Forgiveness

==== Buddhism ====
In [[Buddhism]], forgiveness prevents harmful thoughts from causing havoc on one's mental well-being.<ref>{{cite web | year = 2006 | url = http://www.psychjourney.com/Buddhism%20Series.htm | website = Psychjourney |author=Chen Yu-Hsi|title= Introduction to Buddhism Series | access-date = 2006-06-19 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060414062806/http://www.psychjourney.com/Buddhism%20Series.htm | archive-date = 2006-04-14 }}</ref> Buddhism recognizes that [[Vedanā|feelings]] of [[Dvesha (Buddhism)|hatred]] and [[Vyāpāda|ill-will]] leave a lasting effect on our mind-[[Karma in Buddhism|karma]]. Buddhism encourages the cultivation of thoughts that leave a more wholesome effect. "In contemplating the law of karma, we realize that it is not a matter of seeking revenge but of practicing {{transliteration|pi|[[mettā]]}} and forgiveness, for the victimizer is, truly, the most unfortunate of all."<ref>{{cite journal | date = October 1997 | url = http://www.abhayagiri.org/index.php/main/article/universal_loving_kindness/#top | journal=Forest Sangha | number=42|title= Universal Loving Kindness |author=Ajahn Sumedho| access-date = 2009-02-07 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081210082606/http://www.abhayagiri.org/index.php/main/article/universal_loving_kindness/#top | archive-date = 2008-12-10 }}</ref> When resentments have already arisen, the Buddhist view is to calmly proceed to release them by going back to their roots{{explain|date=July 2023}}. Buddhism centers on release from delusion and suffering through [[Buddhist meditation|meditation]] and receiving insight into the nature of [[Reality in Buddhism|reality]].
Buddhism questions the reality of the [[Raga (Buddhism)|passions]] that make forgiveness necessary as well as the reality of the objects of those passions.<ref>{{cite web | year = 2006 | first=Joseph S.|last=O'Leary|url = https://josephsoleary.typepad.com/my_weblog/2006/02/buddhist_and_fo.html | title = Buddhism and Forgiveness | access-date = 2009-02-07 | url-status = live | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081208080949/http://josephsoleary.typepad.com/my_weblog/buddhism/index.html | archive-date = 2008-12-08 }}</ref> "If we haven’t forgiven, we keep creating an identity around our pain, and that is what is reborn. That is what suffers."<ref>{{cite web | year = 2004 | url = http://www.abhayagiri.org/index.php/main/article/preparing_for_death/#top | author=Ajahn Pasanno| website= Abhayagiri Buddhist Monastery |title= Preparing for Death | access-date = 2006-06-19 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060118231818/http://www.abhayagiri.org/index.php/main/article/preparing_for_death/#top | archive-date = 2006-01-18 }}</ref>

Buddhism places much emphasis on the concepts of {{transliteration|pi|mettā}} (loving kindness), {{transliteration|pi|[[Karuṇā|karuna]]}} (compassion), {{transliteration|pi|[[mudita]]}} (sympathetic joy), and {{transliteration|pi|[[upekkhā]]}} (equanimity), as a means to avoiding resentments in the first place. These reflections are used to understand the context of suffering in the world, both our own and the suffering of others.

{{quote|"He abused me, he struck me, he overcame me, he robbed me" — in those who harbor such thoughts hatred will never cease.
"He abused me, he struck me, he overcame me, he robbed me" — in those who do not harbor such thoughts hatred will cease."|[[Dhammapada]] 1.3–4 ([[Dhammapada (Radhakrishnan translation)|trans. Radhakrishnan]])<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/kn/dhp/dhp.01.than.html|title=Yamakavagga: Pairs|year=1997|website=Access to Insight|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090415034956/http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/kn/dhp/dhp.01.than.html |archive-date=2009-04-15|translator=Thanissaro Bikkhu}}</ref>}}

{{anchor|Hinduism}}