Forgiveness

Greetings Yogis and Yoginis,

This week in class we are considering the topic “forgiveness.”

It is in pardoning that we are pardoned.
-Saint Francis of Assisi

There are times when past mistakes swim into our vision and do their best to consume us in guilt or regret. At such times it is essential to repeat the mantram and turn all our attention outwards, away from ourselves. Analyzing our mistakes and dwelling on how to repay them is of no earthly benefit at all. If, when you were in Milwaukee, you happened to say something insulting to your girlfriend’s dog, it is not necessary to go to Milwaukee and find your old girlfriend or her dog to make amends. Every dog you treat with kindness will be a proxy for that dog. If you have treated a particular person badly, even if you can no longer win that person’s forgiveness, you can still win the forgiveness of yourself, of the Lord within, by bearing with people who treat you badly and doing your best not to treat anyone badly again. Whatever we have done, we can always make amends for it without ever looking back in guilt or sorrow.

Words to Live By: Inspiration for Every Day – Eknath Easwaran

The homework is to remember that forgiveness starts with forgiving yourself. Choose a few mistakes from your past and make a conscious effort to forgive yourself. Work to realize this self-forgiveness in your daily life by expressing lovingkindess (metta) in all of your relationships.

Blessings,

paul cheek
Rushing Water Yoga
The BKS Iyengar Yoga School of Southwest Washington
417 NE Birch St., Camas, WA 98607
360.834.5994

www.rushingwateryoga.com
info@rushingwateryoga.com

Serving Yoga to Camas, Washougal, and Vancouver Washington since 2003