Dropping it

Non-forgiveness is like clutching a hot coal in our closed fist. We only drop it when a moment of perfect clarity reveals how holding this pain has distorted and deformed our entire humanhood.

Perfect

If I knew myself to the innermost point of my being, I would not second-guess myself, doubt myself, criticize myself, improve myself, compare myself or forgive myself. And I would never ever apologize.

Forgiveness

No one “blows it,” not even the crucifiers. Everyone acts according to the fullest extent of their consciousness. Crime and punishment? Punishment is itself a crime.

The end of effort (2)

Let us remind ourselves that none of the virtues—love, forgiveness, generosity, courage et al—require any effort. The only thing effort can do is turn them into a religion.

Sacrifice

The whole notion of sacrifice is rooted in the idea that I am bad or deficient and I must pay a price for that. Millennia ago, the Holy Temple of Jerusalem was basically a ‘divine’ slaughterhouse where bulls, rams and a variety of other livestock had their throats cut as an expiation for the sins of humans. Today sin-excited Christians flagellate themselves on Good Friday while the less theatrical cleanse themselves via weekly acts of murmured penance.