Patience, fortitude, forgiveness. (Glossary for the Vahinis)
Kshama is one of the foremost and the highest virtues for a man. (TTFFW, p. 9)
True and Selfless Love manifests as sacrifice. Such love knows no hatred. It envelops the entire universe, and is capable of drawing near even those who are seemingly far away. Love it is that transforms the human into the Divine. It can transform pashu (a bestial person) into Pahsupati (Divinity). In the phenomenal world, you come across many shades and derivatives of this primordial love. You love your father, mother, brother, sister, friends, and so on. In all such cases, there is always a tinge of selfishness somewhere or the other. Divine love, on the other hand, is totally free of even the slightest trace of selfishness. You must surrender to such love, become completely submerged by it, and experience the bliss it confers.
For acquiring such love, the quality of kshama or forbearance is a vital necessity. kshama is a word rich in meaning. Besides forbearance, it also implies extreme patience and an enormous capacity to forget as also forgive. In view of this, the word kshama is directly used in most places in order not to dilute Bhagavan’s emphasis. Every individual must cultivate this noble quality. Kshama is not achieved by reading books or learnt from an instructor. Nor can it be received as a gift from someone else. This prime virtue kshama can be acquired solely by self-effort, by facing squarely diverse problems, difficulties of various sorts, anxieties, and suffering as well as sorrow. In the absence of kshama, man becomes susceptible to all kinds of evil tendencies. Hatred and jealousy easily take root in a person lacking this virtue.
Divinity is nothing but the combined manifestation of prema and kshama. At one stroke, kshama subsumes satya, dharma, and the entire Vedas. It is the greatest among tapas (penance). It is the grandest and the noblest among virtues. It is all encompassing. The Mahabharata and the Srimad Bhagavatam both contain many episodes that illustrate the disaster that befalls when kshama is lost. Jealousy is the first bad quality that makes its entry when kshama makes its exit. The Mahabharata gives a graphic portrayal of how life that is otherwise smooth, can be totally shattered by jealousy. The Golden island Lanka was like the very heavens but Ravana’s jealousy reduced it to ruins. Whereas kshama can give complete protection, its absence can plunge one into distress and disaster. Impatience breeds selfishness and promotes jealousy, which together spur infighting and divisive tendencies of various kinds. The troubles the country is currently passing through are largely due to the absence of this noble quality of kshama. Impatience has ruined even very great spiritual aspirants. Likewise, kings have been reduced to beggars. Absence of kshama can make yogulu (yogis) into rogulu (sick persons). Without kshama, mankind becomes degraded and starts declining, but if it has this quality then it can progress by leaps and bounds. Kshama is thus the very breath of life.
Can there be smoke without fire?
Can a car move without a driver?
Can a traffic light flash without a bulb?
How then can there be Creation without a Creator?
Everything must have a basis. For spiritual progress and advancement, kshama is the real basis or foundation. When kshama disappears, disturbance sets in and there is a decline. Great countries have lost their glory, prestige, and reputation for this reason. Patience is therefore a vital virtue that must be assiduously cultivated, if one is to successfully face troubles and tribulations. Without patience and the capacity for forbearance, one becomes spiritually weak. Such weakness leads to bad feelings, undesirable thoughts, and unbecoming actions. When patience is gone, the greatest of men get reduced to utter fools.
The importance of kshama cannot be over-stressed. This virtue is best cultivated under adverse circumstances, and one must therefore gladly welcome troubles instead of regarding them as unwelcome. Difficulties help one to nurse and build the capacity for patience, as the example of the Pandavas clearly shows. When they were in power and authority, the Pandavas were somewhat deficient in kshama but once they went into exile and had to face numerous hardships, kshama automatically began to develop in them. Thus, times of distress offer the ideal opportunity for the development of patience and forbearance. In fact, pain and kshama go together, because kshama grows best in an environment of sorrow and misery. However, because of mental weakness as well as ignorance, we invariably shun painful experiences and distress. You should not be weak; be brave and welcome troubles. Let them come, more the merrier. It is only with such a courageous attitude that you would be able to bring out the kshama hidden within you. Can you get promoted to a higher class without passing an examination? It is only when you secure the prescribed marks and pass the examination that you are declared eligible to advance to the next higher class. While preparing for the examination you have to face stress and many difficulties but how sweet is the promotion! So, welcome troubles as tests that prepare you for higher things. Some people may wonder, “If I develop kshama as Swami says and my life gets packed with troubles, how then will I survive?” Well, it all depends on what is meant by survival. kshama is the true breath of life. It is the greatest ornament that one can acquire. It is kshama that enables you to develop equanimity, and go beyond duality. Going beyond duality is the real purpose of life, and this cannot be done without kshama. You must therefore be happy when troubles descend on you because that is when kshama truly blossoms. (SSB 2000, pp.221-222)
Of all the noble qualities that a devotee must develop none is more vital than Kshama or forbearance, a peaceful forgiving nature if at remains undisturbed under all circumstances; and always given good to others no matter what is received in return. Kshama or forbearance is the essence of all spiritual practice. It is the one quality, which every person has to achieve in his lifetime. It can be said that forbearance is the very splendour of people who are splendorous; it is the very penance of people who are truthful. Truly it is truth itself. It is sacrifice. It is Dharma. It is Veda. It is Love. It is non-violence. It is compassion. It is happiness. Forbearance is everything. Without forbearance it is not possible to realize the truth of Atma, the ever lasting, ever luminous divine presence that shines ever within you. (DBG, p. 165)
We should endeavour to cultivate the quality of Kshama (forbearance). There is nothing nobler than Kshama.
Kshama is Satya (truth)
Kshama is Dharma (right conduct)
Kshama is the Veda
Kshama is Ahimsa (non-violence)
Kshama is Santosha (contentment)
Kshama is Everything.
It is only by the cultivation of forbearance that we can realise Divinity. Every little thing upsets our temper and creates tension in us. Anger is another vice that weakens man considerably. An angry man never succeeds in any work. Anger is the cause of loss of wealth and reputation. It alienates a man from his kith and kin. Verily, all is lost for an angry man. (SS April 87, p. 101)
Kshama leads to bliss
Life is full of worries. They seem to come in an endless procession. What is it that does not cause anxiety?
Birth is a worry, and so is existence itself;
Family life is a worry, death is a worry,
Childhood is a worry, old age is the same,
Living is a worry, working is a worry,
Pain causes worry, pleasure too causes worry,
Worry, worry, all the time!
You are plagued by multiple worries all the time. In this world, troubles will come for sure but one must learn to rise above worry; this is possible only with kshama. Welcome troubles with a smile saying, ‘Come my friend, you are the bearer of joy!’ Truly speaking, it is not friends but enemies who give one bliss. Do you know how? Enemies put you on your guard and help you to develop kshama. When one is filled with kshama, one cannot help being blissful. That is why Swami is stressing so much the acquisition of this incomparable virtue.
Embodiments of Love! Along with love, also cultivate kshama. What is normally professed as love is not real love because it invariably tends to be narrow, restricted, and tinged with selfishness. Do not mistake this distorted feeling to be love. This so-called love is based on selfishness and self-interest. Liberate this shackled love from the various clutches, purify it, and then direct it toward God. Once you have gone through this cleansing process, kshama will grow automatically.
The absence of kshama is responsible for most problems the world over.mp3
The absence of kshama is responsible for most of the problems the world over, and the decline in the innate humanness of man. Where virtues and values are concerned, man is able to achieve hardly anything. When blades of grass stand all by themselves, they become a ready meal for cattle but when stranded and plaited into a rope, even a mad elephant can be tied down – that is the power of unity. Therefore, you should always be united. Unity promotes patience and strengthens it. What is the type of unity that Swami wants from you? Unity in matters relating to God and good activities. Such unity will develop purity, and once purity is attained, divinity becomes accessible. (SSB 2000, pp.233-234)
Kshama develops courage
Students! In matters spiritual, make sure that you get a firm grip on whatever it is that you are seeking. No matter what the obstacles or troubles, do not ever be afraid. Your steps must always be forward and never backward. But that is not what one finds amongst students of today. During the Muharram festival, people dance chanting two words, Husayn and Hussein, taking first one step forward and then one step backward. In the process, they end up being where they are! Similarly, you keep saying Sairam, Sairam, Sairam, but remain spiritually stagnant. When will you start moving ahead? Go forward, trampling over difficulties. To reach great heights, you must have courage. And how does one become courageous? When the heart is full of kshama, the spirit of courage will automatically make its appearance.
Vibhishana provides the classic example. It was through kshama that he acquired the courage to defy Ravana and cross over to the side of Rama. He arrived in Rama’s camp chanting ‘Rama, Rama, Rama’. Seeing Vibhishana in the distance, Rama immediately raised His hand as a gesture of grace and protection. However, the people around Rama said, ‘Lord, that person is a rakshasa, a demon. He is the brother of your enemy. You must therefore not grant him protection.’ Meanwhile, Vibhishana kept on telling Rama, ‘I am Yours, I am Yours.’ Rama then said, ‘The moment a person tells Me ‘I am Yours,’ that person shall receive My protection, come what may.’ Such was Rama’s determination; you too must have similar determination in every spiritual endeavour of yours.
One day during the Lanka War, there appeared a young man on the battlefield. Vibhishana drew the attention of Rama to this warrior saying, ‘Rama, this person is mighty, powerful, and valorous. He is stronger than most, and You must slay him without fail.’ In response, Rama despatched an arrow felling the Rakshasa warrior; the young man was dead. Vibhishana then went near the dead body and began weeping profusely. Rama gently lifted Vibhishana and said, ‘What is all this? Why are you crying over this man?’ Vibhishana replied, ‘This is Neeludu my only son.
I urged You then to kill him since he was with the enemies but now, my emotion as a father is overwhelming me. I am unable to bear the sight of the death of my dear son right before my eyes. So, please grant me the power of patience and forbearance so that I can rise above such tragedies.’ Notice how unique is Vibhishana’s prayer. He said to Rama, ‘Kshama is my satya and dharma; it is also Rama for me! Kshama is my God and I cannot ever afford to forget it.’ This episode reveals how even great men suffer pain if they lose their grip over kshama. On the other hand, with kshama, there are no limits to what can be achieved.
Kshama and bad company do not go together
These days, it is not uncommon to see evil doers seemingly get away with it while good people suffer. It appears as if someone commits the crime and someone else gets punished – this is how things are in the world. Here is an example. You are sleeping in your room at night but mosquitoes disturb you. So, next day, you use a mosquito net but it still does not help because a few mosquitoes have sneaked into the net. You now resort to a drastic remedy – you spray Flit all over. You cannot identify the specific mosquitoes that bit you but you are not bothered; you spray over all the mosquitoes you can see. Only one or two mosquitoes bit you but now hundreds are dying. Why is this so? Because of friendship. Even if you are innocent, you have to suffer if you keep the company of evil doers. It is to drive this home that Swami often says: ‘Tell Me your company and I shall tell who you are.’ Once bad thoughts get in, they multiply rapidly and soon drive out kshama; and kshama once lost is not easily regained. You must therefore protect this virtue at all costs and see that you never lose it, especially because with kshama you can achieve anything.
Embodiments of Love! Students! During the Summer Course, you will receive such advice from elders and from Swami. Treasure them in your hearts. However, it is not enough to merely place on record the advice heard; you must make every effort to put them into practice. It is no use locking it up all inside; their impact must be made manifest through good actions. A villager was once walking carrying a bundle of food on his head. After sometime, he found the bundle to be a burden. So he made his way to the bank of a river, sat down there, opened the bundle and ate the food in it. In a few minutes, the burden disappeared, and the food consumed gave him fresh energy. In the same way, it is only when you put into practice what you have learnt that you will gain experience and strength. In turn, this will lead you to success.
Embodiments of Love! Drive away bad thoughts and make room for good and noble ones. Through sacred thoughts, foster kshama. This will give you multiple capabilities, enabling you to transform your life into an ideal one. Study of books alone will not enhance your capability; they will merely provide you with superficial or bookish knowledge. This obviously is not enough. Real capability and strength come by tapping the Inner Power latent in you. All that is outside is artificial. Real truth and power are both inside, in your heart. It is the heart that must be strengthened, but, unaware of this fact, people become furiously active in the external world, only to get lost there. (SSB 2000, pp.234-237)
Only a person who has this attitude of Kshama can be considered to be endowed with sacred love. This cannot be learned from textbooks. Nor can it be acquired from preceptors nor from any one else. It is to be cultivated by oneself in times of difficulties, trials and tribulations that one is forced to meet. Only when we face problems and difficulties that cause grief and misery this quality of forbearance and forgiveness has the scope for taking root. When you are confronted with problems and difficulties you should not get upset, and become victims of depression, which is a sign of weakness. In such a situation, you should bring tolerance and an attitude of forgiveness into play and should not get agitated giving rise to anger, hatred and revengeful attitude. You are embodiments of strength and not weakness. Therefore, in times of despair, you should be filled with the feeling of forbearance and be ready to forgive and forget. This quality of Kshama (forgiveness) is the greatest power for a human being. If one loses this quality, he becomes demonic. The moment one is giving up this great quality, the evil qualities of anger, hatred and jealousy creep in, making him lose his human nature itself, driving him to indulge in wicked deeds of demonic nature and even to descend to animal nature. Human beings should shine with human quality. Today we find jealousy and hatred dancing like devils all over the world. People with jealousy and hatred are pursuing the wicked path and bringing ruin on themselves. (SSS Vol.27, pp. 2-3)