If we live by the conviction an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth we would live in world of blind and toothless people ~ Mahatma Gandhi

Forgiving - The key to inner peace
Many great teachers have said that forgivin is the key to a good physical and emotional health. Cause how can you be happy and healthy when you're stuck in a situation of angriness and criticism?
When you blame someone you become a victim, and victims can't be physical or emotionally healthy. Feelings of bitterness can literally destroy cells in your body. When you learn to forgive you'll give yourself the greatest gift: Peace and joy. When you forgive someone it doesn't mean you approve their behaviour, but you'll free yourself.


For people that believe in the philosophy of an eye for an eye it's hard to forgive. Sometimes people can't forgive because they can't let go being abused. For someone who has been abused it's hard to let go the emotional pain, they're attached and got used to the pain. However emotional pain can not exist in a state of joy. The more we choose to forgive the more our relationships will improve.

I disagree.

I believe that people should be held accountable for their actions or the lack of. I do forgive people, way too often to the point where things become increasingly ridiculous that you would forgive the same person over and over again. Therfore, regardless of whether it is the first time or the hundredth, I choose to enforce that philosophy when I believe it's right. It is not that I cannot forgive whatever has been done (or not done), but it is because I choose to deal out what is given.

It's your choice to believe in this philosophy. I cannot judge you by that nor change your vision. I believe it's not my task to judge or to have revenge of any sort. I forgive in order to receive. If i do not forgive, the negative feelings will stay and destroy me. I choose to forgive because i only want positive thoughts and feelings in my system. I have forgiven very much, even sexual abuse, simply because i know that the one who has done such things will suffer more than me. For both parties there's a lesson that must be learned by the soul.

Debiorah,

You're too sweet of a person. ^-^ Sadly, the world isn't like you and there aren't many who are as kind and forgiving as you. We each just try to live and do the best we can at it. I don't care for vengeance or revenge...I just believe that people don't have free reign on whatever they please. There has to be some reaction to their actions...

Besides--vengeance and revenge is only for those who have been hurt and they're attacking those who have hurt them in some way, shape, or form. I'm talking about everyone, not only those who have hurt me. I know that doesn't help things, but it helps to clarify that it's not revenge or vengeance.

Many people misunderstand these words. It was a law invented by Moses, when the people travelled out of Egypt in to the desert. Moses was their leader, and as such he was compelled to judge people who argued or fought with each other. This law was made to make clear that people who were abused had the right to revenge, but only with the same abuse. This prevented minor incidents to become big wars. An eye for an eye means something like: if your neighbour speaks bad of you, you are allowed to speak bad things about him too, but you are certainly not allowed to knock him down.... Because of this law the people succeeded to travel through the desert without hurting each other too much. They were stateless, and had to invent their own way of law and order. The ten commandments are also a result of this proces. A sort of mini-law, given by God, to survive the stateless period. They are so elementary that even up to today people live up to these rules, or at least try to.

If you know what these words really mean (they are often used to justify the very thing they tried to prevent), they are in fact very wise, and given the situation certainly effective....