Forgiveness
​Forgiveness is the act of letting go of resentment, anger, and thoughts of revenge towards someone who has wronged or hurt you.
Buddha and the Angry Man
One day, as Buddha was teaching his disciples, a man approached him, shouting insults. He called Buddha names and tried to provoke him. Buddha remained calm and continued teaching as if the man wasn’t there.
The man became even angrier and shouted louder. Finally, Buddha turned to him and said, “If someone gives you a gift and you refuse to accept it, who does the gift belong to?”
The man, confused, replied, “It belongs to the one who offered it.”
Buddha smiled and said, “Exactly. In the same way, I do not accept your anger and insults. They remain with you.”
The man was taken aback. He realized that his anger was futile. Ashamed, he apologized to Buddha, who forgave him without hesitation.
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MORAL OF THE STORY
Forgiveness starts with not absorbing negativity: When you let go of anger, you free yourself.
Forgiveness transforms conflict: By refusing to retaliate, Buddha helped the man realize his mistake.
The King and the Two Sons
A wise king had two sons who quarreled constantly. One day, their fight escalated, and the younger son struck the elder brother in anger. Furious, the elder son stormed into the king’s chamber and demanded justice.
The king listened patiently and said, “I will grant your wish for justice. But first, let me ask you: if someone sets your house on fire, what do you do?”
The elder son replied, “I would put out the fire immediately.”
The king smiled and said, “Then why are you fanning the flames of anger between you and your brother? Forgiveness is the water that extinguishes the fire. Justice may satisfy your pride, but forgiveness will bring you peace.”
The elder son understood his father’s wisdom and forgave his brother, ending their feud.
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MORAL OF THE STORY
Forgiveness heals relationships: Holding onto anger only prolongs conflict.
Letting go brings peace: Forgiveness extinguishes the flames of resentment.
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The Monk and the Thief
In a small monastery, a thief broke in one night to steal valuables. A monk caught him in the act but did not raise an alarm. Instead, the monk gently said, “Take what you need, but please leave the rest for others.”
The thief, shocked by the monk’s kindness, hesitated but took a small item and left. The next day, the thief was caught by villagers for another theft. They brought him to the monastery for judgment, expecting the monk to condemn him.
The monk said, “This man is not a thief. I gave him the item willingly. He took nothing that wasn’t freely offered.”
The villagers were confused but let the thief go. The thief, deeply moved by the monk’s compassion and forgiveness, returned to the monastery later. He asked the monk, “Why didn’t you expose me? Why did you forgive me?”
The monk replied, “Everyone makes mistakes, but not everyone gets a chance to change. I wanted to give you that chance.”
The thief changed his ways and became one of the monk’s most devoted followers.
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MORAL OF THE STORY
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Forgiveness inspires transformation: Compassion can change people more effectively than punishment.
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Everyone deserves a second chance: True forgiveness includes giving others an opportunity to grow.
The King and His Enemy
A wise king once captured an enemy who had tried to overthrow his kingdom. Instead of sentencing the man to death, the king invited him to a grand feast. The enemy was confused but attended the feast, where he was treated with kindness and respect.
Afterward, the king released him, saying, “I forgive you. Hatred only breeds more hatred. Let us be friends instead.”
The enemy was deeply moved. He fell at the king’s feet and said, “You have killed my hatred with your kindness. From this day forward, I will serve you loyally.”
The king’s act of forgiveness not only ended the feud but also turned an enemy into a lifelong ally.
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MORAL OF THE STORY
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Forgiveness ends cycles of hatred: Kindness can dissolve hostility and create harmony.
Strength lies in compassion: True power is shown through mercy, not vengeance.
The Mother and the Murderer
In a small village, a man had committed a terrible crime—he had killed a woman’s only son during a robbery. The villagers caught him and brought him to the grieving mother, demanding that she decide his punishment.
The mother, heartbroken but calm, said, “I will not demand vengeance. If I punish him, I will not bring my son back. Instead, I forgive him.”
The villagers were shocked. “How can you forgive him after what he has done?” they asked.
The mother replied, “Holding onto anger will only prolong my pain. Forgiving him is not for his sake but for my own peace.”
The man, overwhelmed by the mother’s forgiveness, fell to his knees and promised to spend the rest of his life making amends. He became a kind and helpful member of the community, inspired by the mother’s compassion.
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​MORAL OF THE STORY
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Forgiveness is for your peace: Letting go of anger heals your heart.
Compassion has the power to redeem: Forgiveness can inspire people to change for the better.
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