His Holiness the Dalai Lama:
The Wisdom of Forgiveness (2004).
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| Willing to Look www.opentothelight.com |
Our conversations this week
concerned themselves with the practice of forgiveness; we discussed why
releasing hostility toward someone whose behaviour we find frustrating is both
helpful and necessary.
We all know someone from our
past that we hold grievances against and find difficult to see as whole and
innocent. As students of A Course in
Miracles we have found that a crucial part of our practice is to be
steadfast in using the felt sense to notice uncomfortable sensations arising as
a result of our fears.
The person that irritates us
is really only a projection of our own mind. Connecting deeply to our
discomfort only shows us where we still have some healing to do. This is why
the person is our greatest teacher and healer. They set us free from the deep
hurts that we cling to by bringing our awareness to them.
It is not only a regular
practice, but a discipline too. Projecting anger and resentment can really feed
our need to feel self-righteous and superior. It takes commitment and the
support of others to turn the ship around and choose love instead of fear. We
are mistaken when we believe these thoughts keep us safe in some way.
When we forgive ourselves
for believing in a seeming reality that is not true we reap the benefits of a
calm mind and heart. We detach from our irritations by refusing to buy into
them. We take Pema Chodron’s advice and “don’t bite the hook”.
Over time we begin to notice
a deep peace transforming our consciousness and a tendency to laugh with compassion
at our attempts to judge ourselves and others. It gets easier to spot our ego
(the false self) at work and we are quicker to step in with forgiveness. Where
doors to our spirit were once shut tight, another place of open-ness and
healing reveals itself.
When our minds become calmer
in the face of a former hatred, we can sink even deeper into the heart where
the work of true alchemy takes place. From here the person who showed us the
places we were hurting becomes “a saviour, come to set us free”. Who else could
show us the depths of our seeming hurt so it can be brought to the light of
transformation? Be glad and send them blessings.