Write an essay on how individuals learn to forgive themselves. Do some research into this topic. Then write about how one might apply these concepts of forgiveness to social and political disagreements and confrontations."
Life is nothing less than a journey along an unknown path. A person can never know what lies ahead in the path of life. An individual grows up so that he or she can live happily in accordance with the society and state. A person learns to live in the domain of the society that has many institutions like politics and community. Every experience of life brings some amount of transformation in the individual. Many a time, a person might indulge in some sort of action that might not be at par with the propriety of morals and conscience of the person. The question is whether an individual would forgive oneself for the wrong that he or she might have committed. Forgiveness is one of the greatest human attributes that needs a good heart, morality, and comprehension of the world order.
Literature can be a good tutor that teacher a person the importance of forgiveness. People need to learn how they can move on after some impediment, confrontation or disagreement with someone else in the society. Charlotte Perkins Gilman is one of the greatest examples in this respect. She penned the stirring literary work, The Yellow Wallpaper that goes on to delve deep into the repercussions of her mind on being treated by a specialist. The short story penned by the author portrays the prejudice regarding the mental illness of women in the contemporary times of the nineteenth century.
She was recommended ‘rest cure’ by the specialist that needed her to lie down on the bed without doing anything, while she was supposed to indulge in intellectual activities for only a couple of hours in a day. Instead of having a calming effect on her mind, this prescribed remedy went on to worsen her situation greatly. She was pushed to the point of madness as she continued the procedure. She goes on to write, “I always fancy I see people walking in these numerous paths and arbors, but John has cautioned me not to give way to fancy in the least.” (Gilman)
However, she did not blame the specialist who was responsible for her mental pain. She rather chose to write to the person expressing her impediment due to the suggested treatment procedure of rest cure. At this, the specialist revised her ways of treatment. Thus, the author showed how she had forgiven the physician, in spite of going through so much pain. Her story is quite an inspiration for one and all, so they others also can refrain from nursing negative feelings, and forgive people for the mistakes that might be committed.
Judith Ortiz Cofer is another famous poet who delves deep into the human psyche in her literary works. The Other is one of her most famous poems that goes on to explore the intricacies of the human mind. The poem makes one ponder about the darkest emotions of the mind that get repressed or forgotten in the drudgeries of daily life.
The poet goes on to talk about the other side of the personality of the speaker in the poem. The poet writes, “She is by my side / in front of the mirror as I slip / into my tailored skirt and she / into her red cotton dress.” (Cofer) The other side in context is very much different from how the lady speaker portrays herself in front of the society. However, she never blames herself for having the other side that might not be in compliance with the society and its ways. She talks of the “small distance that separates” them. She forgives herself for being different.
Mahatma Gandhi, the great leader and visionary who paved the way for the independence of India, in his writing, The Doctrine of the Sword, goes on to talk about the importance of forgiveness in human life. Gandhi goes on to write in this piece, “But I believe that non-violence is infinitely superior to violence, forgiveness is more manly than punishment.” (Gandhi)
Gandhi describes how forgiving a person needs a lot of strength of the mind on the part of an individual. He denounces violence, and urges upon people all over to abide by the path of non-violence. He spreads the message of kindness of heart, and opines that forgiving others would bring more positivity in one’s life. Mahatma Gandhi preaches the fact that forgiveness makes a person stronger than ever. People should not be vengeful at all, and they should not nurse grudges. Thus, the iconic figure in the history of human civilization went on to make people understand the importance of forgiveness.
Another very contextual work of literature that delves deep into the importance of forgiveness is The Heart of the Revolution penned by the famous author Noah Levine. This book can be deemed as the voice that represents the future generation of American Buddhism. The author goes on to invite the avid readers on an interesting journey to find the loving heart that transcends everything in the mortal world.
Levine is a well-known Buddhist teacher himself. He, however, goes on to doubt if he could ever release the anger that lies deep within his self. “There is hope for external transformation only if the internal revolution is firmly grounded in loving-kindness.” (Levine) After many years of introspection, he comprehends the fact that compassion is the natural quality of the human heart that lies in dormancy for the individual to unravel the quality of human nature. Then, the author goes on to reveal the tools that help him to find the true Buddhist nature. Thus, the way to be free from the sufferings of human life is to embrace the emotions of compassion, kindness and forgiveness.
Gary Fincke goes on to explore the avenue of forgiveness in the lives of humans in the poem, The Magpie Evening: A Prayer. He expresses how important it is to for people to wish a life where they would be able to attain peace and the poem works as a prayer so that the children can have forgiving nature. The poet writes, “Let them have mercy on themselves. / Let my children, / Grown now, be repairing my faults with forgiveness.” (Fincke) Thus, it can be understood how important it is to be able to forgive others for their shortcomings.
Thus, one should be sensible enough to comprehend the fact that there is no meaningfulness in nursing hatred in the heart. Rather, people should be willing enough to forgive others for their mistakes. If people do not forgive others, they would themselves be bothered and the peace of their heart would be disturbed.
Instead, it is much better to find the perfect solace in life by propagating the message of kindness and forgiveness. One might face personal disagreements, while one of the persons can be wrong. But, the other person should not be angry at all. Forgiving the wrongdoer is always a more noble option for one and all.
There can be social disagreements and confrontations that bother a person. Violence or aggression cannot solve any problem in the world. People need to be very humane in nature, and they should embrace peace in all circumstances. In case of political disagreements also, there should be no room for vehement attacks or aggression. People should forgive others, and believe that there can be opposition or any sort of disagreement. Acceptance is a major step toward forgiveness. Taking things as they come is a big thing for one and all to be able to accept the occurrences and forgive others for their mistakes.
Works Cited
Cofer, Judith Ortiz. The Other.
Fincke, Gary. The Magpie Evening: A Prayer. In Project Muse. n.p., n.d. Web. 26 April 2015.
Gandhi, M.K. “The Doctrine of the Sword.” In Selected Writings of MAHATMA GANDHI.
Web. 26 April 2015.
Gilman, Charlotte Perkins. The Yellow Wallpaper.
Levine, Noah. The Heart of the Revolution: The Buddha's Radical Teachings on Forgiveness,
Compassion, and Kindness. New York: HarperOne, 2011. Print.
