विस्मृति की साधना
Summary
The text explores the concept of "sadhana of forgetfulness" (vismriti ki sadhana) through the Hindi proverbs "do good and throw it into a well" and "forget the past." It argues that forgetting one's good deeds prevents ego and allows continued altruism, while forgetting past sorrows prevents life from becoming burdensome. However, it notes that such forgetfulness is difficult to achieve. The text cites Sane Guruji, who stated that remembering everything since birth would be an unbearable burden. It then references Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, who described the current era as one where ancient values are crumbling, intolerance and bitterness are increasing, and the light that inspired great human society is dimming. The text questions whether forgetting good deeds is ethical, suggesting that goodness should spread in society, not be discarded. It argues that what needs to be forgotten are feelings of attachment, aversion, envy, and malice, which cause conflict from individuals to nations. The first step in this sadhana is forgiveness and friendship, strongly advocated by Jain principles through the annual Paryushan festival and Kshamavani (Forgiveness Day). The text concludes that developing the capacity for forgetfulness makes life easy and pleasant, and that a society can only be called developed when bitterness and intolerance diminish, not merely through material abundance.
Conclusion
The document’s analysis of “forgetfulness as a discipline” carries profound implications for contemporary society, where intolerance and bitterness have escalated. It argues that selectively forgetting—not good deeds, but grudges, envy, and past conflicts—is essential for social harmony. The text critiques the uncritical acceptance of sayings like “do good and throw it in the well,” warning that such forgetting of virtuous acts may dim the light inspiring human progress. Instead, it advocates for a practical idealism where goodness spreads openly in society. The outcome envisioned is a society where forgiveness and friendship, as exemplified in Jain traditions like the Paryushan festival, become foundational. Only by cultivating this capacity to forget animosities can humanity move beyond mere material development toward genuine moral and emotional maturity, reducing the conflicts that plague relationships from neighborhoods to nations.