1. Purity and Kshama

Swami says: Kshama is acquired by practising four kinds of Soucham or purity.

Swami advises that purity is to be maintained in four areas. Three of these are: materials, words and body or action.

What do you think would be the fourth?

2. The Concept of Kshama

Swami says:

When you are confronted with problems and difficulties you should not get upset, and become victims of depression, which is a sign of weakness. In such a situation, you should bring tolerance and an attitude of forgiveness into play and should not get agitated giving rise to anger, hatred and revengeful attitude.

You are embodiments of strength and not weakness. Therefore, in times of despair, you should be filled with the feeling of forbearance and be ready to forgive and forget. This quality of kshama is the greatest power for a human being. If one loses this quality, he becomes demonic.

Which virtues do you think Kshama or Forbearance represents?

3. Kshama is the highest

Swami asks: When will you start moving ahead? Go forward, trampling over difficulties. To reach great heights, you must have courage. And how does one become courageous? When the heart is full of kshama, the spirit of courage will automatically make its appearance. Vibhishana provides the classic example. It was through kshama that he acquired the courage to defy Ravana and cross over to the side of Rama.

Swami then narrates an anecdote:

One day during the Lanka War, there appeared a young man on the battlefield. Vibhishana drew the attention of Rama to this warrior saying, “Rama, this person is mighty, powerful, and valorous. He is stronger than most, and You must slay him without fail.” In response, Rama despatched an arrow felling the Rakshasa warrior; the young man was dead. Vibhishana then went near the dead body and began weeping profusely. Rama gently lifted Vibhishana and said, “What is all this? Why are you crying over this man?” Vibhishana replied, “This is Neeludu, my only son. I urged You then to kill him since he was with the enemies but now, my emotion as a father is overwhelming me. I am unable to bear the sight of the death of my dear son right before my eyes.

So, please grant me the power of patience and forbearance so that I can rise above such tragedies.” Notice how unique is Vibhishana’s prayer. He said to Rama, “Kshama is my sathya and dharma.” He then went on to say that Kshama meant more to him than even Sathya and Dharma.

What do you think he said Kshama was to him?

4. Sadhana and Kshama

Swami says: For aspirants in the spiritual path, kshama is indispensable.

In life, your capacity for forbearance would be constantly put to test, and you must therefore be very careful.

How do you think we should prepare for these tests?

We should be ____________.

5. Dharma and Kshama

Swami narrates an incident about Draupadi to explain the virtue of Kshama: She was the embodiment of many virtues. The quality of forbearance (kshama) that she had was unparalleled.

It was a heart-breaking sight for Draupadi when Aswatthama massacred the young Pandava children while they were asleep. Arjuna tracked down the perpetrator of the atrocity, and dragged him before Draupadi. The supreme virtue of forbearance that Draupadi exhibited in this situation is noteworthy.

Swami narrates how, instead of hating Aswathama, she humbly asked him if it was right that he killed the sleeping young princes. She further prevailed upon Arjuna to desist from killing Aswathama. What do you think could be the Dharmic rule she quoted to Arjuna to prevent him from killing Aswathama?

You cannot kill Aswathama because he is _____________

6. Protection and Kshama

Swami says: Whereas kshama can give complete protection, its absence can plunge one into distress and disaster. Impatience breeds selfishness and promotes ________, which together spur infighting and divisive tendencies of various kinds.

The Mahabharatha and the Srimad Bhagavatham both contain many episodes that illustrate the disaster that befalls when kshama is lost.

What is the evil quality that is first promoted when Kshama is lost?

7. Sathya and Kshama

Swami says: Some people may wonder, “If I develop kshama as Swami says and my life gets packed with troubles, how then will I survive?” Well, it all depends on what is meant by survival. Kshama is the true breath of life. It is the greatest ornament that one can acquire.

It is kshama that enables you to develop equanimity, and go beyond ___________.

What do you think kshama enables one to go beyond?

8. Peace and Kshama

Swami says: For spiritual progress and advancement, kshama is the real foundation. When kshama disappears, disturbance sets in and there is a decline. Great countries have lost their glory, prestige, and reputation for this reason. Patience is therefore a vital virtue that must be assiduously cultivated, if one is to successfully face troubles and tribulations.

Without patience and the capacity for forbearance, one becomes spiritually weak. Such weakness leads to bad feelings, undesirable thoughts, and unbecoming actions. When patience is gone, the greatest of men get reduced to utter fools.

The importance of kshama cannot be over-stressed.

Swami then gives the example of the Pandavas:

When they were in power and authority, the Pandavas were somewhat deficient in kshama but once they went into exile and had to face numerous hardships, kshama automatically began to develop in them.

What do you think helps Kshama to grow?

9. Faith and Kshama

Swami warns: The Vedas declare: Uttisthata jagrata prapya varannibodhata:

Arise, awake, and stop not till the goal is reached! Drowned in foolishness, you are sleeping soundly! Get up from this slumber of ajnana (ignorance), enter the realm of prajnana (consciousness), and experience sujnana (enlightenment). This really is the type of sadhana you ought to undertake.

People do not understand this and simply declare that they are doing sadhana. Everyone is trying, trying, trying all the time! What is all this business about trying? Meek and puny efforts cannot be called sadhana. To qualify for that name, the effort must be strong and made with firm determination.

Swami urges us to have a firm ________ to achieve Kshama.

10. Love and Kshama

Swami says: Kshama or forbearance truly is the highest quality of a human being. But because man develops narrow ideas, he wants to live in a constricted place. He thinks 'I' and 'my family' are what matters, others are all different from 'me'. It is not possible for us to develop the flower of forbearance as long as these ideas are in us.

It is only when we love that we can have patience and forbearance.

Whom should our love be directed towards?