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Whether a wrong is done on some basis or not, it is not to be retaliated against in any way
if one wants real moral and spiritual strength and the Lord’s grace. Calmly bear the wrong done
to you without the slightest mental upset or loss of psychic equilibrium. Do good to the man that
does harm. Bless that man that curses you. Pray for the well-being of the man that beleaguers
you. Study the lives of Jaya Deva, Shams Tabriez, Jesus Christ, Gauranga and other saints. The
Lord Himself protects His devotees if they surrender themselves totally unto Him, pouring forth
prayers unto Him like Draupadi or Gajendra. Do not degrade yourself by resorting to retaliation
in any way. Adherence to violence even in thought just to satisfy the lower mind debases the
individual spiritually.
The best method to retaliate against a wrong done without any reasonable ground is by
way of offering a spiritual treatise like the Gita or the Ramayana to the opponent and praying for
his gaining the knowledge of the Self and avoiding the evil ways which are due to his ignorance
of the essential unity of all creation. Observe silence and indifference with heart-moving prayers
unto the Lord.
From "May I answer that" by Swami Sivananda (1987-1963). More Informations on Swami Sivananda: on the Website of Divine Life Society, Photographs of Swami Sivananda, German Pages on Swami Sivananda