down your enemy also; whereas if you hit back, you only rouse
his emotions more.
So to be in control of your emotions is important to happiness. Then no
one can get you angry, no one can make you jealous....You have
experimented with your thoughts, and you know what treasure of peace
you have within.
In India, a man who had a bad temper came to me. He was a specialist in
slapping his bosses when he lost his temper, so he also lost one job
after another. He would become so uncontrollably irate that he would
throw at whoever bothered him anything that was handy. He asked me for
help. I told him, "The next time you get angry, count to one hundred
before you act." He tried it, but came back to me and said, "I get
more angry when I do that. While I am counting, I am blind with rage
for having to wait so long." His case looked hopeless.
Then I told him to practice Kriya Yoga, with this further instruction:
"After practicing your Kriya, think that the divine Light is going
into your brain, soothing it, calming your nerves, calming your
emotions, wiping away all anger. And one day your temper tantrums will
be gone." Not long after that, he came to me again, and this time he
said, "I am free from the habit of anger. I am so thankful."
I decided to test him. I arranged for some boys to pick a quarrel with
him. I hid myself in the park along the route where he used to pass
regularly, so that I could observe. The boys tried again and again to
goad him into a fight, but he wouldn't respond. He kept his calmness.
Love people in spite of their behavior. For those who fail this test,
it is their doom. The fault lies with self, not with others. No matter
how perfect you try to make a place, you will see that there will
always be somebody coming to interfere. That is the law of this world.
How many have tried to shake me and disrupt the harmony of my work, but
have not been able to do so. Why? Because I follow the laws of Christ.
No one can hurt me if I don't wish to be hurt.
If someone insults you, or calls you a devil, that doesn't make you
one. He who calls you a devil is being used by the devil. The best
thing under such circumstances is to remain quiet....
And inside don't feel hatred or anger. If someone speaks to you in
hurtful language, remain quiet; or say, "I am sorry if I have done
something to offend you," and then remain silent....You have no idea
what strength comes from such self-control and love.
http://www.yogananda-srf.org/writings/srm_f2001html.htm
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