In some cases it may be argued by some that a need for Vengeance is a righteous and necessary step, such as when we and our loved ones are attacked for no justifiable reason. Thus otherwise sensible and good people, when hurt in someway determine to be avenged. In some scenarios this degree of anger directed at others is inevitable and inescapable as we get caught up in the emotions that are created by the situation. Escaping the feelings we have is like trying to remain calm in front of an oncoming tornado.
Although we need to act sometimes clearly and firmly to protect ourselves and our loved ones from those with negative intent, acting out of anger and hatred only adds to the negativity. It creates a negative outcome for the object of our hatred and also creates pain and suffering for us in the future, since our Intent to harm or destroy the object of our hatred in some way whether physically or emotionally, creates serious negative karma. This we will experience in the future, perhaps in this lifetime or in another.
Which brings me to the point of the actual harm or offense that has been performed by others upon us. This is a difficult thing to accept, but the harm we experience from others, we have attracted ourselves by our own past actions of thought, emotion, word and deed. We are responsible for everything that happens to us, whether good or bad. Thus blaming some object or person for what has happened to you is a mistaken view. It is we who create the effect of our own experience. From this point of view the saying "there are no victims" is accurate.
By blaming others and wishing them ill or seeking to hurt we create a negative karmic link with that person, and this link can last for many lifetimes. In other words in lifetime after lifetime we will have to deal with our enemies in one way or another. A great example of this is two people who were great enemies in one lifetime, actually become man and wife in another lifetime. They are in love at first, but then their love turns to hatred which devours both of them. They are bound by feelings of animosity which cause them to meet lifetime after lifetime...until they forgive and release each other from this toxic chain.
Hence the wisdom of forgiveness. To forgive and send those who have wronged us Love is to release both them and us from a negative karmic cycle (They wrong us, we take vengeance, they take vengeance, we take vengeance and so on.) that can cause much suffering. Killing your enemy in no way puts an end to the problem. Instead it creates vast suffering and pain for the future. Our world is in many ways a reflection of this ignorance.
From the overflowing heart of Unconditional Love comes the wisdom that we are all One, What we do to another we do to ourselves. We learn to treat others as we ourselves would like to be treated. This is a very important lesson. From the point of Love we can send forgiveness, forgiveness, forgiveness to those who have wronged us, and to whom we have wronged and release them to their own happiness and peace. In the end they too will learn this lesson.
The meditation: I send Forgiveness to all who have wronged me and I release them to the Universe.
Comments
It is sometimes difficult to get past what others have done to you, especially if they have caused you emotional or physical pain (this has definitely happened to me) but forgiving someone, if emotionally possible does a great deal to heal the damage within yourself and around the world.
I believe that we do have the power to forgive people for what they have done and forgive ourselves as well.
We just need to look inside and learn from the experience and embrace our inner strength ~ :-)