"Forgive all, consider the whole of humanity as our family"

Forgiveness

The ultimate key to getting free is to forgive.

“forgive all, consider the whole of humanity as our own family, the whole earth as our own country, be sympathetic with all suffering, nurse the sick, offer a shelter to the exiled, help the poor and those in need, dress all wounds and share the happiness of each one” (Abdu'l-Baha, Divine Philosophy, p. 41)

“Every soul of the friends of God must concentrate his mind on this, that he may manifest the mercy of God and the bounty of the Forgiving One.” (Abdu'l-Baha, Baha'i World Faith - Abdu'l-Baha Section, p. 217)    

“Punishment is one of the essential necessities for the safety of communities, but he who is oppressed by a transgressor has not the right to take vengeance. On the contrary, he should forgive and pardon, for this is worthy of the world of man.” (Abdu'l-Baha, Some Answered Questions, p. 268)

“If someone commits an error and wrong toward you, you must instantly forgive him.”  (Abdu’l-Bahá, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 453)

“O ye friends of God! Show ye an endeavour that all the nations and communities of the world, even the enemies, put their trust, assurance and hope in you; that if a person falls into errors for a hundred-thousand times he may yet turn his face to you, hopeful that you will forgive his sins; for he must not become hopeless, neither grieved nor despondent. This is the conduct and the manner of the people of Baha'. This is the foundation of the most high pathway!” (Abdu'l-Baha, Tablets of Abdu'l-Baha v2, p. 436)

Forgiving is remarkably liberating. Not forgiving can be torture to the soul and can physically harm the body.

 “Look ye not upon the creatures, turn ye to their Creator. See ye not the never-yielding people, see but the Lord of Hosts. Gaze ye not down upon the dust, gaze upward at the shining sun, which hath caused every patch of darksome earth to glow with light.” (Abdu'l-Baha, Selections from the Writings of Abdu'l-Baha, p. 73)

 “How my heart leaps with joy when I hear the friends love each other, always overlooking one another's small mistakes; and that they are forgiving their enemies!” (Abdu’l-Baha - SOW - Star of the West,  3)

“A greater degree of love will produce a greater unity, because it enables people to bear with each other, to be patient and forgiving.”  (Shoghi Effendi - Compilations, The Compilation of Compilations vol II, p. 12)

“I beseech Thee with all the ardour of my invocation to pardon whosoever hath hurt me, forgive him that hath conspired against me and offended me, and wash away the misdeeds of them that have wrought injustice upon me.”

(Abdu'l-Baha, The Will and Testament, p. 19)