19d (edited) • Spiritual Health 🙏
Love and forgiveness
To love your neighbor as yourself. And if someone slaps you on one cheek, turn the other cheek also. Love and forgiveness. That is, the two principles that Jesus Christ brought into the New Law, to fulfill the old law (contained in the 10 commandments).
But how to love? And how to forgive? To love and forgive sounds vague. It sounds good in theory and we are delighted, especially by us, when we listen to the words of the priest at the church service. But in practice? How do we do it? And, especially, how to love our enemies? It works in church, especially when you listen to this exhortation. But after you leave? How do you do it? That you see someone and the feeling of hatred, doubled by fear, is instantly aroused...
About seven years ago I found the answer in a book by Daniel Siegel, an author known especially for his works dedicated to the concept of mindfulness. I took from him an idea of working with love and forgiveness, an idea that he also took from the Buddhists.
I introduced love and forgiveness into a therapeutic program and, apparently, this program is one with the best results.
All you have to do is reserve 10-12 minutes daily (at least two months, minimum 21 days) just for yourself. To work with yourself, in a ritual for your improvement (pretentiously said, for your transformation).
Find a quiet place. Sit comfortably. Allow your eyes to close. Place your palm on your chest and imagine that you are holding your heart in your hand or touching it with your fingers. Whatever you want. Breathe calmly and peacefully. Let your body breathe as it knows how. Do not force anything. Imagine that you are holding a baby in your arms (maybe even your own child). Let yourself be enveloped by the feeling that arises (I have noticed that this happens to both women and men, even if they do not have children). Let this feeling grow. Then, think of a benevolent person in your life. Give this person love, using the following formulas (each formula is repeated three times, out loud or in your mind):
- May you be safe and protected from all that is bad;
- May you be happy and have a heart full of joy;
- May you be healthy and have a body full of energy;
- May you have a good life, which comes from well-being.
Repeat these formulas (also three times) for a person who is your friend, for an indifferent person (and indifferent people are our kind), for a difficult person in your life (notice that I say difficult and not enemy; the word enemy automatically and instantly activates the feeling of hatred...). And, finally, give love to yourself, who is the most important person in your life, using the same formulas, also three times.
Practice this ritual daily, at least once, for a week. After a week, introduce forgiveness, for the same categories of people. After giving them love, say the phrases (also three times):
- I ask for forgiveness for everything I have done or said, which has caused you harm or painful feelings;
- I forgive you for everything you have done or said that has caused me harm or painful feelings.
Continue the full ritual for another three weeks. Notice the changes that occur in the way you think and feel about others, especially the difficult people in your life. Submit feedback here, in this community, regardless of the results that appear.
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Love and forgiveness
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