EDITED BY: YASHI SHAH
"Forgive others, not because they deserve forgiveness, but because you deserve peace." - Jonathan Lockwood Huie
Forgiveness is a process, which purifies your soul. Forgiveness needs sacrifice. The sacrifice of ego, aggression, selfishness, and of your evil side, which you dearly protect in the name of ‘self-esteem’. They say “ It's hard to apologize but to forgive, it's much harder”. This saying loses its essence when you hear ‘Michhami Dukkadam’.
Seeking forgiveness and bestowing the same, is a celebration of Humanity. And the Jain community do the same. Paryushan is a festival celebrated by Jains. It is the most important Jain religious observance of the year, which frequently falls in August or September. It is an 8 (Shwetambars, also known as white-clad jains) to 10 days (Digambar, also known as sky-clad jains) festival, a period of intensive study, reflection, and purification. Fast is a regular ritual, which is exercised to intoxicate the organs of the body and saying Michhami Dukkadam to everyone, who comes in the path, to intoxicate the soul, during the whole period of 8 to 10 days. The phrase ‘Michhami Dukkdadam’ is alternatively interpreted and said to mean, "May all my improper actions be inconsequential" or "I ask pardon of all living beings, may all of them pardon me, may I have friendship with all beings and enmity with none". As a matter of ritual, Jains greet their friends and relatives on the last day with Michhami Dukkadam, seeking their forgiveness.
Jains make an effort to maintain the feeling of brotherhood and humanity. They know that forgiveness redeems both souls, the seeker's and the givers, who feel indebted by their own past deeds. Saying Michhami Dukkadam, gives inner peace, whether the other person exists or not, it makes you and that person serene. And hence wishing each one of you: Michhami Dukkadam
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