"To err is human, to forgive, divine."
"What are the ways of the Holy One. A God compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in kindness and faithfulness, extending kindness to the thousandth generation, forgiving, iniquity, transgression and sin.” Exodus
God’s love is not a test. God is not a test of love.
(Karma is the test.)
God's love does not seek worth, God's love creates worth.
I thought it opportune since the High Holy days for Jews is now that I would share some insights especially from Maimonides about how to clean the slate and "Return" to our Higher Selves.
The mantra that is said for this day is; "May you be inscribed in the Book of Life." This endorses the idea that karma is relentless and we don't get away with anything. In yoga the Akashic Records are the equivalent of the Book of Life - everything is recorded in some way.
We probably all need a dedicated day at least once a year where we exam our failings and take accountability so that we can return to our True Selves. To repent and make amends is to heal the soul.
This is also the parable of the prodigal son or daughter returning to the Creator to be made whole. God will forgive us for anything we have done to Him/Her (that part of us made in the image of the Divine) and Jesus died for our sins. These are the sins we have done to our Higher Selves that part of us made in the image of the Divine. However, according to Maimonides we are not forgiven for those sins we have committed to our fellow humans. For those we have to make amends.
When we cross over the veil between worlds we will be accountable to a spiritual tribunal who will lovingly show us the errors of our ways. There is no stern, judgmental day as such but we will continue to come back again and again until we reach a certain level of spiritual excellence - the ongoing wheel of Samsara - death and rebirth. Forgiveness can mitigate some of these errors.
“And if your friend does evil to you, say to him, “I forgive you for what you did to me, but how can I forgive you for what you did to yourself?” Nietzsche
God will forgive us for those sins but not the sins to any of the Four Beings of nature - Talking, Wild, Growing or Still. Hence Buddhists also make painstaking efforts not to harm Nature.
When it comes to the sins we have done to other humans (the Talking Beings) we need to make amends. When it comes to the other Beings we need to do the best we can.
Maimonides five steps can guide us.
STEPS TO ASKING FORGIVENESS
It is important to accept total responsibility. Do not comfort your conscience with high-minded excuses, reasons or assurances.
Acknowledge the pain you have inflicted.
Consider
Is it how you would desire being treated?
If your answer is no, then the next step is how do you make this known to all who have been hurt, scandalized and diminished by this action.
1. Be aware of the action, admit to it and sincerely feel regret and remorse. If the apology is not heart felt it is karmically neutral or even negative.
2. Confess and ask forgiveness unconditionally without any excuses as to the why. Rationalizing one's action negates the intention.
If appropriate it may have to be a communal apology.
If it is an illicit relationship, it is discontinued; if it is stolen property, it is restored.
3. Return what was taken or compensate in some way if possible.
4. Picture a better way to have handled the incident.
Kabbalah first teaches that you determine whether or not given the same situation you would do it again – not because of the eventual consequences that may have turned out badly
but because of your assessment of the “rightness” of your actions.
Understood of course, is that the offense is not continued or repeated.
5. Determine never to repeat the action.
If the sin/s are repeated it may compound the karmic effect.
One must confess, admit, acknowledge any wrong
without justifying the action.
To ask forgiveness for it, is to repair in full
whether or not the pain is removed or the forgiveness granted.
When asking, allow the other to be where they are. Regrets may not be accepted especially if the damage cannot be repaired or allowing of compensation. At least show willingness to do so. If done with good intent it should unite and not divide.
As you assess and attempt to make amends you will risk ridicule, rebuff and refusal.
Maimonides adds that for complete karmic resolution – if the apology is not accepted – it should ideally be repeated. If a sincere effort has been made to ask for forgiveness, more than once and this is denied, the karmic burden shifts to the one holding a grudge.
If the person rejects your offer nothing is lost.
“… What you give to, if not received, is still not lost. Not getting back what you give, and or, not having what you give being received – neither way is a waste or loss.” John O’donahue
The Ancestors teach that we should
repent with joy and forgive with joy because we are returning to the Self and are back on the path.
In addition we need to forgive ourselves and ask for forgiveness from others.
Giving or asking for forgiveness does not have to be associated with any obligation to return to the relationship.
Especially when it comes to our parents, grandparents and loved ones it is always best to ask or give forgiveness before death.
Sangoma wisdom and Kabbalah imply that if someone is forgiven sincerely for a sin commit to him/her they are released from that particular Karmic sin. The onus is on us to forgive our parents because they gave us life. Hence the commandment "Honor you father and mother ..." (with forgiveness.) It does not state love or even like them, just honor them with this. The mandate should be extended to the grandmothers and grandfathers because they also had a hand in our existence.
This is why our dead loved ones sometimes haunt the living hoping for forgiveness since this will somewhat improve their karmic profile as well as the next incarnation.
Forgiveness not only mitigates against bad karma but also facilitates healing by enhancing our immune systems and releasing the 'albatross' hanging around our necks.
