|
Forgiveness For World Peace |
|||
| Being bitter is a sign of emotional failure; for being authentically successful, we need to learn to forgive. | |||
In March this year, Priyanka Vadra, daughter of the youngest Prime Minister of India, Rajiv Gandhi, stunned the entire nation by the news of her private visit to the special women cell at Vellore Jail to meet Nalini Sridharan. Nalini is undergoing a life-term as one of the involved in the assassination of Priyanka’s father on May 21, 1991. In the words of this brave daughter, “it was my way of coming to peace with the violence & loss that I have experienced….” Before many years, Gladys Stein, the widow of Graham Steins, a Christian father working charitably for local community who was murdered brutally, offered her forgiveness to the murderer of her husband publicly. Mahatma Gandhi promptly forgave the man who attacked on him with lethal motives. This kind of demonstration of courage and the power of forgiveness that paves way to world peace is seen rarely. While it is inspiring, it is important to know what is forgiveness and its importance in our lives too. Hypothetically, many would promptly agree that “an eye for an eye” would make the whole world blind. But how many would ponder and realize on how difficult and complex the act of forgiveness is. Most of the people consider forgiveness as something to be given to the |
other, not knowing that forgiveness is something one does in one’s heart to be at peace with oneself. It’s when one refuses to allow past clouding our present, when we refuse to keep on feeling negative-be it anger or unhappiness of any kind- that we need to forgive. In one of the African tribes, there is a tradition that when someone kills somebody, (s)he is given death penalty by the council of that community. A day is decided when the whole village gathers on the sea shore, the victim’s whole family is present there, and the offender is to be hurled in to the ocean, hands and legs securely chained, so (s)he cant save himself/herself by swimming out of the ocean. This is death penalty by drowning the offender. But they have a very interesting ritual or rule in this process- only victim’s family has the authority and liberty to save the accused. So while the person is getting drowned, helplessly, the victim’s family has the choice-either allow the offender to drown and die OR save him. It’s said that if victim’s family
|
save the offender, their grief is over on that day and they find peace. If they allow offender to die, their mourning continues for lifetime. This is the power of forgiveness. We all mess up our relationship sometime in the process of growing. Many times, before we become aware and mature, we take lot of actions that hurt our beloved ones. This is a common happening in our lives. What is uncommon is our ability to be free from bitterness and unhappiness because of past. No formal education or degrees or “success” can guarantee a person this inner ability to forgive in its true sense. I feel sad when I see people carrying the burden of the past that doesn’t even exist today. People change but our prejudices remain. What a futile life it is that can not learn, unlearn and learn continuously We respect all the people who make such civilized choices. It reflects how spiritual these people are- may their tribe increase on our planet. The point to ponder is- is World Peace possible until and unless two individuals, two communities, two countries learn to forgive? Godspeed to World Peace!
|
|
|
| |||
 |
|||
Sanjiv Shah
| Sheeba Nair - An ocean of love overflowing at Oasis! | |
Sheeba Nair- upon hearing these mere words, hundreds of people would smile fondly, their heart full of love and gratitude. Professionals, businesspersons, CEOs, teachers, villagers, women, senior citizens, youths alike- Sheeba’s love overflows for all and the magic of her teachings are experienced by them all. Oasis records are overflowing with praise for Sheeba as a workshop facilitator, so much so that it is an arduous job today to compile what people have said about her or to justify the diverse, genuine, strong feelings she invokes in people. In last five years, Sheeba has done what many would envy- teaching love and life to hundreds; single-handedly achieving a feat of establishing a strong foundation of movement Oasis has been aspiring to build all these years. She is one-woman army! What does one say about her personhood- an emblem of oozing positive energy, an unflinching loyalty and dedication, a balance of innocence and intelligence personified, she is unimaginably a giving-oriented person. Much can be written on her simplicity, humbleness and sincerity. As it is with all successful leaders, she has been a tremendously inspiring disciple at heart to learn beautiful aspects of life. What Sheeba does today for the mankind is as impressive as her journey has been so far.
|
She joined Oasis 16 years back when she was a student- raw, ignorant but intelligent and passionate to learn, love and grow. She was not the only one carrying such potentials but she has demonstrated what it requires to be authentically successful over a period of time. The organization saw many ups and downs but she didn’t even think of deserting. She did umpteen experiments and much trial & error before she found her mission, but she never regretted or complained about anything- the result being, she is a whole person today-not fragmented within-, a culmination of all her life-experiences. She herself went through much emotional turmoil that an Indian woman has to undergo to follow her heart- but she never gave up. While she is so soft at heart, when time comes, she can display an iron-like determination. Even though thoroughly sensitive, she has the gift of forgiveness- an amazing ability to overcome bitter experiences of life and keep oneself happy and content. All of us undergo the sweet and sour experiences of life, but only those who have the gratitude in their hearts can see the grace in everything that happens to us. Sheeba Nair is Proprietor of “Oasis- a university of Love, Life and Friendship for Youth ” and Managing Trustee of O.A.S.I.S. - a charitable organization since 1999. However, true to her spirit, first and foremost, she is a friend to many. She is a symbol of friendship that supports you in your thick and thin- and what is friendship if it lets you down when you need it the most. Similarly, if your life is what you give, then she is one of the richer people on this planet. Being such a magnetic person, she attracts all good things of this world towards her- a secret many fail to understand and inculcate is a natural gift to Sheeba. When Swami Vivekanand had said that he required just 100 dedicated youths to bring revolution to his beloved country, he must have meant that creating a revolution- a positive transformation- requires not a crowd, but a handful of persons who have great character. He must have meant a youth like Sheeba for sure- for Sheeba contributes so hugely today what dozens of people put together would not be able to. She is indeed, God’s gift to this planet through an aspiring movement like Oasis. |
|
|
|
|
|
| Editor's Note |
|
It is 1st of the month again and we are happy to bring to you a issue full of inspiration, enthusiasm and valuable insights. How nice it would be to know that Peace which we desire so passionately is in our own hands! In this issue, we have Right Angle on 'Forgiveness for World Peace'. It is a co- incidence that Right Angle is on theme of Forgiveness and That’s Oasis - features Sheeba Nair, as Sheeba's life is emblem of Love and Forgiveness! She has also been awarded 'Sadguru Gnanananda National Award' for excellence in Social Service by women in 2002. Your responses and inputs are eagerly awaited. - Team Alive
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Alive Archives | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Forpast issues of ALIVE please click on the link:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Poonam Golani 
|
You
receive this newsletter because you may have registered your name
with us. |
|
© Copy Right by Oasis Self
Leadership Education for Community Development, Vadodara, Gujarat,
India. |