inspiration
How to truly
Forgive
The Higher Path of Compassion
T
he practice of forgiveness, which is central to every faith and Letters to the Editor department to comment about
spiritual tradition, can transform lives. Opening our hearts the power of forgiveness. Making others aware of your
and forgiving ourselves and others, is a healing process that concerns for elevating humanity raises the idea behind
mends bodies, minds and spirits. forgiveness and reconciliation.
The act of forgiving engenders hope and optimism, eases
anger and stress, and boosts self-confidence. When we commit • Step 7: Through local community or faith groups, orga-
to accepting ourselves despite our faults and treating others nize an informational campaign on forgiving one another
with compassion, empathy and respect, we move from bitter- toward a better humanity.
ness and distrust toward inner peace and loving-kindness.
The month of August offers us two opportunities to grow Mahatma Gandhi observed, “Forgiveness is choosing to
spiritually through the mindful practice of forgiveness: Sunday, love. It is the first skill of self-giving love.”
August 3, is International Forgiveness Day; and Wednesday,
August 27, is Global Forgiveness Day. For more information visit
ForgivenessDay.org and
International Forgiveness Day, sponsored by the U.S.-
GlobalForgivenessDay.org.
based Worldwide Forgiveness Alliance, believes in the words Source:
eHow.com
of Archbishop Desmond Tutu: “Without forgiveness, there is
no future.” Last year, groups in 20 U.S. cities and nine countries
observed it by honoring heroes and champions of forgiveness,
nonviolence and peace. Global Forgiveness Day, sponsored by
the Canadian-based Christian Embassy of Christ’s Ambassa-
dors, walks a parallel path to promote peace, non-violence and
forgiveness throughout the world.
Forgiveness, as any act of charity, must begin at home.
These seven steps will lead us on the path of true compassion.
• Step 1: Celebrate the human spirit on forgiveness days.
We’re capable of reconciling differences with the right
heart and approach.
• Step 2: Make a list of people who have offended you, and
you them. Prioritize the names.
Herbs • Tumbled Stones • Music
• Step 3: Reflect on the state of the relationship before the
falling out. Find what went wrong.
• Step 4: Contact those people, if possible, to begin the pro-
cess of reconciliation. Often, a simple “I’m sorry” restores a
broken relationship.
• Step 5: Think nationally and globally of the ethnic, religious
and political problems that destroy families and people.
Seek solutions.
• Step 6: Write emails to embassies or to any newspaper’s
August 2008 35
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