another word on Forgiveness

Again, ammended from the Moment for Meditation line:

Remember with deep gratitude that God's grace is free. God's forgiveness is free, so it is not right for us to charge others for it. Its not right to require anyone to do something or even say something before we forgive them.

If we can be purposeful in the way that we make sure that those who wrong us know they are forgiven, that it's okay, that we are not holding a grudge. If we could do that, we would be free of resentments, free of the burden of grudges, free of the need to be right, and free to be content and happy.

Forgive as God forgives with no requrements.

Forgiveness

From Columbia St. Mary's Moment for Meditation line:

The other day I heard someone say, "Forgiveness means letting go of any hope of changing the past." That statement made me think about what forgiveness means to me and how important it is in my daily life. I wonder how often I hold grudges or keep reliving past events thinking that somehow those past events will change and I will finally be able to make peace with them and stop letting them run my life.

Letting go of the idea that I can change the past is freeing. Letting go of the idea that anything in the past will change goes a long way in helping me look forward. The past can't change, but I certainly can change the way that I look at it and think about it. I can learn from it and go on, wiser, stronger, a better person inside and out. 

Forgive yourself. Forgive what others have done to you in the past.


Forgiveness means letting go of any hope of changing the past.
Forgiveness means letting go of any hope of changing anyone else.
Forgiveness means letting go of any strain to change myself.
Because forgiveness is a choice to love without condition.
Forgiveness is not dependent on whether you choose to change or I choose to change.
Forgiveness is just choosing to love when hatred and pain have been given to you.
Forgiveness is choosing not to continue the cycle of hatred and pain by creating more of it.
Forgiveness means intentionally choosing freedom.
Forgiveness is intentionally choosing to love.
And Love Liberates.

I give no thing power over me.

I give no thing power over me.
I give no person power over me.
I give no feeling power over me.
I give no thought power over me.

I wish to be a force of healing and love in the world. To be that, I must be a force of healing for myself. It starts here, inside. In the complex inner landscape that shapes this I. It cannot be otherwise. And yet there is no I.

I used to want to be a source of love and healing in the world. I've now realized that is not enough. I am limiting myself.

I am a force.

I am exhausted from the struggle. "When you decide to stop struggling, you will stop... The power is in the commitment never to do what makes you sick. The key is the decision never to tire of doing what is best, good, and right for you."


Who am I without the struggle?

Vipassana

Confusion.

Shoes on. Shoes off. Shoes on. Off. On again. Off. Off.
The silence is the easy part.
The actions of our minds are most important. Every act of hatred first started in your mind.
You are the first victim of your hatred.
Is anger a defilement of the mind, or is it just a natural part of life? Is there such a thing as righteous anger?
Forgive them, for they know not what they do.
The Kingdom of Heaven is within you. You must knock on the door.
Start again.
Work diligently, ardently, patiently and persistently.
Start again.
Start again.
Normal breath. Just as it is.
Everything changes. Everything changes. Everything changes.
There is no I.
Do not identify with the pain. Or the elation.
Someone came to your house and brought fire. Instead of using water to put it out, you drenched everything with kerosene. You burn, I burn, we are all destroyed.
Anger creates anger. Hatred creates hatred.
May all beings be happy.
Just remain aware.
Start again.
Work. Keep working.
Craving, aversion, ignorance.
This too will change.
May you have real peace, real happiness, real joy.
You are your own master.
You are in charge of your own liberation, your own salvation.
Awareness and Equanimity.
Don't react. Change the habit pattern of the mind at its deepest level.
Good, don't believe me! Just keep trying. Find your own wisdom.
Come out of your misery.
This has arisen so that it may pass away.

Take rest. Take rest.
Confusion.