Forgiveness Is Freedom- Story

Zen stories are amazing.

They are full of wisdom and we can actually identify with them.

These short stories with deep meaning help to clear the cloudy mind.

Here I would like to share a beautiful zen story about forgiveness.

Once there was a sage who asked his disciples to carve out names of the people they cannot forgive on potatoes.

One potato for each name.

Then the disciples were asked to put all their potatoes in a sack and carry it with them at all times for one week.

The longer time went by the heavier the potatoes seemed to have become.

To make the matter worse those carved potatoes also started to rot and smell terrible.

It was such an unpleasant experience for the disciples.

At the end of the week the master asked,

So what did you learn?

But once the disciples told the master that they now realized that holding on to crutches only brought negative things to them.

They should strive their best to forgive everyone who used to cross them and made them angry.

The master further explained,

The negative feelings are the potatoes and the sack is the inflated sense of self-importance that allows one to hold on to negativities.

And that is the lesson of the story.

Once we learn how to let go of the sack whatever people say or do against us would no longer matter.

We need to get rid of the sack or self altogether not just the potatoes or negative feelings.

It has been scientifically proven that people who were hurt,

Mistreated or deceived often react by filling themselves with hatred and resentment for those who hurt them.

This hurt causes wound in their subconscious mind.

Eventually these mental wounds manifest in the form of blockages in various areas of our life.

To heal a wound you have to stop touching it and forgiveness is the only remedy to get rid of these hurts and wounds.

I really love this Zen quote,

Forgiveness doesn't excuse their behavior it prevents their behavior from destroying our heart.

Love,

Light,

Peace and Power to you.

Thank you.