A man whose daughter was fatally injured on a robbery finally meets his daughter’s perpetrator. He walked closer to the robber, patted him on the shoulder, looked at him in the eye, and said:
“I forgive you, I wish God forgive you too, and let His Love shines upon you.”
Mind you, this is based on real story of someone I know. He even handed some cash to the robber so that robber can go back home in the village, because the robber was so poor–he was robbing because he was desperate to make living.
Now I know it’s possible for men to have such a big big heart.
-- Rizal Affif, August 18, 2010
Hi Rizal,
Yes, that is fascinating . . not everyone is capable of such love in these times . . but it demonstrates real love perfectly.
One can’t always say, with certainty, what one would do under any particular set of circumstances . . can one? For example, I wouldn’t say that I would or would not act in a particular way in a similar situation as the one outlined here. I might ‘think’ I know how I would ‘react’ emotionally or ‘respond’ lovingly, but until I’m in a given situation I don’t know with absolute certainty. And one can only give what one is capable of giving in the moment . . .
Thanks for sharing :-)
-- 1Yogi2Many, August 18, 2010
At first I was about to post another draft, but then I prefer to send that draft to trash and post this one instead. Now that I’ve read your comment, it resonates well, even better, with that trashed post :D what a coincidence…
Indeed, one can never really know what one would do in a particular situation. One can only make an imaginary assumption based on past experiences, plus ideal thoughts about how things should be…
… thanks for the generous comment, Doug :D
-- Rizal Affif, August 18, 2010
The essence of being grasps a situation fully and knows immediately what is to be done. The rest happens by itself, some might say unconsciously. Even as one resonates with and responds fully to the universe, events unfold with their own awareness.
-- Liara Covert, August 18, 2010
thanks for sharing such a great story of human compassion and forgiving.
-- shinzen, August 19, 2010
@ Liara: Ah, good thing to point out; being knows immediately what is to be done in particular situation. It is a spontaneous process, a natural unfolding, instead of imagined or concept-based response. Thanks for this important addition.
Even in spontaneous manner, this man responds with noble and graceful act. That is why he must have a big heart :)
@ Shinzen: In gassho _/|\_
-- Rizal Affif, August 19, 2010
Liara makes an insightful and valid point :-)
One thing I would add here, if I may, is that although it is true that the essence of being grasps a situation fully and knows immediately what is to be done . . .
. . .it has to be said that not all wo/men are one with their essence, ha, ha . . and therefore would be under the control of their ‘Conditioned Personality’, which reacts emotionally.
In your story Rizal, the man did not ‘react’, he ‘responded’ from the essence of his being; as love itself. Wonderful :-)
-- 1Yogi2Many, August 20, 2010
Respond: