Question to Radhanath Swami: Is it necessary for one to be a devotee of Krishna to practice forgiveness?
Radhanath Swami: There are different levels of forgiveness. Certainly, any descent person can be forgiving. However, the true definition of forgiveness, the deepest sense of forgiveness, is to be an instrument of God’s forgiveness because only that type of forgiveness can actually heal our heart (of revengeful feelings.) And only a devotee can express that spiritual forgiveness. Other forms of forgiveness are very good but they are relatively superficial because they are not on the level of the soul. They are on the level of the mind and therefore cannot be complete. The mind is superficial, and anything that comes out from the mind is superficial. But when forgiveness comes through the knowledge of the soul and the power of God, then that forgiveness is very, very powerful and healing. We have to chant the names of God and purify our hearts to be able to really express that kind of spiritual forgiveness.
