1) Forgiveness is essential for our eternal existence and is dependent on our level of understanding it.
2) We often misunderstand forgiveness as only benefiting the forgiven, but it primarily benefits the forgiver by changing their consciousness.
3) We should reframe how we view those who harm us, recognizing that they likely believe their actions are good due to their conditioning and ignorance, similar to an infant, rather than viewing them as purposefully evil. Forgiveness allows us to help educate others rather than perpetuating harm.
This document discusses the paradox between accepting that one cannot change their life circumstances versus accepting that as a creator being, one has the power to change their life. It explains that both views can be true when seen through the lens of unity consciousness rather than dualistic thinking. True acceptance means accepting circumstances in the present moment without expectations, which allows higher forces to bring about change from a place of perfection. Living in this state of acceptance is how one can truly step into their power as a creator being and manifest miracles.
The document discusses the Violet Flame, a divine energy that can transmute negativity. It explains that the Violet Flame resides at the core of all energy and can awaken the divine spark within when consciously invoked. It then provides a 4-step method to call upon the Violet Flame through meditation: [1] Bringing the Violet Flame into the body, [2] Spinning it around the body, [3] Asking it to transmute all negative energies, [4] Filling the body with healing light. Regular practice of this meditation using Violet Flame decrees can help transform karma and raise one's vibration to a higher state of love, light and spiritual advancement.
This document discusses finding strength in times of weakness. It begins by noting that many people struggle with relationships, depression, addiction, and anxiety, as evidenced by the large self-help sections in bookstores. However, the key is realizing one's true identity in Christ - that through salvation, one has been delivered from earthly troubles. While current circumstances may seem impossible, God's word promises healing, provision, and redemption. The truth of God's word can overcome the lies of the enemy. By renewing one's mind with scripture and taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ, one can experience freedom from a polluted mind. Loving others until they ask about the reason for one's hope also allows natural sharing
The document discusses the concepts of forgiveness, sub-personalities, and the spiritual vs human sides of ourselves. It states that when we are wounded, we split into sub-personalities that judge and consult from a broken place. True forgiveness requires recognizing our oneness with others and denying the human side in order to consult our spiritual side and heal the wounds. Staying in our spiritual realm allows us to see others as ourselves and overcome separation and judgment.
Candice O'Denver: Open intelligence’s beneficial potencyCandice O'Denver
Everything and everyone, regardless of description, is the shining forth of beneficial potency. The distinction comes in whether that is recognized or not; that’s the only distinction. Many of us are trained from birth to not recognize; we’re trained in data reification. Usually we have a glimmer that something else might be the case, but we’re not really hearing that from anyone, and so we continue on because we like to belong with the common understanding, the ordinary and conventional understanding of what life is, what human life is.
Truth Within Enjoy Life with Him Part 3.2Truth Within
This document contains several passages about realizing and experiencing the divine through surrendering to Mahanam (the divine name) and receiving God's grace. It discusses how realization unfolds naturally through different stages of life, and is not the result of effort or actions, but a spontaneous change in the mind. True liberation and salvation can only be found by remembering Mahanam and experiencing oneness with the infinite being.
The document discusses practical mind renewal and rewiring the brain through spiritual warfare and identifying thoughts. It states that we must be conscious of the thoughts we allow in and entertain, as the enemy tries to bait us with thoughts from our past pains and lies. Rewiring takes time, with forgiveness being the slowest at 3 years, while pornography wires the brain very quickly. We must take thoughts captive and replace harmful patterns with Godly ones by making conscious choices.
The document discusses how to still the mind through meditation. It explains that when the mind becomes still through daily meditation practice, all desires and motions of the mind come to a stop. One achieves unity with the flow of life, which expresses as love. By removing the selfish relationship with the ego through meditation, only love remains. Meditation allows the higher Self to shine through and express divine love in all its ways.
This document discusses the paradox between accepting that one cannot change their life circumstances versus accepting that as a creator being, one has the power to change their life. It explains that both views can be true when seen through the lens of unity consciousness rather than dualistic thinking. True acceptance means accepting circumstances in the present moment without expectations, which allows higher forces to bring about change from a place of perfection. Living in this state of acceptance is how one can truly step into their power as a creator being and manifest miracles.
The document discusses the Violet Flame, a divine energy that can transmute negativity. It explains that the Violet Flame resides at the core of all energy and can awaken the divine spark within when consciously invoked. It then provides a 4-step method to call upon the Violet Flame through meditation: [1] Bringing the Violet Flame into the body, [2] Spinning it around the body, [3] Asking it to transmute all negative energies, [4] Filling the body with healing light. Regular practice of this meditation using Violet Flame decrees can help transform karma and raise one's vibration to a higher state of love, light and spiritual advancement.
This document discusses finding strength in times of weakness. It begins by noting that many people struggle with relationships, depression, addiction, and anxiety, as evidenced by the large self-help sections in bookstores. However, the key is realizing one's true identity in Christ - that through salvation, one has been delivered from earthly troubles. While current circumstances may seem impossible, God's word promises healing, provision, and redemption. The truth of God's word can overcome the lies of the enemy. By renewing one's mind with scripture and taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ, one can experience freedom from a polluted mind. Loving others until they ask about the reason for one's hope also allows natural sharing
The document discusses the concepts of forgiveness, sub-personalities, and the spiritual vs human sides of ourselves. It states that when we are wounded, we split into sub-personalities that judge and consult from a broken place. True forgiveness requires recognizing our oneness with others and denying the human side in order to consult our spiritual side and heal the wounds. Staying in our spiritual realm allows us to see others as ourselves and overcome separation and judgment.
Candice O'Denver: Open intelligence’s beneficial potencyCandice O'Denver
Everything and everyone, regardless of description, is the shining forth of beneficial potency. The distinction comes in whether that is recognized or not; that’s the only distinction. Many of us are trained from birth to not recognize; we’re trained in data reification. Usually we have a glimmer that something else might be the case, but we’re not really hearing that from anyone, and so we continue on because we like to belong with the common understanding, the ordinary and conventional understanding of what life is, what human life is.
Truth Within Enjoy Life with Him Part 3.2Truth Within
This document contains several passages about realizing and experiencing the divine through surrendering to Mahanam (the divine name) and receiving God's grace. It discusses how realization unfolds naturally through different stages of life, and is not the result of effort or actions, but a spontaneous change in the mind. True liberation and salvation can only be found by remembering Mahanam and experiencing oneness with the infinite being.
The document discusses practical mind renewal and rewiring the brain through spiritual warfare and identifying thoughts. It states that we must be conscious of the thoughts we allow in and entertain, as the enemy tries to bait us with thoughts from our past pains and lies. Rewiring takes time, with forgiveness being the slowest at 3 years, while pornography wires the brain very quickly. We must take thoughts captive and replace harmful patterns with Godly ones by making conscious choices.
The document discusses how to still the mind through meditation. It explains that when the mind becomes still through daily meditation practice, all desires and motions of the mind come to a stop. One achieves unity with the flow of life, which expresses as love. By removing the selfish relationship with the ego through meditation, only love remains. Meditation allows the higher Self to shine through and express divine love in all its ways.
A article byGreg Branson about Chanellingfrodo2222
Greg Branson wrote an article about channeling and spiritual mediation. The article discusses the intimate relationship between a mediator and the being they are channeling. It explores different types of channeling and how mediators must use discernment to determine the intentions of beings contacting them from other dimensions, as these beings can range from highly evolved to manipulative. The article also notes that psychic ability does not necessarily correlate with spiritual evolution and that mediators must maintain their rational faculties when channeling.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. As we let our light shine, we unconsciously give permission for others to do the same. The law of attraction states that you will attract conditions that correspond to the nature of your thoughts. Everything that man has ever created first started as a thought. Thoughts not only matter, they create matter.
This document discusses arguments for and against using religious experiences as evidence for the existence of God. Proponents argue that experiences of the divine are a valid form of knowledge through intuition, as intuition allows us to understand other relationships. However, critics argue that religious experiences are subjective psychological phenomena, as they cannot be empirically tested or verified like other experiences. While some experiences of God may be genuine, religious experiences alone are not sufficient to prove God's objective existence.
The newsletter is being resent due to minor font issues in some browsers. The April 2009 edition discusses beliefs - how they are formed from experiences and can be changed. It uses the metaphor of walking a knife edge to represent having an open perspective versus being attached to a single belief. The second article discusses the importance of leaders having depth in their approach, represented by the depth of a ship's keel, to navigate difficult waters and keep a steady course.
1) Some individuals experience loneliness due to karmic debts from past lives where they set up blocks against relationships. However, others emanate a psychic hunger that repels potential partners.
2) To attract a mate, one must learn to be comfortable without needing anyone for companionship and view potential partners as whole human beings rather than sex objects. Developing friendships without expectations can help relieve feelings of loneliness.
3) Clear communication about personal values and boundaries regarding sexuality is important to avoid making assumptions and prevent hurt feelings on both sides of a relationship.
This document is an excerpt from the book "Within You is the Power" by Henry Thomas Hamblin. It discusses the infinite power that lies within every person, which connects them to the divine source of all life. However, this power remains hidden until one realizes their oneness with the infinite source. Through changing one's thinking from a limited material perspective to a spiritual one of connection with the divine, one can access this inner power and strength. One's thoughts either connect them to this infinite power source or separate them from it, so changing one's thinking is key to awakening this inner power.
Speech On Forgiveness
Forgiveness In Forgiveness
Forgiveness Essay
Outline On Forgiveness
Forgiveness Reflection
What Is Forgiveness Essay
Forgiveness
Forgiveness Essay
This document is a 21-day manifesto that aims to help readers change how they think. It introduces concepts like accepting that others can hold different opinions without threat of violence. It encourages taking personal responsibility for one's thoughts and actions rather than blaming others. The manifesto is written in the first person to be a personal instruction to the reader to change their thinking patterns over time, with each day introducing a new concept through positive statements about changing mindsets.
Five Jewels of Wisdom - David Barret-MurrerGeorge Grayson
The document discusses the five jewels of wisdom, which are teachings that can advance one spiritually without requiring a particular belief system. The five jewels are: 1) awareness of karma, 2) harmlessness, 3) cessation of selfish desire, 4) sustained loving attitude, and 5) harmony of freedom. It focuses on the first jewel of karma, explaining that every thought, word, and deed will return to us through cause and effect. Understanding and living with an awareness of karma allows one to choose between suffering and freedom from suffering.
It takes but the Spirit to connect with the Soul
& the Mind to be attuned to the Body. When a sense of permanence is lost by that which filled a valuable place, the loss requires a transformation that becomes the "Move into You".
This document discusses healing from both physical and non-physical perspectives. It argues that healing is an internal process that requires shifting one's mindset and beliefs. True healing involves positive growth and leaving behind prior conditions. The solution to any "dis-ease" lies within through cultivating the right attitude and intentional behavior. Healing one's self can be accomplished by tapping into our inherent supernatural potential and the goodness that exists between our spiritual and physical nature.
This document contains the final lesson of Charles Haanel's Master Key System course. It discusses how developing an understanding of the Universal Mind and one's connection to it allows one to manifest positive conditions by thinking the truth. It emphasizes that the Universal Mind is omnipresent and creative, and one can access it within to overcome error, lack, disease or limitations by convincing themselves of the truth. Practicing focused, sustained truthful thinking will enable one to express ideal conditions in their life and environment.
This document contains several articles about Buddhist precepts as practiced in Soto Zen. It begins with an overview of the precepts by Rev. Master Daizui MacPhillamy that discusses the Four Noble Truths, the Three Pure Precepts, and the Ten Great Precepts. The next article by Reverend Master Jiyu-Kennett focuses on viewing the precepts as everyday acts of Buddhahood. The final articles provide additional commentary and teachings related to Buddhist precepts.
The document discusses several key learnings and concepts that the author gained from their philosophy class, including:
1) The idea of Brahman and how everything in nature is circular resonated deeply with the author.
2) Surveying from Sun Tzu taught the importance of observing and analyzing to avoid harm and create success.
3) Tolerance and accepting different beliefs requires great inner strength and can reduce suffering.
4) Eastern and Western philosophies identify the same problem of human ignorance but use different approaches like intuition versus logic to achieve enlightenment.
The document discusses using affirmations and visualization to change one's conditions and bring about desired results. It states that by holding affirmations in your mind of the conditions you wish to manifest, you can actually change yourself and make yourself what you want to be. It provides examples of positive affirmations for health, wealth, and love, and emphasizes visualizing the outcomes as well. It shares a story of a man who overcame a terminal illness through persistent positive affirmations and fighting spirit.
This document provides an introduction to the principles of successful living. It discusses that these principles are universal truths that exist independently of human beliefs and can be discovered and used to improve one's life. The principles are not unique to any particular group, religion, or time period. Chapter 1 notes that the teachings should be viewed scientifically and tested through application rather than blind faith. The basic theory presented is that a universal mind exists both surrounding and within humans, and that when a person thinks, their thoughts set a universal spiritual law in motion to materialize what they think.
A article byGreg Branson about Chanellingfrodo2222
Greg Branson wrote an article about channeling and spiritual mediation. The article discusses the intimate relationship between a mediator and the being they are channeling. It explores different types of channeling and how mediators must use discernment to determine the intentions of beings contacting them from other dimensions, as these beings can range from highly evolved to manipulative. The article also notes that psychic ability does not necessarily correlate with spiritual evolution and that mediators must maintain their rational faculties when channeling.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. As we let our light shine, we unconsciously give permission for others to do the same. The law of attraction states that you will attract conditions that correspond to the nature of your thoughts. Everything that man has ever created first started as a thought. Thoughts not only matter, they create matter.
This document discusses arguments for and against using religious experiences as evidence for the existence of God. Proponents argue that experiences of the divine are a valid form of knowledge through intuition, as intuition allows us to understand other relationships. However, critics argue that religious experiences are subjective psychological phenomena, as they cannot be empirically tested or verified like other experiences. While some experiences of God may be genuine, religious experiences alone are not sufficient to prove God's objective existence.
The newsletter is being resent due to minor font issues in some browsers. The April 2009 edition discusses beliefs - how they are formed from experiences and can be changed. It uses the metaphor of walking a knife edge to represent having an open perspective versus being attached to a single belief. The second article discusses the importance of leaders having depth in their approach, represented by the depth of a ship's keel, to navigate difficult waters and keep a steady course.
1) Some individuals experience loneliness due to karmic debts from past lives where they set up blocks against relationships. However, others emanate a psychic hunger that repels potential partners.
2) To attract a mate, one must learn to be comfortable without needing anyone for companionship and view potential partners as whole human beings rather than sex objects. Developing friendships without expectations can help relieve feelings of loneliness.
3) Clear communication about personal values and boundaries regarding sexuality is important to avoid making assumptions and prevent hurt feelings on both sides of a relationship.
This document is an excerpt from the book "Within You is the Power" by Henry Thomas Hamblin. It discusses the infinite power that lies within every person, which connects them to the divine source of all life. However, this power remains hidden until one realizes their oneness with the infinite source. Through changing one's thinking from a limited material perspective to a spiritual one of connection with the divine, one can access this inner power and strength. One's thoughts either connect them to this infinite power source or separate them from it, so changing one's thinking is key to awakening this inner power.
Speech On Forgiveness
Forgiveness In Forgiveness
Forgiveness Essay
Outline On Forgiveness
Forgiveness Reflection
What Is Forgiveness Essay
Forgiveness
Forgiveness Essay
This document is a 21-day manifesto that aims to help readers change how they think. It introduces concepts like accepting that others can hold different opinions without threat of violence. It encourages taking personal responsibility for one's thoughts and actions rather than blaming others. The manifesto is written in the first person to be a personal instruction to the reader to change their thinking patterns over time, with each day introducing a new concept through positive statements about changing mindsets.
Five Jewels of Wisdom - David Barret-MurrerGeorge Grayson
The document discusses the five jewels of wisdom, which are teachings that can advance one spiritually without requiring a particular belief system. The five jewels are: 1) awareness of karma, 2) harmlessness, 3) cessation of selfish desire, 4) sustained loving attitude, and 5) harmony of freedom. It focuses on the first jewel of karma, explaining that every thought, word, and deed will return to us through cause and effect. Understanding and living with an awareness of karma allows one to choose between suffering and freedom from suffering.
It takes but the Spirit to connect with the Soul
& the Mind to be attuned to the Body. When a sense of permanence is lost by that which filled a valuable place, the loss requires a transformation that becomes the "Move into You".
This document discusses healing from both physical and non-physical perspectives. It argues that healing is an internal process that requires shifting one's mindset and beliefs. True healing involves positive growth and leaving behind prior conditions. The solution to any "dis-ease" lies within through cultivating the right attitude and intentional behavior. Healing one's self can be accomplished by tapping into our inherent supernatural potential and the goodness that exists between our spiritual and physical nature.
This document contains the final lesson of Charles Haanel's Master Key System course. It discusses how developing an understanding of the Universal Mind and one's connection to it allows one to manifest positive conditions by thinking the truth. It emphasizes that the Universal Mind is omnipresent and creative, and one can access it within to overcome error, lack, disease or limitations by convincing themselves of the truth. Practicing focused, sustained truthful thinking will enable one to express ideal conditions in their life and environment.
This document contains several articles about Buddhist precepts as practiced in Soto Zen. It begins with an overview of the precepts by Rev. Master Daizui MacPhillamy that discusses the Four Noble Truths, the Three Pure Precepts, and the Ten Great Precepts. The next article by Reverend Master Jiyu-Kennett focuses on viewing the precepts as everyday acts of Buddhahood. The final articles provide additional commentary and teachings related to Buddhist precepts.
The document discusses several key learnings and concepts that the author gained from their philosophy class, including:
1) The idea of Brahman and how everything in nature is circular resonated deeply with the author.
2) Surveying from Sun Tzu taught the importance of observing and analyzing to avoid harm and create success.
3) Tolerance and accepting different beliefs requires great inner strength and can reduce suffering.
4) Eastern and Western philosophies identify the same problem of human ignorance but use different approaches like intuition versus logic to achieve enlightenment.
The document discusses using affirmations and visualization to change one's conditions and bring about desired results. It states that by holding affirmations in your mind of the conditions you wish to manifest, you can actually change yourself and make yourself what you want to be. It provides examples of positive affirmations for health, wealth, and love, and emphasizes visualizing the outcomes as well. It shares a story of a man who overcame a terminal illness through persistent positive affirmations and fighting spirit.
This document provides an introduction to the principles of successful living. It discusses that these principles are universal truths that exist independently of human beliefs and can be discovered and used to improve one's life. The principles are not unique to any particular group, religion, or time period. Chapter 1 notes that the teachings should be viewed scientifically and tested through application rather than blind faith. The basic theory presented is that a universal mind exists both surrounding and within humans, and that when a person thinks, their thoughts set a universal spiritual law in motion to materialize what they think.
Top 3 Things Teens Need to Know About the Paranormal (Special Report)Aileen Santos
Right now, the #CharlieCharlieChallenge is making the waves among teens worldwide, and seems like a fun, harmless thing to try (and post about on your wall).
But is it really harmless?
While the Physics of it is simple (the pencil movements can certainly be caused by our collective breathing, the same way the Ouija board works on tiny tremors caused by our constantly-moving muscles), the point of 'what's moving it" really isn't the issue.
The more important issue is this: "What are we giving permission to influence us when we play games like this?"
This report might help.
1. The document discusses the importance and benefits of forgiveness. It argues that forgiveness should form the foundation of human existence, especially for Christians, and is the highest form of love.
2. Forgiveness brings peace, happiness, and life's abundant blessings. It allows one to let go of resentment and hurtful thoughts in order to be free from pain.
3. True love requires forgiveness. Forgiving others, even in difficult situations like infidelity, benefits the person forgiving by restoring their peace of mind and reopening their heart to love. Forgiveness is a choice that allows one to move forward rather than stay stuck in the past.
The document summarizes a presentation about the Greek myth of Prometheus stealing fire from Mount Olympus and giving it to humanity. It uses the myth as a metaphor for addiction recovery. Some key points:
- Prometheus defied Zeus by stealing fire and giving it to humans, knowing Zeus would punish him, and was chained to a rock as punishment where an eagle ate his liver daily.
- The story illustrates free will and how we must accept the consequences of our choices, whether from societal laws or natural laws.
- To recover from addiction, one must admit weaknesses to oneself and another person, accept help from others like Prometheus needed help to be freed, and surrender to a higher power.
Karma yoga chapter vi we help ourselves, not the worldRavi Ramakrishnan
Swami #Vivekananda Bengali: , Shāmi Bibekānondo; 12 January 1863 – 4 July 1902), born #Narendranath Datta, was an Indian Hindu monk, a chief disciple of the 19th-century Indian mystic Ramakrishna. He was a key figure in the introduction of the Indian philosophies of# Vedanta and #Yoga to the Western world and is credited with raising #interfaith awareness, bringing Hinduism to the status of a major world religion during the late 19th century. He was a major force in the revival of Hinduism in India, and contributed to the concept of nationalism in colonial India. Vivekananda founded the #Ramakrishna Math and the Ramakrishna Mission. He is perhaps best known for his speech which began, "Sisters and brothers of America ...," in which he introduced Hinduism at the Parliament of the World's Religions in Chicago in 1893.
Born into an aristocratic Bengali family of Calcutta, Vivekananda was inclined towards spirituality. He was influenced by his Guru, Ramakrishna Deva, from whom he learnt that all living beings were an embodiment of the divine self; therefore, service to God could be rendered by service to mankind. After Ramakrishna's death, Vivekananda toured the Indian subcontinent extensively and acquired first-hand knowledge of the conditions prevailing in British India. He later traveled to the United States, representing India at the 1893 Parliament of the World Religions. Vivekananda conducted hundreds of public and private lectures and classes, disseminating tenets of Hindu philosophy in the United States, England and Europe. In India, Vivekananda is regarded as a patriotic saint and his birthday is celebrated there as National Youth Day.
Similar to FREE Chapter from "Out of the blue" ~ on Forgiveness (15)
Karma yoga chapter vi we help ourselves, not the world
FREE Chapter from "Out of the blue" ~ on Forgiveness
1. So you’re learning that taking ACTION – Practicing what works is required. Good
for you – Well over 90% of the population never quite gets that simple
incontrovertible FACT – Just as “Faith without works is dead”, thinking,
visualizing and feeling are all useful and important, but taking ACTION is the
catalyst that enables miracles.
Forgiveness
What is THAT all about?
Candidly, it is a most important activity which, when understood and applied, will
“rock your world”.
Brief aside - I have absolutely no financial interest whatsoever in it, but Immaculee
Ilibagiza’s Left to Tell is possibly the purest conveyance of how liberating and life-
transforming (and, yes– difficult) forgiveness can be. I sincerely recommend it
without reservation. You do want to improve, to get better - right?
There are some salient points about forgiveness that we absolutely must know
and understand.
By “must know and understand” I don’t mean it would be a good idea if we had an
inkling of the concept. I don’t mean it would be helpful if we were exposed to the
basics of the teaching. I mean, plainly and simply that our eternal state of being
and existence (this is huge) is fully dependant on our level of understanding
forgiveness and the then unfolding thoughts, behaviors and consequences. Do I
have your attention?
Socrates and the Buddha taught the same thing as the Christ (Jesus of Nazareth),
but it has been glossed over and mumbled over (and over and over) so often as to
be diluted by constant use in its impact. The “Our Father” of Catholicism or
“Lord’s Prayer” has as part of the request, “Forgive us as we forgive others”…
The teaching seems to be that to the degree we forgive, we will be forgiven;
2. presuming the answer to this prayer is, “Yes”. The good news is the answer to
ALL prayers is a resounding YES! But that’s a topic for another time.
Aside time again – Forgiveness is of more value to the forgiver than to the
forgiven. Much like prayer and worship, forgiveness is useful, but the object
(person, group, etc.) of our forgiveness not only need not know that they are being
forgiven, need not know the process or rationale for it… their knowledge of OUR
Forgiveness is simply not what matters. Consciousness will be changed, but
impacting them is not the point. The impact – change in your Universe if you will
– will occur due to your (our) decision to forgive.
Forgiveness is the fragrance that the violet sheds
on the heel that has crushed it.
- Mark Twain
Jesus the Christ taught, as he was experiencing crucifixion, WHY we should and
can and ought to forgive. For the glaringly blatant and simple reason that, “They
know not what they do.” Let those words ring in your ears, my sibling!
Grasp the concept and hold on for dear life. Christ was decidedly NOT asking or
telling his Father – the Source of all that exists to “take it easy on them, because
I’m trying to teach Christians that they should be nice to each other”.
He was NOT teaching it is OK to crucify the innocent – which He assuredly was.
He was NOT just giving us a good example of ‘loving our enemies’; he was
speaking to The Eternal - reasoning with the Ultimate Power and Judge, regarding
the fate of His executioners.
He was teaching that the TRUTH calls for their forgiveness precisely because they
(actually) thought that what they were doing was the best thing for them to be
doing at the time and place of the deed(s). IF they had believed otherwise they
would have acted otherwise. Obviously – they knew NOT what they were doing.
Forgiveness is HARD to learn and practice for us because of our conditioning. We
have been taught by all sorts of authority figures that grudge holding is in our best
interests, that we would be stupid to forgive someone who did us wrong, because
then we would be susceptible to a repetition of the wrong.
3. This inaccurately presumes we have no ability to choose how to behave in the
future – that we cannot learn from our errors - that we have no sense and will be so
foolish as to allow wrongs to be perpetrated on us continually! You (and I ) are not
so intellectually ill-equipped so as to continue to allow such.
We have seriously and sincerely misunderstood just what the heck forgiveness
IS…
“Forgiveness only has value when it is given away.”
- Abraham Lincoln
If you handed a seven month old two glass vials of virulent flesh-eating bacteria
and e coli and left the room, … You wouldn’t DO that, would you? . . .
What – you think we know so much better than that baby what we should be doing,
how we should be behaving, what words we should be saying, what actions we
should be taking – 24/7 ?
Come ON, now, dear sibling – let’s “get real”. The point to this is that your
brothers and sisters (blood related or not) have about as much of a clue how to
behave as the baby has about what to do with those test tubes.
Suffice it for here to say that at least part of the teachings of the Buddha were that
all suffering comes from ignorance. Or, dare I paraphrase it: from not knowing
what to do.
What Socrates taught was that people do what they think is good for them. They
will NOT behave ANY other way.
Yes, they’re obviously misinformed, confused or they’ve
been trained to hate (which teaching existed on planet earth at the time this was
first written).
People who do it (in actuality, really- at least at the moment) honestly and
truthfully believe killing is good. – As Christ is recorded teaching His disciples in
the Christian New Testament: “The time is coming when those who seek to kill
you will think they do God service.”
4. So – The idea of Forgiving these frankly pitiful recipients of wrong conditioning
(call them victims if you want) needs to be recontextualized from the current
commonly held paradigm.
Forgiveness can be seen in a different context than viewing those who “wrong” us
as diabolically evil plotters who KNOW they’re doing wrong and do it anyway for
the express purpose of being mean to us.
What? You don’t buy the premise that they’re doing what they think is good for
them – at the time and place and condition of their mind?
We’ve been taught (and evidence seems to suggest) that there are “BAD” people
out there, that evil exists – and it certainly seems to… And – be certain – the
writer suggests that if a crazed madman comes at you with a knife, gun or bomb
intent on doing you bodily harm it would certainly seem reasonable and
appropriate to do your best to put him out of his misery ASAP…
There is nothing here that gives evil a pass or condones ANY harm directed
toward others… B U T – pause…
Would you fault the infant for dropping the vials?
Most likely we’ll need to reprocess the concept of “death” and get a handle on
what that is or isn’t (more on that elsewhere)… But getting back to the topic at
hand…Recontextualize.
So it becomes obvious that it is in everyone’s best interests that we all do
everything we can to educate our fellow humans to the truth that doing GOOD, i.e.
what is moral, kind, helpful, etc. is in reality what provides the good return we are
all seeking. In other words, the actual, verified and verifiable, tested, ‘tried and
true’ FACT is: What goes around comes around.
Whether understood in terms of karma or the idea that virtue is its own reward, we
need to (by example, by formal education and whatever other means may be
available to us) teach the ‘bad’ people to become ‘good’… help them understand
and own the truth that doing harm to others will not only not help them in the long
run, but also that activities that hurt others have cosmic consequences and
repercussions that are decidedly not in the best interests of the evil deed doer…
..and forgive.
5. Because:
1) we have to (Newtonian physics) and
2) we understand that it is wise to do so (Quantum physics) and
3) we understand that by doing so we assure our own forgiveness
..and unless we have never made an error – or participated in a mistake that could
use correction, we need forgiveness in order to elevate our own consciousness to
the level of happiness, joy, love and all the other ‘good’ nouns, adjectives and
adverbs we want.
Understand that anyone who possesses this understanding (that good is more to be
desired than evil, that life is better than death, that hope is better than apathy, that
peace is superior to conflict and strife, etc.) will as a consequence, desire and may
attain these ‘good’ things, states and conditions. Universal LAW is what it is. You
choose your direction.
* * * * *
Want to see Miracles in your life? Then you will. Ask and it will be given. If,
when, and as - you believe. (According to your belief it will be done to you) And
why would you not believe? You have a mind and you can learn. And you will be
given all the guidance, direction and aid that you will accept. You are loved. You
are so loved.
Now, here’s hoping you will digest these ideas, and begin to practice and then
accomplish the recontextualized thinking and consequential behavioral changes
that will redound to your greater happiness, health, well-being, fulfillment, long
life, prosperity and whatever miracles you want.
And, if I’ve been overly loquacious ..or even a bit verbose, you’ll forgive me.
Thanks.