Set yourself free by Dada J P Vaswani

Summary

The video script delves into the profound human struggle between love and hate, emphasizing the divine act of forgiveness. It recounts powerful stories of Mahatma Gandhi and Pope John Paul I, illustrating forgiveness's transformative power. The speaker offers ten practical suggestions for cultivating forgiveness, urging viewers to let go of grudges for inner peace and global harmony, and to embrace love as a healing force.

Takeaways

• 😇 Forgiveness is a divine quality, setting it apart from merely human tendencies to retaliate or hold grudges.
• ❤️ The internal conflict between love, which seeks to forgive, and hate, which seeks revenge, is a fundamental human struggle.
• 🔥 Hatred is likened to a fire that burns within, consuming peace and happiness, and must be extinguished for inner tranquility.
• 🌟 Notable figures like Mahatma Gandhi and Pope John Paul II exemplify the power of forgiveness, even towards those who intended them harm.
• 🙏 Prayer is suggested as a first response to hurt, to prevent it from festering into a deeper wound in the heart.
• 📝 Writing a letter to the person who caused hurt, expressing all negative feelings, can be a cathartic exercise that aids in forgiveness, even if the letter is never sent.
• 🌱 Self-forgiveness is as important as forgiving others, acknowledging past mistakes, making amends, and moving forward without guilt.
• ⚠️ Holding onto resentment and guilt can be harmful to one's health and well-being, causing physical ailments and emotional distress.
• 🌙 Nightly reflection and verbal forgiveness of those who have wronged you can lead to a clearer mind and peaceful sleep.
• 🤝 Forgiveness should be offered proactively, without waiting for an apology, to achieve peace within oneself.
• 🔄 The act of forgiving and forgetting is compared to a cancelled note burnt in the fire, signifying a complete release of the past.
• 🛡️ Treating those who have wronged you with kindness and offering help can be a transformative act of divine forgiveness.

Q & A

What is the central theme of the transcript?

The central theme of the transcript is the power and importance of forgiveness in human life, contrasting it with the destructive nature of holding onto hatred and resentment.

What conflict is mentioned within us according to the transcript?

The conflict mentioned within us is between love, which seeks to forgive, and hate, which seeks to retaliate and make even.

What does the speaker suggest is the outcome when love triumphs over hatred?

When love triumphs over hatred, the speaker suggests that we are able to easily forgive, preventing the hurt from entering our hearts and causing ongoing suffering.

Can you provide an example from the transcript where forgiveness transformed a negative situation?

An example is when Mahatma Gandhi forgave the man who tried to kill him, leading to the man later offering his apologies and admiration.

What did Pope John Paul II do after a man attempted to assassinate him?

Pope John Paul II visited the man in prison, held his hand, and forgave him.

What is the significance of the '10 fingers of the hands that forgive' mentioned in the transcript?

The '10 fingers of the hands that forgive' are practical suggestions provided by the speaker on how to cultivate a spirit of forgiveness in one's life.

What is the first practical suggestion for dealing with hurt as mentioned in the transcript?

The first practical suggestion is to immediately offer a prayer to God for help in preventing the hurt from entering and festering in the heart.

What should one do if they find it difficult to forget a hurt according to the transcript?

If one finds it difficult to forget a hurt, they should either unburden themselves to a spiritual elder or write a letter expressing all their feelings to the person who caused the hurt, and then tear it up while praying for them.

Why is it important to forgive oneself according to the transcript?

Forgiving oneself is important because carrying guilt can harm us mentally and emotionally, and it prevents us from moving forward with a clear conscience.

What is the practical suggestion for dealing with grudges or resentment?

The practical suggestion is to realize that holding grudges or resentment harms us more than the person we are resentful towards, and to actively work on letting go of these feelings.

What is the therapeutic value of the advice given in the transcript?

The therapeutic value of the advice is that it promotes mental and emotional well-being by encouraging the release of negative emotions through forgiveness, which can contribute to better health.

How does the transcript suggest we should act towards those who have wronged us?

The transcript suggests that we should act kindly towards those who have wronged us, even going out of our way to help and serve them, as a way of practicing forgiveness.

What is the final practical suggestion mentioned in the transcript for embracing forgiveness?

The final practical suggestion is to love the wrongdoer, to bring them back into your life, and to actively practice loving them despite their past actions.

What does the speaker emphasize as the key to achieving forgiveness?

The speaker emphasizes that it is God's grace that will lead us to forgiveness, suggesting that it is beyond our own power and requires divine assistance.

Outlines

00:00

🧡 The Conflict Between Love and Hatred

This paragraph discusses the internal struggle between love and hate, and the power of forgiveness. It emphasizes the human tendency to retaliate when wronged but highlights the divine act of forgiving. The speaker uses personal anecdotes and examples of Mahatma Gandhi and Pope John Paul I to illustrate the transformative power of forgiveness, even in the face of great wrongs. The narrative suggests that hatred can consume one's peace and happiness, while forgiveness can lead to personal liberation and even change the heart of the wrongdoer.

05:03

🙏 The Path to Forgiveness

The speaker provides practical advice on how to cultivate a forgiving spirit. The first suggestion is to pray immediately when hurt to prevent it from festering in the heart. The paragraph also recounts the story of Jesus, who despite being crucified, prayed for his tormentors' forgiveness, setting an example of unconditional forgiveness. The narrative includes the story of Sadu Wasani, who despite being wronged by an editor, offered financial help when the editor's wife fell ill, demonstrating the healing power of forgiveness.

10:04

🌱 Forgiveness as a Healing Process

This paragraph continues the theme of forgiveness, offering additional practical suggestions for dealing with hurt and resentment. The speaker advises seeking counsel from a spiritual elder or writing a letter to the person who caused the hurt as a form of catharsis. The importance of self-forgiveness is also highlighted, urging individuals to let go of guilt and past mistakes. The paragraph emphasizes the negative impact of holding onto grudges on one's health and well-being.

15:06

🌙 Nightly Rituals of Forgiveness

The speaker introduces the practice of nightly forgiveness, suggesting that one should consciously forgive those who have wronged them before going to sleep. This act is posited as a means to achieve a clear mind and peaceful sleep. The paragraph also touches on the idea of forgiving without being asked, as taught by Jesus, and the therapeutic value of such an approach. The narrative includes a story about a woman with rheumatic pain who was advised to forgive her sister to alleviate her physical suffering.

20:07

🕊 The Art of Forgetting After Forgiving

The final paragraph focuses on the importance of not only forgiving but also forgetting. The speaker provides a series of practical suggestions, such as speaking kindly about those who have wronged you and going out of your way to help them. The power of divine forgiveness is exemplified through the story of George Washington and Peter Miller, where Miller's plea for his enemy's life was granted due to his act of superhuman forgiveness. The paragraph concludes with the ultimate suggestion to love the wrongdoer and reintegrate them into one's life.

Keywords

💡Forgiveness

Forgiveness is the central theme of the video, emphasizing the moral and spiritual importance of letting go of resentment and offering pardon, even when wronged. The speaker discusses the 'magic of forgiveness' through examples like Mahatma Gandhi, Pope John Paul, and other historical figures who chose to forgive instead of seeking revenge. Forgiveness is presented as a divine act that contrasts with human impulses for retribution.

💡Hatred

Hatred represents the opposite force to forgiveness, characterized by a desire for revenge and holding grudges. The video highlights the internal conflict between love and hatred, where hatred is described as a 'fire' that burns away peace and happiness. The destructive nature of holding on to hatred is exemplified through stories of people who let bitterness consume them.

💡Ego

The ego is described as a barrier to forgiveness, driving the human desire for 'an eye for an eye' and preventing the ability to forgive others. The speaker argues that overcoming the ego is crucial for cultivating a forgiving heart, as it tends to dominate and fuel the desire for retaliation.

💡Prayer

Prayer is offered as a practical tool for overcoming feelings of hurt and preventing them from festering into long-term resentment. The speaker suggests that whenever one feels hurt, they should immediately pray for help so that the wound does not take root in the heart. This reflects the spiritual approach to dealing with negative emotions.

💡Self-Forgiveness

Self-forgiveness is emphasized as equally important as forgiving others. Many people struggle with guilt and find it difficult to forgive themselves for past mistakes. The video encourages making amends, repenting before God, and then letting go of guilt, recognizing that self-compassion is essential for inner peace.

💡Conflict Between Love and Hate

The conflict between love and hate is a recurring theme in the video, symbolizing the struggle between the urge to forgive and the desire for revenge. Love seeks to forgive, while hate seeks retribution, and the speaker discusses how individuals face this battle within themselves when wronged. The triumph of love over hate leads to peace and forgiveness.

💡Healing

Healing is discussed in both physical and emotional contexts, with forgiveness being a key element. The speaker shares examples of people suffering from illnesses like rheumatic pain because they held grudges, suggesting that releasing resentment can lead to both mental and physical healing. The message is that forgiveness is a path to overall well-being.

💡Practical Suggestions for Forgiveness

The video offers ten practical suggestions on how to develop a forgiving spirit, referred to as the 'ten fingers of the hands that forgive.' These suggestions include praying to prevent hurt from taking root, unburdening oneself by sharing with a spiritual elder, forgiving before being asked, and forgiving daily as a routine practice. These tips provide actionable steps for those seeking to grow in forgiveness.

💡Historical Examples of Forgiveness

The video uses several historical and religious examples, such as Mahatma Gandhi, Pope John Paul, and Jesus Christ, to illustrate the power and significance of forgiveness. These stories show how these figures chose love and forgiveness over hatred, even in extreme situations, thus serving as models for the audience.

💡Love for the Wrongdoer

Going beyond forgiveness, the speaker suggests that true spiritual growth involves loving the wrongdoer and bringing them back into one’s life. This advanced stage of forgiveness is portrayed as the ultimate expression of compassion and divine love, requiring one to move past the hurt and actively seek reconciliation.

Highlights

The conflict within us between love and hate, and the struggle to forgive.

Love seeks to forgive, while hate seeks retribution and an eye for an eye.

The story of a man with a burning desire for revenge for the death of his father.

Mahatma Gandhi's philosophy of forgiveness and its transformative power.

Pope John Paul I's act of forgiveness towards his would-be assassin.

The importance of growing in the spirit of forgiveness to overcome ego.

Jesus' teachings on forgiveness and his crucifixion prayer for his tormentors.

Sadhu Vaswani's example of unconditional forgiveness and generosity.

The healing power of forgiveness for both the forgiver and the forgiven.

Practical suggestions on how to cultivate forgiveness as the '10 fingers of forgiveness'.

The first practical suggestion: Offering a prayer to prevent hurt from festering in the heart.

The second suggestion: Unburdening oneself by speaking to a spiritual elder or writing a letter.

Forgiving oneself as well as others to alleviate guilt and self-blame.

Understanding the harm of holding grudges and resentment within.

The nightly practice of uttering forgiveness for those who have wronged you.

The importance of forgiving daily and consistently for ongoing peace of mind.

Forgiving even before it is asked, as taught by Jesus, for personal peace.

The concept of forgiving and forgetting as a complete release of past hurts.

The story illustrating the difference between forgiving and being historic about past grievances.

Practical advice on speaking kindly and helping those you hold grudges against.

The final suggestion: Loving the wrongdoer and bringing them back into your life.

The necessity of divine grace in achieving true forgiveness.

Transcripts

my

friends to give is

human but to forgive is

divine to give is human but to forgive

is

divine there is this

conflict within us the conflict between

love and

hate love seeks to

forgive hate seeks

seeks to make even to return evil for

evil there is this conflict within us

has someone wronged

you has someone offended

you has someone spoken ill of you has

someone cheated you has someone

exploited you has someone spread

scandals against you has someone wronged

you has someone betrayed your trust

there is the

struggle love on the one

hand hatred on the other love seeks to

forgive but hatred says

no I shall see this man love hatred

believes in taking an eye for an eye in

giving a blow for a blow

and if in the

struggle love wins love triumphs love

has the upper hand then we easily

forgive but if hatred

triumphs then that

hurt enters into the heart within and

keeps on burning there like a

fire I remember how several years ago a

man met

me his face was dark as charcoal as he

said those words he said to me there is

a fire burning within me and the Flames

of that fire will not be

quenched until I have shot the

man who is indirectly responsible for

the death of my father there you have it

hatred is a fire it keeps on burning

within you it burns away all your peace

and happiness

on the other hand I think of Mahatma

Gandhi a man tried to kill

him in

198 when Mahatma Gandhi was in South

Africa Mahatma Gandhi said to his

friends this man did not know what he

was

doing I will love him and win his love a

year

later this very man who had to kill

Mahatma Gandhi wrote a letter offering

his apologies and

admiration this is the magic of

forgiveness there is a similar incident

told

us in the life of Pope John

Paul I believe it was in the year

1984 that a man named Muhammad

Ali five fired a shot at his heart a

bullet at the heart of Pope John

Paul the man was

caught he was

sent to the Rabia prison in Rome and do

you know what the pope did the Pope and

went and visited this man in

prison the pope held his hand in his and

forgave

him my

friends we have not tried for

forgiveness because we are under the

influence of the ego we are dominated by

the ego and the ego wants an eye for an

eye a truth for a

tooth we must all grow in the spirit of

forgiveness I know it is something very

difficult to

do

because again and again we are tempted

to strike back again and again we are

tempted to return evil for

evil but all the great ones of

humanity all the great ones without

exception all the great ones who have

blessed Humanity age after

age have been men and women of

forgiveness I think of Jesus

he harmed no one he hurt no one he

became a fak for the sake of the

people he became a

heed according to a saying which is not

given in the gospels which is not given

in the

Bible he said nothing in the morning

have I and nothing do I have at night

yet there is none on Earth richer than I

he became a fak a man of no

possessions then you

know how they capture him they conspire

to capture him at night and at dead of

night they hold a mock

trial they sentence him to be

crucified they hang him on the cross

nails are struck into his hands into his

throat into his

feet blood oozes out of the wounds

but what does Jesus do Jesus looks at

his

capitals looks at all the people who

have crucified him and he offers a

prayer which today has become immortal

father forgive them for they know not

what they

do my friends there was an editor of a

paper who had been

bribed to write untrue things concerning

sadu wasani and the noble work that he

had

started they took this newspaper and

distributed it free among the

people they dropped copies of this

newspaper in every

house in certain areas of the

Town sadu wasani was

unperturbed sometime

later the wife of this editor contracted

TB tuberculosis

and he had no money for the treatment of

his wife when sadu Swani learned of

it he handed to him a bundle of notes

and said

brother here is money for the treatment

of your wife if you need more do let me

know such a man was sadu aswani he held

no grudge in his heart against anyone

his heart was a fountain of forgiveness

the

editor his eyes were touched with

tears he fell at the feet of sadu Swani

and said forgive me forgive me forgive

me oh man of

God and sadu Swani said to him forgive

you for

what you are

rtings have drawn the attention of the

people to the humble little work that is

being done here I feel grateful to you

the

editor became an ENT

devote and continued to come to the

satsung till the end of his life this is

the magic of

forgiveness my

friends my time has traveled

fast in the time that is yet left to

us let me tell you some practical

suggestions

on how to walk the way of forgiveness on

how to grow in the spirit of

forgiveness if I have the time I would

wish to pass on to you 10 practical

suggestions I love to call them the 10

fingers of the hands that forgive the 10

fingers of the hands that

forgive the very first practical

suggestion the very first finger of

forgiveness what is

it as soon as you find someone has hurt

you immediately offer a

prayer God help me so that this hurt

does not enter into my heart and there

becomes a festering wound that's what

happens to H it comes as a feeling a

feeling of hurt but if you let it remain

with you it enters your heart

and there it becomes a festering wound

it becomes like a wound which it becomes

very difficult to

heal therefore immediately offer a

prayer God help me so that this hurt

does not enter into my heart and become

a festering

wound this is the very first practical

suggestion you can push out

hatred you can push out the hurt when it

comes to you as a

feeling once you let it in the hurt

becomes the master and it will keep on

pricking you it will keep on pricking

you you every one of you must have had

that experience it's nothing new that

I'm telling you it keeps on pricking

pricking all the time as long as memory

lasts then practical suggestion number

two if the hurt has entered the heart

and has started pricking you again and

again you are unable to forget that hurt

it keeps on coming to you again and

again then what should you

do then either unburden

yourself go to a spiritual Elder and

open out your heart to him tell him

everything that is in the heart of he

will understand because he has passed

through this stage himself he will

understand he will never misunderstand

you go to a

spiritual Elder and unburden yourself

completely or if you cannot do it

spiritual Elders today are very

difficult to obtain it's not

easy if you cannot do it then write a

letter to the person and as you write

the letter open out your heart

completely pour all the Venom into that

letter let the letter be full of as many

harsh words as possible let the letter

be very very hard write a letter to that

man and after you have written the

letter tear it into

pieces and as long as you hold the

pieces in your hands keep on praying to

the Lord so that God's benedictions May

flow into the life of the wrong

wrongdoer the idea is to unburden

yourself when you write when you written

it has come out of the heart that which

went into the heart comes out of the

heart and it becomes easy to

forgive practical suggestion number

three forgive

others but also forgive

yourself we find it easy to forgive

others so many of us but we cannot

forgive

ourselves each one of us carries a load

of guilt on our minds on our

hearts guilt feelings there is not a man

present here there is not a man in the

whole world who has not done some wrong

or the other in the past near or remote

I often tell my friends that if ever

there is a man who has never done a

wrong you will find that as he walks the

Earth his feet will be 6 in above the

ground have you ever seen a man walking

six in above the ground

no every man has done some wrong or the

other what should we

do we should try to make amends if we

can we should repent before the Lord and

ask for wisdom and strength never to

repeat that action in the future and

then forget about

it we must learn to forgive our

eles this is practical suggestion number

three forgive others but also forgive

yourself then practical suggestion

number

four realize once and for

all that guilt feelings or

resentment if we carry them in the heart

within they do harm to us they do harm

to

us I may hold resentment against some of

you in the heart within I may not harm

you at all but I'm harming

myself there

are people who suffer from diseases just

because they hold grudges in their heart

against

people there was a

woman she had Rheumatic pain in the knee

joints she consulted a number of doctors

they would give her PES but they would

work only for

a the pains would return and the pains

went on increasing until one day she met

a holy man and described her condition

to him and the holy man asked her Point

Blank do you hold a grudge against

anyone in the heart

within she didn't want to answer at

first after hesitating she said

yes I hold a grudge against my own

sister who behaved very horribly towards

me and I'm unable to forgive her the

holy man said to her so long as you are

unable to forgive so long will these

pains be your constant

companions you must learn to forgive

practical suggestion number

five every night before you

retire think of all the persons who have

wronged you who have cheated you who

have exploited you who have taken

advantage of you think of

them and actually utter their

names Mr X Mrs y Miss Z I forgive you I

forgive you I forgive you so help me God

do

it do

it and you will find that you will have

sound sleep at night you will find that

your mind will be cleansed it will be

uncluttered we keep on cluttering our

minds and yet we want peace how can we

have

peace we do not merely want peace for

our ourselves we want peace for the

whole world how can there be peace for

the world when there is no peace in the

heart

within beloved sadani said how can there

be peace in the world when our when

men's hearts are a

volcano our hearts are sething with

selfishness with hatred with greed with

all sorts of negative thoughts how can

there be peace in the

world practical

suggestion number six this we must do

night after night we must not rest

content with forgiving once or twice

orri we must do it every day every night

as we retire if there are any people who

have wronged us we should forgive

them practical suggestion

practical suggestion number

seven forgive even before forgiveness is

asked forgive before forgiveness is

asked don't wait for a person to ask for

forgiveness you forgive him your mind

will be at peace you will be doing good

to yourself otherwise your mind will

keep on seething with all those things

with all those memories memories of

hurts it was Jesus who

said to his disciples if a man strike

you on the right cheek right cheek offer

to him the left

also if a man compels you to walk with

him for a m go with him the second M

also this teaching this advice this

Council has great therapeutic

value people who follow this advice will

remain

healthy otherwise we are likely to fall

sick it has a great therapeutic

value practical

suggestion practical suggestion number

eight forgive and

forget number eight forgive and forget

it'll be easy for you to remember number

eight forget

forgive and

forget somebody said that if a person

says that he can forgive but he cannot

forget it is like saying that he will

not forgive at

all when you forgive you

forgotten forgiveness is like a

cancelled note Tor into two burnt in the

fire so that it never comes up again

completely finished

there were two friends very old friends

they met together after several

years they met one evening they said

we'll have dinner together so at dinner

they kept on speaking of their early

days student days and after that when

they were together they did not know

time passed one of them suddenly found

that it was 3:00 in the

morning he said we must hurry

home both of them hurried home they met

the next day and one asked the

other did your wife understand you when

you returned after 3:00 in the

morning he said of course yes I

explained to the wife and she

understood and everything is all right

how did your wife react and this man

said my

wife she became

historic the man said historic or

hysteric he said no she became historic

when I returned after 3:00 in the

morning she brought up all the things

that had been done during the 30 years

of our marri life you don't have to be

historic you don't have to be hyic you

have to

understand there was a man he was on his

death bed and he

remembered that he held a grudge in his

heart against someone who had not played

fair with him so he said before before I

die let me make up with the man it's not

right to carry a grudge to the heaven

world so he sent for that man and told

him come I will give you a hug let us

forget whatever has happened the other

man felt very happy because in the

bargain he had robbed him of some um

million dollars or something so he felt

very happy but as this man was about to

leave the man who was on his death bed

called him and told him

that this will apply only if I die if I

live I do not want to see your face

again you must forgive and

forget practical suggestion number

number nine if you hold a grudge against

anyone you should be careful to see that

you speak very kindly concerning him and

as often as

possible go out of your way to help him

go out of your way to serve

him George Washington and Peter

Miller they were schoolmates they

studied together in the school and were

great friends George Washington became

the president of the United States Peter

Miller became a

preacher in his Parish there was one

man Michael Witman

he

persecuted Peter Miller every day he

troubled

him he did all sorts of things to bring

him

down Peter

Miller was

told that Michael

Witman had been involved in a treason

charge and had been sentenced to

death and this

preacher of the word of God he walks 70

miles all the way from his Parish to

Philadelphia where Washington

stayed he walked all those 70 miles and

came and pleaded for Michael

Witman but Washington said to him this

cannot be

done this man has a very black

case I cannot give you the life of your

friend forgive

me and Peter Miller exclaimed

friend he is not my friend he's the

bitterest enemy that anyone ever had and

he described to him all the persecutions

that he had suffered at his hands during

the last 20 years then George Washington

said he's your enemy that puts a new

aspect on the matter because when you

plead for your friend that is human when

you plead for an enemy that is super

human that is divine there must be the

hand of God in it how can I say no to

God I freely pardon

this you must go out of your way to help

to

serve and practical suggestion number 10

the last practical

suggestion you must go a step

further you must love the

wrongdoer you must bring him back into

your life you must love

him I will not keep you longer my

friends these 10 practical suggestions

Let Us carry them in the heart within

and may the Lord bless us we must beg

his it is his grace that will take us to

forgiveness nothing else Om Shanti

Shanti shant