Day: November 1, 2014
Principle 31: Forgiveness
Forgiveness plays a crucial role in the atonement which makes us At-One with the heart of God. He who refuses to forgive cannot be raised up in consciousness to join with the mind and heart of God to see through the eyes of Spirit.
Before we explore this principle let us consider several questions about this important subject.
(1) What does it really mean to forgive?
(2) Many say they have forgiven when they haven’t done so completely. What must we do beyond saying, “I forgive.”
(3) Lack of forgiveness creates grievances. How does this injure us both physically and spiritually?
(4) Is the person you do not forgive damaged by your hurt? How and why?
Forgiveness is not usually looked upon as a principle. This is because forgiveness is not fully understood by many.
To forgive is generally identified with forgetting the offense as if it never occurred. This is not forgiveness because this approach is rarely successful. An action that hurts or offends did occur and no power in heaven or earth can make it as if it never was. When the seeker attempts to forgive in this way he only denies his feelings or suppresses them. This plants a negative seed in his heart that grows into something destructive later on. It will either manifest as disease or harmful behavior, not seemingly connected with the pseudo forgiveness.
How then does one truly forgive?
Forgiveness is letting go of hurt and grievance while at the same time facing the full realization of the repercussions of the hurtful act. In other words, instead of divorcing oneself from reality, or what happened, the seeker stays connected to reality and the cause and effect of his actions. He becomes the observer, takes everything in but is not negatively affected by offensive events or actions.
He who forgives can meet the offending person with full realization of what he has done, full memory of the pain inflicted and embrace him and wish him Godspeed. He can do this because he has not attached himself to grievance and has let it go. He realizes his brother is merely in error and will eventually learn his lessons. A tiger is a tiger and you do not hold a grievance because he may eat you if you get in his way. Even so, the forgiving soul sees a wayward brother for what he is, lets go of emotional hurt and uses wisdom I dealing with him as e would a dangerous animal.
So what must one do beyond saying “I forgive?” The key is to rid oneself of all grievances and negative feelings connected with the offense. If the seeker is honest with himself and examines his heart he will be able to tell when the negativity has completely lifted. Here are steps that can assist.
(1) While it is true that merely exclaiming “I forgive” is not a cure all, it can have a positive effect, especially for minor offenses. If it doesn’t do the trick proceed to step two.
(2) Think the whole matter through with the mind and try to assume the vantage point of the observer. You don’t hold a grievance against a wounded dog that bites you. Allow your mind to calculate why not forgiving does a lot of damage body and soul.
(3) If you still carry a grievance then contact the person who offended you and explain to him that you would like to forgive him but are having a difficult time. Tell the person that it will help a lot if he will just listen to you relate your feelings and try to understand them.
Normally the person will be touched and glad to help.
Once in a while though you may encounter a hardened individual who merely stokes the flames and will tell you that you deserve the hurt you feel and more.
If you encounter such an individual do not lose faith. If you raise your consciousness up to the soul level you will be beyond his power to hurt you no matter what he says. The fact that you put everything out on the table will be a big help even in dealing with a very negative person.
So, what if the person is dead and you can’t just call him up or go see him?
In this case either go to his gravesite or just imagine his presence and share your feelings with him or her as if he is present. Chances are he will pick up the communication in the spirit world and do what he can to comfort your heart. Your own soul will also assist you in lifting the negativity.
One of the reasons forgiveness is so important is that grievance from not forgiving hurts us physically and spiritually. A grievance can stimulate diseases of congestion such cancer, heart and lung problems. Often the lifting of a grievance will cause immediate health benefits.
Spiritually a grievance places a cloud between the seeker and his soul leading to many spiritual mistakes in life.
While it is true that most of the damage of not forgiving affects the victim, it also negatively affects the perpetrator if he is truly to blame. In this case, he will pick up your negativity and it will interfere with him bringing in light from the soul. If your grievance is caused by illusion or misunderstanding, and he is innocent of wrong doing, then he will receive little negative impact. If he is sensitive he may pick up the need to help you work through your grievance.
It is important to realize that a grievance in a victim places a link between him and the perpetrator that prevents the victim from being spiritually free. A grievance causes the victim to suffer karma from the very crime committed against him.
To forgive is a way of announcing your freedom to the world.
Copyright 2014 by J J Dewey
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