The Art of Forgiveness, Lovingkindess, and Peace

An Invitation You hold in your hand an invitation: To remember the transforming power of forgiveness and lovingkindness. To remember that no matter where you are and what you face, within your heart peace is possible. The teachings in this book contain age-old understandings about love. They give simple and direct practices to help cultivate its qualities in your own heart. This wisdom is essential for all who live in modern times. The words of the Buddha offer this truth: Hatred never ceases by hatred But by love alone is healed. This is the ancient and eternal law. Often we find ourselves in conflicts that unsettle our peace of mind. We face difficult situations, and our problems can feel insurmountable. Pain, anger, and fear can arise in ourselves, in families, in business, in communities, and between nations. We would like to find a way out of the suffering, Even in the worst situations, the heart can be free. We who lived in the concentration camps can remember those who walked through the huts comforting others, giving away their last piece of bread.... They may have been few in number but they offer sufficient proof that everything can be taken from us but the last of human freedoms... the freedom to choose our spirit in any circumstance. Viktor E. Frankl Forgiveness and compassion are not sentimental or weak. They demand courage and integrity. Yet they alone can bring about the peace we long for. True love is not for the faint-hearted. Meher Baba Our innate wisdom knows this is true. When Buddhist texts address us as "O Nobly Born," they tell us we are all sons and daughters of the Buddha. Do not doubt your own basic goodness. In spite of all confusion and fear, you are born with a heart that knows what is just, loving, and beautiful. In the words of Jungian Analyst, Robert A. Johnson: Curiously, people resist the noble aspects of their shadow more strenuously than they hide their dark sides. It is more disrupting to find that you have a profound nobility of character than to find out that you are a bum. If we look at ourselves truthfully, we can feel the possibility of being more compassionate, more awake, more free. If it were not possible to free the heart from entanglement in greed, hate, and fear, I would not teach you to do so. Buddha Anger, blame, conflict, and resentment arise from our fear. When we are afraid, our body tightens, our heart is constricted, our mind is possessed. We cannot live wisely. Forgiveness releases us from the power of fear. It allows us to see with kindly eyes and rest in a wise heart. Live in joy, in love, Even among those who hate. Live in joy, in health, Even among the afflicted. Live in joy, in peace, Even among the troubled. Look within, be still. Free from fear and attachment, Know the sweet joy of the way. Buddha How can we begin? In any moment we can learn to let go of hatred and fear. We can rest in peace, love, and forgiveness. It is never too late. Yet to sustain love we need to develop practices that cultivate and strengthen the natural compassion within us. It is not enough to know that love and forgiveness are possible. We have to find ways to bring them to life. The truth is we are not yet free; we have merely achieved the freedom to be free. Nelson Mandela A Meditation on Forgiveness There is a formal meditation practice that can help us cultivate the capacity to forgive. In this we ask for and extend forgiveness in three directions. In a Buddhist monastery one might repeat this practice hundreds of times until it becomes natural to the heart. Let yourself sit comfortably, allowing your eyes to close and your breath to be natural and easy. Let your body and mindKornfield, Jack is the author of 'The Art of Forgiveness, Lovingkindess, and Peace' with ISBN 9780553381191 and ISBN 0553381199.