Theoretical and Practical Vision on Forgiveness: A Systematic Review of Ancient and Contemporary Literature

Abstract

Helping people avoid and overcome emotional problems in the wake of violence is one of the most important challenges for psychologists and social scientists. Moreover, promoting healthy development is as important as preventing problems and serves the same end more effectively.Forgiveness has a crucial role in attaining health and overall development, as it is an important healing mechanism which helps an individual to cope with guilt, injustice, grief and loss; supports to reenergize hearts and rebuilds life. Factually, holding on to bittemess and anger can cause problems of their own.As evident, learning and practicing forgiveness as a core value and faith had been directed as per religious, cultural and philosophical contexts only. With the recent developments in the psychology, forgiveness has been recognized as a positive attribute (Seligman et al., 2005). Forgiveness is also being associated with counseling and psychotherapeutic interventions (Gangdev, 2009). Similarly, psycho analytic (Akhtar, 2002; Siassi, 2004, 2007), dialectical, behavior (Sanderson & Linehan, 1999) and cognitive behavior therapists (Bono & McCullough, 2006) have found an important contribution of forgiveness in healing mechanism. Likewise, growing interest in spirituality has also created increased awareness of forgiveness (Peteet, 2007).On similar lines, the present paper revisited the concept of forgiveness and its correlates as recorded in ancient and contemporary documentation. For the purpose, the investigators explored, reviewed and analyzed the relevant literature available at primary and secondary sources. In particular, this piece of review covered the conceptual, religious, spiritual, philosophical, cultural, psychological and psychometric understanding of forgiveness.Forgiveness as a conceptTraditionally, forgiveness had been considered as a key human virtue and moral act. Recently with the advent of positive psychology, it is being seen as a psychological trait with great healing power. Conceptually, foigiveness is the mental, emotional and/or spiritual process of ceasing to feel resentment or anger against another person for a perceived offence, difference or mistake or ceasing to demand punishment or restitution (American Psychological Association, 2006). Although, there is no common definition, forgiveness is defined as a conscious choice to move away from pain, hurt, resentment and revenge that arises from an injustice, hurt, offence or betrayal. It can reduce the force these feelings and emotions otherwise have and thereby contributes to emotional, mental and physical well being. It strengthens and develops one's ability to live free and happier life. It is an attitude that helps to transform towards a life of peace, compassion, mercy, joy and kindness.Forgiveness and religionsWorld over, all the religions as social and corrective institutions have addressed the importance of forgiveness at different points of time. Some religious doctrines or philosophies place greater emphasis on the need for humans to find some sort of divine forgiveness for their own shortcomings, others give more importance to the need for humans to practice forgiveness of one another, yet others make little or no distinction between human and/or divine forgiveness.HinduismHinduism as a totally tolerant religion is a conglomerate of various faiths, teachings, and invocations of various sages and saints of different era. Vedas as the first scriptures along with Upanishads as independent treatises, are full of verses which speak of the Divine within man, and therefore Hindu Dharma (religion) implores to let go of grudges, resentment and especially self contempt. Vedas stress that foigiving others is good for health, as when hate and resentment become a way of life then one begins to worry and wonder what life is all about. If we have injured space, the earth, or heaven, or if we have offended mother or father that may Agni, fire of the house, forgive us and guide us safely to the world of goodness. …