Seth Ji once gave his younger brother three lakh rupees to start a business. The business thrived, but the younger brother never returned the money to his elder brother. Eventually, this led to a quarrel between the two, and their conflict escalated to the point where they stopped visiting each other. The bond of brotherhood was replaced by deep-seated hatred and resentment. Seth Ji began to criticize and condemn his younger brother in front of all their relatives.
Seth Ji was also a spiritual practitioner, but this bitterness began to affect his practice. He found himself thinking about his younger brother even during worship and meditation. The mental stress started taking a toll on his health, increasing his anxiety. Unable to find a solution, he finally sought the counsel of a saint and shared his sorrow.
The saint said, “My son! Do not worry. Everything will be well by God’s grace. Go to your younger brother with some fruits and sweets, and as soon as you meet him, say, ‘Brother! Please forgive me for all the mistakes I have made.'”
Seth Ji was shocked and replied, “Maharaj! I helped him, and now you are asking me to apologize?”
The saint responded, “There cannot be a conflict within a family without mistakes on both sides. Even if one side is 99% at fault and the other only 1%, both sides still bear some responsibility.”
Seth Ji was confused and asked, “Maharaj, what mistakes have I made?”
The saint explained, “My son! The first mistake you made was harboring ill thoughts about your younger brother. The second mistake was criticizing and condemning him. The third mistake was seeing his faults through the eyes of anger. The fourth mistake was listening to others criticize him. The final mistake was nurturing anger and hatred towards your younger brother. Your negative thoughts and actions have hurt your brother deeply. The pain you have caused him has returned to you many times over. Go and apologize for your mistakes. Otherwise, you will never find peace in life or in death. Forgiveness is a powerful practice, and you are a good seeker.”
Seth Ji’s eyes were opened. After bidding farewell to the saint, he went straight to his younger brother’s house. Everyone there was preparing for a meal. Seth Ji knocked on the door, and it was opened by his nephew. The nephew was speechless when he saw his uncle and began shouting, “Mother! Father! Look who has come! Uncle is here, uncle is here!”
The younger brother and his wife came to the door, hardly believing their eyes. The younger brother was overjoyed, thinking, “Ah! After fifteen years, my elder brother has come to our home.” His voice choked with emotion, and he couldn’t say a word. Seth Ji placed the fruits and sweets on the table and said to his younger brother, “Brother! I have made many mistakes, and I ask for your forgiveness.”
As soon as Seth Ji uttered the word “forgiveness,” tears of love flowed from his heart. The younger brother fell at Seth Ji’s feet, crying and apologizing for his own mistakes. The elder brother’s tears of love mingled with those of his younger brother, as both stood with their heads bowed in deep emotion.
An ocean of forgiveness and love had broken free. Silence filled the room, and tears flowed from everyone’s eyes. The younger brother brought out the money and placed it before his elder brother. The elder brother said, “Brother! I did not come for this money today. I came to correct my mistakes, revive my meditation, and dissolve the hatred so that the Ganges of love could flow between us. My visit is successful, and my sorrow has been erased. Now, I feel truly joyful.”
The younger brother insisted, “Brother! The heaviness in my heart will not disappear until you accept this money. Please, take it.”
Seth Ji accepted the money and distributed it among his brother, nephew, and niece according to their wishes. The whole family then got into the car and returned home together.
Fifteen years later, when the entire family reunited, it felt as though they had been destined to meet again. The family enjoyed the boundless ocean of love. After the apology, Seth Ji’s sorrow, anxiety, stress, fear, disappointment, and mental distress were wiped away, and his meditation was revitalized.
We should all have “forgiveness” in our hearts, whether the person before us is great or small. An apology can end all conflicts and bring peace to our lives.
