Forgiveness: talk and instruction

Forgiveness


There is no official Pali translation for the word forgiveness
but the idea of forgiveness is expressed wholeheartedly
throughout the teachings. Forgiveness practice plays a critical
role in the development of compassion and empathy because if we
can’t forgive, we limit our ability for true connection and
empathy. Forgiveness is the antidote to resentment. It allows us
to learn how to put aside and ultimately abandon our tendency
toward blaming. There is no lasting sense of well-being or
happiness associated with the common and often seemingly
justified habit of finding fault in others.


At times it will be important for us to acknowledge the harm we
have caused, and it is helpful to experience an appropriate
amount of regret. Understanding that blaming is only a source of
harm to others and ourselves, we set the intention to hold
forgiveness as quality that we aim to embody.


This talk was given at a 7 day retreat at New Life Foundation in
Chiang Rai Thailand in the winter of 2016.
http://www.newlifethaifoundation.com/