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F ORUM TEACHINGS | EASTERN HORIZON 577
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decisions the actions would have up having feelings. Forgiveness afflictions are at fault,
their distinct karmic imprint left means more for oneself rather than Not the persons who have the
on the psyche of the person in the the offender. Forgiveness recollects afflictions.
wake of their execution. Generally, positive energy. It is all about your
we may assume someone who healing and have nothing to do with Written by Geshe Dadul Namgyal
forgives does so out of a positive the people who hurt you. Therefore, and edited by Martha Leslie Baker.
mental attitude such as empathy forgiveness is a choice, and
and kindness. Someone who everyone can learn the correct way
refuses to forgive does so out of a to forgive, either oneself or others.
negative mental attitude such as The fact is forgiveness is a very
resentment and hostility. In such personal thing; it acknowledges
a case, the former would have that we can’t change the past and
accrued positive karma and the at the same time it allows us not
latter negative. In short, nothing to stay stuck in the past. Once we Venerable Āyasmā Aggacitta is
justifies any instance of anger or can forgive ourselves then it will the founder of the Sāsanārakkha
hatred as a permissible reaction be much easier for us to forgive Buddhist Sanctuary (SBS) in
or response to any situation from others, nevertheless it’s impossible Taiping, Perak, a Pāli scholar and a
the perspective of the workings of to forgive others if you have not meditation teacher.
karma. forgiven yourself.

How can we help others to Geshe Dadul: It is essential to
reconcile with the past and distinguish between an action and
forgive oneself as well as others? the person who does the action. We

can say an action is harmful, wrong,
Aggacitta: As I answered in or inappropriate but saying that
Q5 above, forgiveness can be the person who did it is evil and Geshe Dadul Namgyal is a Geshe
activated by intellectual reflection despicable is untrue. The person Lharampa and senior resident
of conditionality but best by has the potential to become a teacher at Drepung Loseling
introspective observation of and buddha. He wishes to be happy and Monastery in Atlanta, Georgia, USA
insight into its mechanism. It is to overcome suffering. His mistakes
through repeated experiential and destructive actions do not Ven. Min Wei is a teacher of
verification and understanding negate his good qualities. Thinking e-learning at the International
that one, and therefore everyone along these lines both with respect Buddhist College (IBC) and
else too, is the product–or even a to oneself and others can help an independent translator of
Buddhism. EH
helpless victim–of complex causes one reconcile with the past and
and conditions that anger, hatred forgive self and others on the road
and regret can be transcended, and to spiritual flourishing. Aryadeva’s
forgiveness established. Four Hundred Stanzas says: Just as a
doctor does not fight but helps
Min Wei: We can try to let them
know that forgiveness does not Patients who, overwhelmed by
mean reconciling with the offender. illness, get angry at them,
Forgiveness does not mean we give Likewise, the Buddha sees that the