ST Healing Love-IntoBalance October2022 - Flipbook - Page 26
There is a story about the Buddha and forgiveness. A merchant’s
only son chose to leave the family business and become a disciple of the Buddha.
He packed his things, left home, and dedicated himself to the Buddha at his
ashram. The merchant was furious. All he ever wanted in life was to be able to
pass on his life’s work to his son. So, after several months of seething anger, he
traveled all the way to where the Buddha and his disciples lived so that he could
express this anger that was boiling inside of him. When he entered the
ashram though something strange happened. No words would come
out of his mouth. There was such peace in the room that he could not use his
voice to express anger, so he spit in the face of the Buddha.
All of the Buddha’s followers gasped in horror. Even the merchant was stunned.
As soon as he could gather his wits, he ran out of the ashram full of shame.
That night he could not sleep. He tossed and turned with guilt and inner turmoil.
He came face to face with his own inner demons. As soon as the dawn broke,
he made his way back to the ashram and bowed before the Buddha. He begged
for his forgiveness. And the Buddha said, “No, I cannot forgive you.” Again his
disciples were shocked. But then the Buddha continued, “I cannot forgive you
because you are not the same person
who was here yesterday, nor am i.
—Kate
The wisdom of forgiveness asks us to zoom out. To see human behavior from our own true humanity.
A combination of critical thinking, observation, feeling; no forgiveness happens without it. To be able
to see “it,” - the root cause. Not just stuck in the feelings of it requires us to get outside of ourselves to
see humanity.
My dear, in the midst of hate, I found there was, within me, an invincible love. In the
midst of tears, I found there was, within me, an invincible smile. In the midst of chaos,
I found there was within me, an invincible calm. I realized, through it all, that… in the
midst of winter, I found there was, within me, an invincible summer. And that
makes me happy. For it says that no matter how hard the world
pushes against me, within me, there’s something stronger something better, pushing right back.
—Albert Camus
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Healing Love: Into Balance | A Brown Paper