How to Atone for Sin

 

Photo Credit: Global Bihari

How to Atone for Sin

Most of us feel sorry and regretful on realising that we have done something wrong, even children feel guilt of they think they have done something that they should not have! We immediately end up saying sorry and the child learns how to apologise. A person who makes mistakes and does evil deeds incurs sin. All of us are bound to incur sin at some time or the other, that is the nature of human life. The question is how do we atone for the sin to eliminate its effects?

It is possible to eliminate the greatest sin by strictly following the path of righteousness with complete faith and courage. Depending on our basic temperament, stage in life and other factors, adhering to righteousness involves penance, control over the mind, sense organs and motor organs, control over the body, sacrifice, purity of behaviour and so on. Putting our entire effort to protect righteousness absolves us of all sins, but this is difficult to follow in these times of stress, but yes, there are people who do it.

One can atone for one’s mistakes or evil deeds by accepting appropriate punishment to cleanse oneself of the sin. Atonement involves penance and determination. This helps in absolving an individual of the sense of guilt arising out of the misdeed. Atoning for a misdeed absolves a person of the consequences of sin and as a result the sin does not get carried over to the next life, thus eliminating obstacles in worldly and spiritual progress. This helps in developing a feeling of contentment in the person. The person affected by a sin reduces his hatred or dislike when he sees the sinner atone for his mistakes.

There are different ways in which one atones depending on the severity of the sin. The atonements could be from mild to severe. When one sins unknowingly one can be absolved by through repentance or public confession of the sin. Sins committed knowingly require sever atonement. This could be done by going on a tough pilgrimage, selfless and anonymous donation for a noble cause, fasting and self-denial.

Through chanting a centre of devotion is created in the subconscious mind. Just as the sun melts the snow or dissipates the fog, in addition to eliminating unnecessary thoughts, chanting destroys out sins too. In fact, when chanting starts happening with devotion, the very desires which led us to sin are eventually also washed away.

Guru’s grace is an integral part of spiritual practice and helps in the process of removing personality defects as the Guru takes on himself all past life karmas and helps you in dealing with the present life karmas. The Guru puts you on the fast track to liberation.

Atonement merely eliminates the sin but not the desire to sin. Once a desire for the Final Liberation is invoked in the individual, chanting takes care of both the elimination of desires as well as the sin. – His Holiness Kane Maharaj.