Forgivness of Self

During our dharma discussion at the Zendog yesterday we talked about forgiveness. Listen:

Was forgiveness part of the Buddha's teaching? Maybe not.

Can one really forgive another? Is not the act based upon an illusion and grasping? The illusion being that we know what even took place. Were we so present to the offending act to have no doubt as to intention, emotion and thinking? No. If we were then we'd know there was no offense, just hurdles to that person's full expression of love. We grasp the illusion to avoid the pain.

What about forgiving ourselves? There's some bean on that vine. We can wipe clean our hearts by forgiving ourselves. We can open our hearts by forgiving ourselves. In opening we can then witness what seeps out, what arises. Pain, regret, shame, lost love, lost time, loss. Witness and let go. Because we witness only in the present perhaps we may not be deluded. Let us hope so.

Thank you dharma brothers and sister. Welcome Holly.