Sin begins in the realm of consciousness.
When we are young, we are taught by our guardians what is right” and what is “wrong”. We grow up with the understanding that stealing our playmates’ toys or hitting our grandparents is wrong and therefore a sin. As we mature, the concept of sin changes. It is no longer easy to define or explain, and its repercussions become much more severe than a grounding. Sin is a malicious, deliberate, and harmful act. An act is considered sinful when it inflicts harm on someone or something else, even if the perpetrator gains some form of momentary satisfaction. In Hinduism, a sin is an immoral and ungodly or unethical act.
The concept of ahimsa, which means to do or cause no harm, is very sacred to Hindus. They are taught to respect and abide by this ideal from childhood. Therefore, any action that goes against this principle is considered a sin. The story of Svetaketu Aruneya offers a subtle definition of sin. The boy was proud of himself for having learned the Vedas, but his high opinion of himself prevented him from learning the most important lesson of faith. Svetaketu’s ego served as a maya and kept him from realizing moksha.
Since it is the ultimate goal of Hindus to achieve moksha, the only barrier is sin. In a Hindu’s life, there are different stages that he must pass through before reaching the end of his life. Each stage represents different levels of learning, understanding, and growth. Though sin (or rather its potential) is prevalent throughout the four stages, forgiveness becomes an extremely important factor in reaching moksha. Forgiveness for Hindus begins with self-realization that one has sinned. Without this realization, forgiveness cannot begin.
The moment this realization is reached, the sinner begins the process of forgiveness by growing from their mistakes. Much like Western traditional views of sin and forgiveness, a Hindu is bound to the same principles. They must consciously realize their sin and, with a sincere heart, ask for forgiveness from both the person they have sinned against and God. Shiva, the God of rebirth and destruction, is revered by devout Hindus as a God with a very hot and unpredictable temper, but also as a very forgiving and just God. The Gods of Hinduism hold no grudges against repenting sinners, and thus, good Hindus must not either. At the source of Hinduism lies transcendence. Not forgiving is a sin in itself, as it furthers one from complete liberation.
It is understood that in order to achieve peace within oneself, forgiveness is inevitable. Karma, often misunderstood or improperly used in Western culture, can best be described as the proverbial to each his own.” Therefore, it is not for the independent individual to judge whether forgiveness is merited or not. Forgiveness offers relief from pending tensions, ill-feeling, and mounting egoism. It saves one from becoming selfish and egotistical. Physical exercise, meditation through different forms of yoga, devotion, spiritual cleansing through prayer, and “public chanting” (Sharma, 40) are all exercises performed in order to achieve a heightened sense of consciousness.
It is through consciousness that one may avoid that which is bad, harmful, and evil, both to oneself and to others. This is the achievement of egolessness (24). The more one learns to forgive, the happier and more peaceful they will feel. The obtainment of moksha cannot be realized through the containment of negative energy associated with animosity, ill thoughts, or malevolence. Rather, Hinduism teaches that it is better to forgive, receive freedom, and gain liberation for oneself. This is fulfillment, this is moksha.
