“How can I be less noble to refuse to forgive you! The thought of revenge had been burning in my mind. Go away and take the thought of revenge from me.” (excerpt from Youssouf and the Stranger on Zonr post)

Today’s SFZ

Try – P!nk (4:10)

Mahatma Gandhi Brief Bio (2:25)

Clair de Lune – Claude Debussy’s B-day (5:45)

Self-forgiveness Meditation LP (23:25)

How successful have you been with forgiving the person(s) who irks you the most, lately?

THE SPIRITUAL PRINCIPLE THAT GOES BOTH WAYS –

“As we realize
our need to be for-
given, we tend to be
more forgiving. At least
we know that we are no
longer intentionally mak-
ing life miserable for
people.” (The Basic
Text, pp. 39-40)

WE CAN DO IT IF WE TRY –

“Often it was while
working on this Step
with our sponsors or spir-
itual advisers that we first felt
truly able to forgive others, no
matter how deeply we felt they
had wronged us.” ” … we in-
wardly knew we’d be able
to receive forgiveness
and give it, too.”
(12 & 12, pp.
57- 58)

“The weak
can never for-
give. Forgiveness
is the attribute of
the strong.”

– Mahatma Gandhi (1869 – 1948) preeminent Indian political and spiritual leader

Youssouf and the Stranger

Yussouf was a sheik. He was sitting at the door of his dent in the desert. It was night. Nothing was visible in the desert. The only light was the light that came from the starts in the sky. They were twinkling in the sky. The sheik was sad at heart. He had been secretly weeping for many days and nights. His eldest son had been killed.

Suddenly, a stranger came running to the tent. He fell at the feet of Yussouf. He said, “O Chief, save me. My enemies are coming after me. They want to kill me. I am starving. I can not run anymore. All men call you good. Save me. O Chief, let me stay in your tent for one night.”

Yussouf asked the stranger to enter his tent. He said, “You are a stranger, but you are welcome. You can share with me my food and shelter. God has given them to me. God is our father. He has built this earth for us. The sky protects us all. God gives us food and shelter. I have never refused to grant anyone a favor. Therefore come into my tent as my guest. Share with me my food. No one will harm you.”

The stranger entered. Yussouf embraced him as his honored guest. After taking food, the stranger lay down to sleep.

The next day, the sun had not risen up.

The desert was calm and still. Yussouf, gently, woke up the stranger. He gave the stranger a bag of gold. He said, “My friend, I hope you had a good sleep. The food must have given you some strength. Now you must escape from your enemies before the sun rises. I have kept my best horse ready for you. Fly before your enemies come.”

The stranger got up. He received the bag of gold from Yussouf. He looked at Yussouf for some moments. There was some struggle going on in his mind. Then suddenly his face became brighter. He fell at the feet of Yussouf. Then he said, “O good and noble Chief! You had been so kind to me.  Gave me food and shelter.  Saved my life. But I had been so bad. I killed your son. I am Abraham. Now kill me! I am ready for punishment and revenge from you.”

The sheik was shocked. He was motionless.

He was struggling between revenge and forgiveness in his mind. Should he take revenge? Should he return evil for evil? Or should he return good for evil? Finally, he put his hand into his pocket. He drew out more gold. He gave it to Abraham. Then he said, “Here is gold three times more. Take this and go away. I will not kill you. You have been noble enough to confess. How can I be less noble to refuse to forgive you! The thought of revenge had been burning in my mind. Go away and take the thought of revenge from me.”

“I must give up the thought of revenge. Only then my son will sleep in peace. You have been my guest. I can not kill my guest. May God forgive both of us – me for keeping revenge in my thought and you for murdering my son!” said the Sheik and he went off to pray God.” (http://www.english-for-students.com/Yussouf.html)