Forgive & Forget

"Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who gets burned."- Buddha

We are trying to travel the fastest in our spiritual lives but we drag these huge weights. Do you know what these chains are?

Is there someone that you dislike? Perhaps even someone that you hate? Is there someone that you have not forgiven? Someone that you cannot forgive? These are huge weights that we drag across our very hearts, scarring them. They are impurities to the perfect love we each have within us. Impurities that drag our love down. Dragging our love into silly, conditional expressions. We will not be the first to apologise or the first to extend a hand, because it is 'their fault' or 'they started it'. We will not be the first to forgive, because 'they do not deserve it'. 'I will not love her until she loves me, and if she stops loving me then I cannot love her'. What a weight we carry!

Let them go.

Forgive those that have wronged you. Not for them. For you. The hate or the grudge that you carry around is a noose around your neck not theirs. It is contributing to your tension, making you angry - let it go!
Open yourself to the highest love, the love that is without condition and without expectation of love in return and love them for your sake, not theirs. Practise it a little and you will realise that higher still is love for their sake, not yours and you will be free and happy.

You cannot control all the events of your life, but you can control your state of mind during them. Your state of mind is what determines your happiness not the events of your life. You are the master of your own happiness, because you are the master of your state of mind - take control.

Finally. Don't worry, be happy! (do you feel a little reggae coming on?) Worry is a mental disease that only you can heal. It is a looping program, a virus for your spiritual life - let it go - let them all go. Do all you can to deal with your worries now. No procrastination. Just deal with them and then LET THEM GO!

Our power is the infinite heaven with us.

Fill me with spiritual longing, detachment from the world, and a loving heart.
Grant me quiet contentment and self-control, and keep my heart firmly directed toward Thee.
O Ever-Present, awaken me to the sense of Thy constant presence.
O Mohan, grant me knowledge, and the power of meditation, that my mind may continually turn to Thee.
O Lord of the humble, grant that the Light of lights may illumine my heart.

Dadu (1544-1603),  saint from Rajasthan