“If a person has performed the prescribed atonement, then whoever still considers him a sinner should himself be known as a sinner.”
— Vachanamrut, Gadhada Section 1, Number 10
These words of Bhagwan Swaminarayan are striking in their clarity and moral force. They do not merely speak about forgiveness—they redefine responsibility. They turn the mirror away from the one who has erred and place it firmly before the one who refuses to let go.
Repentance That Restores the Soul
Atonement Is Not Symbolic—It Is Transformative
Mistakes are part of human life. No jiva walks this world without faltering. But Bhagwan Swaminarayan emphasizes that sincere repentance and prescribed atonement are not superficial rituals—they are acts of inner cleansing.
When a person has truly repented:
- They have acknowledged their fault
- They have corrected their behavior
- They have aligned themselves again with dharma
At that point, the past no longer defines them.
“Once atonement is complete, the identity of ‘sinner’ no longer applies.”
To continue labeling such a person by their former mistake is to deny the very power of repentance that spirituality upholds.
When Judgment Becomes the Greater Fault
Holding On to the Past Is Not Righteousness
Bhagwan Swaminarayan’s teaching is radical in its honesty. He does not excuse wrongdoing—but neither does he excuse unending judgment.
“Whoever still considers him a sinner should himself be known as a sinner.”
Why such strong words?
Because refusing to forgive after repentance is not morality—it is ego. It places the judge above the process of transformation and quietly claims moral superiority.
In doing so, the one who judges:
- Rejects compassion
- Undermines spiritual growth
- Harms both themselves and others
Compassion as a Divine Quality
Seeing with the Eyes of Wisdom
Forgiveness and acceptance are not optional virtues in spiritual life—they are divine qualities. To see someone as renewed after repentance is to see them as God sees them.
True wisdom lies in asking:
- Has the person changed?
- Has sincerity been shown?
- Has the heart turned toward righteousness?
If the answer is yes, then compassion must follow.
“Judgment imprisons. Compassion liberates.”
Freedom for Them—and for Us
Letting Go Creates Inner Peace
When we cling to others’ past mistakes, we burden ourselves. Judgment keeps the mind restless and the heart closed. Forgiveness, on the other hand, creates lightness—within us and within the community.
By releasing condemnation:
- We protect our own spiritual purity
- We encourage others to grow
- We create an environment of trust and healing
This is not weakness. It is strength rooted in dharma.
Conclusion: Choosing the Higher Path
Bhagwan Swaminarayan’s words leave us with a clear choice.
We can:
- Hold onto past faults and harden our hearts
or - Honor repentance and walk the path of compassion
Let us choose understanding over condemnation.
Let us choose forgiveness over fixation.
Let us choose to see people not as who they were—but as who they have become.
Because in spiritual life, true righteousness is not found in judging others,
but in allowing grace to complete its work.
To know more about Bhagwan Swaminarayan: https://www.baps.org/About-BAPS/TheFounder%E2%80%93BhagwanSwaminarayan.aspx
Vachanamrut Study App: thesatsanglife.com/vachanamrut
Anirdesh Gadhada Section 1, Number 10: https://anirdesh.com/vachanamrut/index.php?format=en&vachno=10
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