On Sunday morning, 1 January 1939, Jal Kerawalla made a joke at Pappa’s expense and Pappa became very upset. He drove straight to Baba’s bungalow and complained bitterly. Jal and Chanji followed him, and Baba sent for them and asked the reason for the uproar. Jal replied, “Forgive me, Baba, I was only joking.”
Pappa shouted, “Who has made him a magistrate? He has no sense! He should not be forgiven!”
Smiling, Baba spelled out, “I would not forgive Jal, but to forgive is my nature. If I don’t forgive him, the world will collapse! Only by my forgiveness does the world continue, not otherwise!”
Pappa said, “You should continue forgiving the world — but not Jal Kerawalla! He has troubled me greatly!”
“All right,” motioned Baba. “I won’t forgive Jal, but you forgive him!”
Jal asked Pappa’s forgiveness, and finally, after hours of fuming, he forgave him. Pappa, however, said to Baba, “I have forgiven Jal because you request it, but I tell you he is the very devil!”
Baba explained to Pappa, “This is not forgiveness! The meaning of forgiveness is to forget the insult. When you remember it, how could you have forgiven it?
After forgiving, you should not remember the incident or hold anything against him.
“Today is New Year’s, and you should make a resolution to forgive and forget. Only by forgetting can you truly forgive. Otherwise, what is the use of merely saying the words, ‘I forgive you’? It must be from the heart.”
-www.lordmeher.org, p1970
1 January 1939; Mandla