Bible Discourse 35 The Forgiveness of Sins

Discourse 35

The Forgiveness of Sins

And one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat with him.  And he went into the Pharisee’s house, and sat down to meat.  And, behold, a womanin the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster box of ointment, and stood at his feet, behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment.

Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, “This man, if he were a prophet, would have known whoand what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is sinner.”

And Jesus answering said unto him, “Simon I have somewhat to say unto thee.”  And he saith, “Master, say on.”

“There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty.  And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both.  Tell me, therefore, which of them will love him most.”

Simon answered and said, “I  suppose that he, to whom he forgave most.”  And he said unto him, “Thou hast rightly judged.”

And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, “Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she had washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head.  Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet.  My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment.  Wherefore I say unto thee, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, the same loveth little.”

And he said unto her, “Thy sins are forgiven.”

And they that sat meat with him began to say within themselves, “Who is this that forgiveth sins also?”

And he said to the woman, “Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.”

                                                              Luke 7:36--50

Jesus’ all-forgiveness of divine love to devotes was displayed time and again.  However sinner she/he may be but the devotee’s heart rendering devotion make the Godly man compassionate. A woman in Pharisee’s house washed Jesus’ feet with tears and wipe his feet with her hair, kissed the feet, and anointed them with ointment.

Apichetsu duraachaaro bhajate maamanyabhaak

Saadhureva samantavya ssamyagvya vasitohinah     Gita 9--30

He who without any other avocation, mind anchored to me,   and worship me with incessant devotion, he is considered to be good  even if he may be a consummate evil doer.

Becoming a slave to senses is wrong doing. Doing Kriya yoga sadhana is right doing.

Kshipram bhavati dharmaatmaa saswachchaanti nigachchati

Kaunteya pratijaaneehi namebhaktah pranasyati    Gita 9--31

Those sinners who are taking shelter in Me are becoming men of righteousness. They are getting peace and tranquility soon. He Arjun, take a oath “ My devotee never perishes’’.

Every action of an individual is guided by his karma. People misunderstood the concept of Biblical sins for centuries. An evil action against the welfare of the soul is sin. An evil action against society is a crime.  The operation of Cosmic law in regard to human actions differs from the operation law.  A criminal is punished by the human law if and when detected. The law of karma works unfailingly. 

“Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.”                                                                 Galatians 6:7

The omnipotence of God is expressed not as a vengeance but as a compassion, love and goodness. God is the Creator, and Sustainer of this universe. He has ordained the law of cause and effect, or karma, to govern life.  Man is the judge of his own actions.

Crime and punishment grow out of one stem. Punishment is a fruit that unsuspected ripens within the flower of the pleasure which concealed it.       Emerson, in Compensation.  

The Cosmic law makes no conscious decisions in regard to fortune or misfortune.  Gita says:

Naa date kasyachitpaapam nachaiva sukritamvibhuh 

Agnaanenaavritam gnaanam tena muhyanti Jantavah Gita 5--15

Parabrahman does not accept the sin or virtue of any one. Wisdom is covered with Ignorance like Fire  is covered with ambers. People are deluded because of this.

Sadhak should overcome Maya, the delusion, with the will power bestowed by Parabrahman.

When soul is identified with body and sense pleasures, it forgets its divine nature. So the self sins against the interest of his own true Self or Atman.  When afflicted with pain of his own errors, man feel that God has forgotten him and has no mercy. Every man is enshrouded in ignorance because of “aham” or ego.  Man feels that God is remotely distant from human affairs.

Adam and Eve was listening to God in the beginning. Man was given free will.  Man transgressed the law of God.  He himself built a wall of ignorance around him.

God is Omnipresent.  So He wanted to be many. But the many acknowledge Him not. They themselves segregated Him because of the free will given to the man.  If he does not follow God, man has to suffer in to weep, toils in labour, and if he follows laws of God he will enjoy as per God, rejoicing in realizing the bliss of the soul.    When the crust of sin is broken, the ever pure soul enjoys as God. Realization of the soul’s divinity frees one from effects of all past wrong actions.

The darkness in a chamber is driven away by light. Similarly the darkness of ignorance or agnaan or avidya can be driven away bu light of wisdom.  Pure love for God brings forgiveness of sins. Gita says:

Samoham sarvabhooteshu name dweshyosti napriyah

Yebhajanti tu maambhaktyaa mayiteteshu chaapyaham  Gita 9--29

Iam the dweller of all beings with equanimity and without any partiality.  To Me none is hateful  or dear.  But those who serve Me  with devotion are in Me, and I am in them.

Sadhak has to enter into the Praasad (House) of Parabrahman. Then Parabrahman will enter into the Prasad (Body house) of the devotee.  Taking Prasaad is the token of this act.

God is love. Jesus is the incarnation of God. Regardless of in intensity of sins, when the woman turned her mind to Jesus with devotion, and sincere love, Jesus as Christ forgave her as potential divine child made in the image of God.   Only God and realized sons of God can completely or partially forgive an individual’s sins against hir/her soul, provided that person is devotedly sincere, not through mere supplication, but through divine love.

All the wickedness in the world that might work or think is no more to the mercy of God than a live coal in the sea.---William Langland, 14^th century English mystical poet.

And like the man in the parable who was forgiven his greater debt relative to the debtor forgiven little, her love was magnified by the awesome forgiveness she received through her devotion and faith and blessing of the Christ in Jesus.

And he said unto her, “Thy sins are forgiven.”

And they that sat meat with him began to say within themselves, “Who is this that forgiveth sins also?”

And he said to the woman, “Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.”  Luke 7:48—50

Forgiveness of sins means erasing karmic patterns left in the brain by wrong actions.  God and the highly advanced saints can forgive others and liberate them from their transgressions.

Some credulous wrong doers consider it sufficient to confess their sins to an ordinary cleric. They cannot see the subtle operation of the law of karma.  It is unseemly to say to God “I am a sinner.”  What God wants to hear is that man remembers his true relationship with Him: “Lord, I am Thy child, I might have committed some mistakes, Forgive me.”

Jesus said to the woman: “It is your faith that had saved you.  Now freed from the automatic reaction and compulsion of evil habits and sense slavery, you can be conscious of the revived peace of your soul—‘Go in peace.’’’ ”

 

In Mahabharata epic, the following story is narrated  in regard to Dharma and Satya.  This was narrated in a question and session as given below.

..Dharma Raja, the eldest among pandavas,  discovers all his brothers lay unconscious, after drinking water from a lake inhabited by "Yaksha".  Yaksha says " O...Dharma Raja, if you answer all my questions correctly,  then I will make your brothers come to life again..!" and Dharma Raja agrees to the proposition by Yaksha.

Yaksha: Who causes the sun to rise and set..?

Dharma Raja: Para-Bramha and DHARMA

Yaksha: ...And in whom is the sun established?

Dharma Raja: The TRUTH (all-pervading supreme consciousness)

Yaksha: Who is truly a wealthy Human?

Dharma Raja: One who has overcome  the dualities of this mortal life

Yaksha: What is true knowledge?

Dharma Raja: The knowledge of the Unity of Divinity

Yaksha: Who is learned?

Dharma Raja: One who knows Dharma

..And there are 33 of these Yaksha Prashnas. Dharma Raja answers all of them correctly.  If you look beyond these questions... and understand the IDEA of Maharshi Veda Vyasa, who wrote Maha Bharatha. A human becomes unconscious by this MAYA (drinking water from the lake inhabited by Yaksha), We have to realise the TRUTH and live according to DHARMA, ....and live a Conscious LIFE to rise to our Full Potential..!

As it appears to me... the current .ongoing.. "Global Human Predicament.." ..like Yaska asking some real questions. If we understand these eternal principles that govern LIFE at personal & universal dimensions, live accordingly, then we can look forward to a better future. We can no longer continue to live in ignorance.. and hope for the best..!

Satyam vada, dharmam cara. – Taittiriya Upanishad

Meaning: Live and express the Truth, practise Dharma

(Truth: All-pervading universal, supreme consciousness and non-duality. Dharma: Duty, Responsibility and Righteousness in accordance with Truth)

All of life on this earth rests on DHARMA based on the TRUTH.

“And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery: and when they had set her in the midst, they say unto him, “Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act.  Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou?”  This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him.  But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as  thou he heard them not.

So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, “He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.”  And he again stooped down, and wrote on the ground.  And they which heard it, being convicted by their own consciousness, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.

When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, “Woman, where are those thine accusers?  Hath no man condemned  thee?”

She said, “No man, Lord.”  And Jesus said unto her, :Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more”        John 8:3—11

In another incident, in the Gospel according to St. John, Jesus dramatically illustrated the divine attitude toward erring children of God. 

Jesus said: No one is free from sin; should you not cast aspersions of guilt and stones of condemnation first at yourselves?”   Jesus said:  Only persons who do not make social mistakes themselves are justified in critiquing others’  social errors.   No one in the crowd was sinless.  No body can condemn you. The Christ Consciousness in me has saved you from your past adulterous actions.

Adultery is a social crime and also against divine happiness. Its nature and weakness yields to sex transgressions.

And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. But if ye not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.                                                              Mark 11:25--26

Jesus said:  A forgiving attitude toward other attracts God’s forgiveness for oneself.   Truth pertinent to the devotee is seeking forgiveness from past wrong actions. 

Take heed to yourselves:  If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him.  And if he trespasses against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again thee, saying, ‘I repent’; thou shalt forgive him.”                            Luke 17:3—4

 The hand of forgiveness to a repentant brother is to mirror the example of God who forgives us all countless, infinite, times. As such man also have to extend his forgiveness repeatedly.

Then came Peter to him, and said, “Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?”  Jesus saith unto him, “I say not unto thee, until seven times: but, until seventy times seven.

“Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants.  And when he begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents.  But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made.  The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, ‘Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.’  Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.

“But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellow servants, whichowed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, ‘Pay me that thou owest.’  And his fellow servant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.’  And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt.

“So when his fellow servants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done.  Then his lord, after that he called him, and said unto him, ‘O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me: shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellow servant, even as I had pity on thee?’  And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.

“So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.”             Mathew 18:21—35

The story above is an example of law of karma, cause and effect.  If man does an evil karma or action and repent seventy times seven, then is he be freed from law of karma. “Crying over spilled milk” will not bring the milk back.   After repentance, one must forever relinquish the evil habit.

Scientific meditation Kriya yoga techniques are the surest way to burn up all the traces of past evil actions.

Five methods are suggested for absolution of bad karmic effects. They are:

1)   Divine meditation—it is surest way of devotee advances to higher states of self-realization and God consciousness and surest way of burning prenatal and post natal karma.

2)   Righteous behavior, practice of deep prayer, and faith.

3)   An advanced soul, or an emissary of God as was Jesus.

4)   During meditation he realizes his real self.  But the devotee has to pay for his uncompensated past human karma.  Due to exceptional metaphysical kriya yoga technique (s), great master can do away with the accumulated traces of many, manylives of binding karmic actions.

For five incarnations the yogi say to the law of karma: “There in the vision, by the intensity of my concentration and divine consciousness, I have materialized five lives all results of my karma; now I am free.

As soon as the karmic effects of evil actions have been manifested and experienced, whether in a self created conscious dream or vision in a few minutes or hours, or in the ordinary events of life in a number of years, the karmic law has been satisfied and the penitent man is “forgiven,” freed from that particular karmic debt.    This a unique vision method.

5)   Masters and saviors like Jesus can offer their bodies to experience not only their karma but also the karma of others to help them toward liberation. The crucifixion of Jesus was such an example. Gita says:

Teshaam satata yuktaanaam bhajataam preeti poorvakam

Dadaami buddhi yogam tam yena maamupa yaantite                                         Gita 10-10

Those sadhaks are completely anchored to Me, and worshipping me with renewed love and affection. I am giving pure wisdom to such sadhaks.

Teshaa mevaanu kampaartha mahaa magnaajam tamah

Naasayaamyaatma bhaavastho gnaanadeepena bhaaswataa   Gita 10-11

To show compassion to those sadhaks, I Myself dwell in their Antahkarana, and mitigating their obscurity with the light of Gnana, pure wisdom.