Let go of pain in the memory, but it doesn’t control us. . .when memory controls us, we are puppets of the past
--Alexandra Asseily
Watch videos at:
http://www.thepowerofforgiveness.com/understanding/memory.html#
Read and reflect on:
“The First step towards forgiveness is to understand the negativities that are created by non-forgiveness and become aware of the futility and irrationally of nursing grudges. We need to understand the law of karma and know that the non-forgiveness is against God, and then sincerely decide to forgive. Merely understanding the need to forgive is not enough, it is crucial to take a decision to forgive because it is only then that the whole process of unraveling begins. Forgiveness is not an action or emotion, it is something much deeper. It is the state of my being. When forgiveness happens there is no need to say anything. It is a state where there is no hatred or sense of revenge that remains.:
-Swami Nikhilananda
“Why is compassion so important? Someone must take the initiative to move beyond the cycle of old choices and responses that brings more pain and suffering and recognize the opportunity for healing response to life itself. This is also true of the forgiveness that results from a compassionate heart. today we face many problems, and the time has come for us to think on a deeper human level where we understand and respect the humanness of everyone. Though we might regard someone as an enemy, this enemy is also a human being who is trapped by his or her own demons and how has a right to happiness.”
-His Holiness, the Dalai Lama
“To recieve forgiveness from God there are three requirements:
1. Recognizing the offense itself and its admission before God.
2. Making a commitment not to repeat the offense.
3. Asking forgiveness from God.
If the above three conditions are met in sincerity, forgiveness form God is assured. Sincerity protects a person from repeating the same offense. If a person is sincere he will be helped by God not to repeat; in addition, God will change is punishment for the offense into a reward.”
-M. Amir Ali
“In the act of forgiveness we are declaring our faith in the future of a relationship and in the capacity of the wrongdoer to make a new beginning on a course that will be different from the one that has caused the wrong. We are saying here is a chance to make a new beginning. It is an act of faith that the wrongdoer can change. According the Jesus (Matthew 18:22), we shoud be ready to do this no just once, not just seven times, but seventy times seven, without limit--provided, it seems Jesus says, your brother or sister who has wronged you is ready to come and confess the wrong they have committed yet again.
--Archbiship Desmond Tutu
Questions for reflection
1. What is forgiveness?
2. What does forgiveness look like?
3. How doe these quotes describe forgiveness?
4. What do you resonate with in the quotes?
Watched
http://www.thepowerofforgiveness.com/understanding/faith.html#
Azim Khamisa video
How has forgiveness transformed - the father? the grandfather? the grandson? the community?