Christiane Northrup M.D. on Forgiveness

 Forgiveness frees us. It heals our bodies and our lives. But it is also the most difficult step we must take in our healing process.

 Forgiveness moves our energy to the heart area, the fourth chakra. When the body’s energy moves there, we don’t take our wounds so personally, and we can heal. Forgiveness is the initiation of the heart.

 True forgiveness changes us at the core level. It changes our bodies. It is an experience of grace. I’m moved to tears by the holiness of what forgiveness really is.

 Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom

 Forgive yourself before you die. Then forgive others. There is no point in keeping vengeance or stubbornness. These things I so regret in my life. Pride. Vanity. Why do we do the things we do?

 The Book of Mormon on Forgiveness

 Ask in sincerity of heart that God would forgive you

 Forgive one another your trespasses

 He who forgives not his neighbor’s trespasses brings himself     under condemnation

 Mother Theresa on Forgiveness

 People ask me what advice I have for a married couple struggling in their relationship. I always answer, “Pray and forgive”; and to the single mother with no family support, “Pray and forgive.”

 We sincerely forgive all who have injured us and ask pardon of all whom we have injured.

 To God, everything is simple -- God’s love for us in greater than all the conflicts, which will pass.

 Confessions of Faith in a Mennonite Perspective on Forgiveness

 The same spirit that empowered Jesus also empowers us to love enemies, to forgive rather than seek revenge, to practice right relationships, to rely on the community of faith to settle disputes and resist evil without violence

 We all tend to linger in the past and blame ourselves and others for faults committed. In addition to preventing us from enjoying more fully whatever the existing moment offers us, this clinging to the past is absolutely useless for solving any problems.

 Brian Weiss, M.D. on Forgiveness

 A lawyer once consulted me about hypertension. He told me about conflicts he was experiencing with his only son. A past life memory revealed a situation where both men had been intense rivals. This understanding of an ancient battle resulted in a complete change in his behavior toward his son. The competition between them faded away and love was able to flow between them again.

 Meditation for Resentment by Stephen Levine

 Close your eyes… For a moment reflect on what the word forgiveness might really mean. What is forgiveness?

 And now, very gently - no force - just as an experiment in truth - allow the image of someone for whom you have much resentment - someone for whom you have anger and a sense of distance - let them just gently come into your mind - as an image, as a feeling

 Maybe you feel them at the center of your chest as fear, as resistance. However they manifest in your mindbody, just invite them in very gently for this moment, for this experiment.

 And in your heart, silently say to them “I forgive you.” “I forgive you for whatever you have done in the past that caused me pain, intentionally or unintentionally. However you have caused me pain, I forgive you.”

 Speak gently to them in your heart with your own words - in your own way.

 In your heart, say to them, “I forgive you for whatever you may have done in the past, through your words, through your actions, through your thoughts that caused me pain, intentionally or unintentionally, I forgive you. I forgive you.”

 Allow them to be touched … just for a moment at least … by your forgiveness. Allow forgiveness.

 It is so painful to hold someone out of your heart. How can you hold onto that pain, that resentment even a moment longer?

 Fear, doubt… let it go… and for this moment, tough them with your forgiveness.

Now let them go gently, let them leave quietly. Let them go with your blessing.

 Now picture someone who has great resentment for you. Feel them maybe in your chest, seeing them in your mind as an image - a sense of their being. Invite them gently in.Someone who has resentment, anger - someone who is unforgiving toward you. Let them into your heart.And in your heart, say to them “I ask your forgiveness, for whatever I may have done in the past that caused you pain, intentionally or unintentionally, through my words, through my actions, through my thoughts. However I caused you pain, I ask your forgiveness. I ask your forgiveness.”“Through my anger, my fear, my blindness, my laziness, however I caused you pain intentionally or unintentionally, I ask your forgiveness”.

 Let it be. Allow that forgiveness in. Allow yourself to be touched by their forgiveness. If the mind rises up with thoughts like self-indulgence or doubt, just see how profound our mercilessness is with ourselves and open up to forgiveness.

 Allow yourself to be forgiven. Allow yourself to be forgiven.

 Let it be. Let it be.

 And gently… gently… let them go on their way in forgiveness for you… in blessings for you.And turn to yourself in your own heart and say “I forgive you” to you. Whatever tries to block that - the mercilessness and the fear… let it go. Let it be touched by your forgiveness and your mercy. And gently, in your heart, calling yourself by your own first name say, “I forgive you” to you.

 It is so painful to put yourself out of your heart. Let yourself in.

 Let yourself be touched by this forgiveness. Let the healing in. Say “I forgive you” to you. Let that forgiveness be extended to the beings all around you. May all beings forgive themselves.

 May they discover joy. May all beings be free of suffering.

 May all beings be at peace. May all beings be healed.

 May all beings be at one with their true nature.

 May they be free from suffering. May they be at peace.

 Let that loving kindness, that forgiveness, extend to the whole planet - to every level of existence, seen and unseen.

 May all beings know the power of forgiveness, of freedom, of peace. May they know their vastness, their infinite peacefulness.

 May all beings be free. May all beings be free.

 Bibliography

 Casarjian, R. (1992). Forgiveness: A bold choice for a peaceful heart. NY: Bantam Books

 Smedes, L.B. (1996). Forgive and forget: Healing the hurts we don’t deserve. NY: Harper Collins