In my personal journey through this extraordinary human experience, I have made some discoveries that have transformed my perspective on suffering.
Today, I want to share one particular realization that has had a lasting impact on me:
“Oh! Looks Like I Have No One to Forgive.”
During my practice of the ‘Forgiveness‘ phase in The 6-Phase Meditation, it dawned on me that despite being subjected to hurtful and malicious acts in the past, I found myself in a unique state of mind. As I delved into the memory of those seemingly hurtful events, an intense surge of emotion welled up within me. However, something unexpected occurred – my perspective shifted.
Reflecting on the past, I now recognize that what unfolded were the indulgences of the so-called perpetrators – acts such as cheating, ill-speaking, violation of my physical boundaries, etc., that inflict hurt upon me. Equally significant were my reactions, which originated from the pain inflicted upon me.
However, the shift in perspective that occurred, one that reverberated within my being, was:
“You are as human as I am. What you did back then had nothing to do with ME and everything to do with YOU.”
What caused this shift, you might ask?
A deep sense of compassion. This was a profound moment of simultaneous compassion toward myself and the other. A remarkable moment of non-judgment toward myself and the other.
By embracing compassion, I acknowledged that the person who had supposedly wronged me was no different from myself, in the quest to becoming more and more human. In that moment, I realized the power of compassion preceding forgiveness in The 6-Phase Meditation.
I happened to have severed the association between those negative external events and my self-esteem. This transformative experience of self-compassion liberated me from the clutches of identifying with the negative event itself. I see now that self-compassion entails detaching oneself from transient mental states, recognizing that “I am more than this.”
The Power of Self-Compassion
As I delve deeper into the realm of self-compassion, I realize that when I truly embody self-compassion, I witness a remarkable shift within myself.
It involves three essential aspects:
Firstly, I learn to see myself without judgment, embracing self-acceptance in its purest form. This allows me to recognize my inherent worthiness and extend loving kindness to every aspect of my being.
Secondly, I gain the ability to discern between what truly pertains to me and what does not. This distinction empowers me to separate my identity from external circumstances, freeing myself from the entanglement of emotions such as anger, fear, guilt, and shame.
And thirdly, I am able to observe how these emotions manifest within my breathing, brain chemistry, and body musculature, and then transcend them through the simple act of love.
It is from this foundation of self-compassion that the journey expands. Embracing self-compassion might be the necessary first step towards cultivating genuine compassion for all experiences that lie outside the realm of my self.
Connectedness from Compassion
Once I have cultivated deep compassion for myself, extending that same level of compassion beyond myself becomes effortless. By expanding my awareness beyond the boundaries of self, I embrace the world with a compassionate lens. This process of expanding compassion forms the essence of what I perceive as “Levels of Compassion.” It is a profound journey of extending my sphere of awareness while maintaining a steadfast sense of compassion. With each level, I tap into an increased connectedness with the world around me. As I explore higher levels of compassion, I discover the transformative power of connectedness. The more compassion I cultivate, the greater my sense of interconnection with all beings. It is through these expanding levels of compassion that I find unity with the broader tapestry of life.
What drives me today is a recognition that fundamentally, we are all connected in our shared humanity. This transformative insight allows me to transcend the boundaries of suffering. It encourages me to see beyond the personal grievances and recognize the inherent vulnerability and fallibility of each individual. By embracing compassion, forgiveness becomes a natural consequence, unlocking the path towards healing and wholeness.
More from me on my Instagram.
Comentarios