Many people go through their lives carrying the burden of guilt or regret over past mistakes. For some, the weight is such that it crushes their sense of self-worth and they are unable to live a normal life, and go to their grave haunted by the wrongs they have done.
Most of us know, even if we do not remember it all the time, that every action has an equal and opposite reaction, and that we reap what we sow. This universal law warns us of the consequences of bad karma, but it also encourages us to do good karma. If we have done something wrong, repentance cannot undo it, but we can learn from it and direct our energy to doing good.
Positive and charitable actions lift our spirits and bring benefit to others. They keep the mind engaged in a healthy way, help us forge good relations, and, when done repeatedly, create a habit of doing good. Soon, a time comes when the good deeds outweigh past mistakes, and we not only feel happy, but can also offer support to others. This is how character transformation is realised.
There are several examples in history of people leaving behind an ignoble past and achieving greatness. St. Augustine is perhaps the most famous. A hedonist who fathered an illegitimate son, he eventually heeded the pleas of his devout mother and became a Catholic priest. Today, he is regarded as a saint.
Similarly, Angulimala, a serial killer, became a monk after an encounter with the Buddha, and Valmiki gave up life as a robber and meditated for years in penance before he went on to compose the epic Ramayana.
These examples show that no one is beyond redemption, and each one of us has the potential for spiritual progress regardless of our background. As someone said, ‘The only difference between the saint and the sinner is that every saint has a past, and every sinner has a future.’
This is one reason criminal justice systems in some countries make use of the principle of doing something charitable to make amends for a mistake, whereby those convicted of a crime are required to do community service, fully or partially, in lieu of other forms of punishment, such as imprisonment or paying a fine.
Even where such a provision does not exist, convicts get reduced punishment if they show true remorse or cooperate with the law enforcement agencies, and sentences are commuted if the convict has a record of good behaviour. Such measures aim to encourage reform, so that convicts emerge better persons from their experience of crime and punishment.
While one cannot change one’s past, its negative influence on the present and the future can be eliminated by changing our way of thinking and behaviour. The key is to let bygones be bygones and turn over a new leaf. A mistake does leave a stain on the record of our life, but repeatedly thinking about it is akin to making that stain darker. Instead, by taking to doing good we can create bright spots that will eventually shine such that no one notices the stains.
B.K. Geeta is a Rajyoga teacher at the Brahma Kumaris headquarters in Abu Road, Rajasthan.