FORGIVENESS

An †Inner† Christianity Perspective

One of the many unique contributions that Jesus Christ made to the spiritual life of humanity was to offer a mechanism for true forgiveness. This is concisely expressed in the well-known “Our Father” prayer with the lines: “And release us from our debts, as we release those in our debt” (Matt.6:12). If we extend forgiveness infinitely and unconditionally, we will receive it in the same degree. It is the ultimate act of generosity since it gives without keeping count. It is also the ultimate act of freedom since it liberates us from demanding something in return.

It has become common human behaviour to call in, or collect on, moral and other “debts” or favours we believe are owed to us by others. Consequently we find it difficult to express true forgiveness because we experience it as unjustified. We work from the premise that by forgiving, we overlook genuine wrongs and sacrifice justice. Without realizing it, we assume a self-appointed higher moral status in which we regard our “forgiveness” as a gift condescendingly given by a superior to an inferior.

An important question to ask is exactly whom are we forgiving? The answer is obviously “other people”. However, from a spiritual perspective “other people” are in essence the same as ourselves. Fragmenting the essential oneness of humanity reinforces our separateness and potentially perpetuates the human condition of suffering and conflict.

To truly feel, know, and understand the feelings and mental perspectives of others, to have compassion with others, requires spiritual work that is directed inward. It necessitates an inner detachment, an ability to view things from a non-materialistic perspective. By unfolding the Higher Self we transmute the lower self. This is the element of consciousness that has the capacity to harbour inner grudges, to conceal hidden influences that can de-stabilize and dis-harmonize the soul, no matter how much we try outwardly to forgive.

There is always a path to choose, a right and wrong way to go. True forgiveness requires mastery over the lower emotional and mental worlds; it strives for understanding the perceived offender as an “I,” rather than a “him” or “her”. In this way it allows us to recognise the oneness of divinity in ourselves and our perceived offenders.

From the perspective of Tiphareth, forgiveness is the most spiritually sane response to all events, no matter how dark and evil they may appear. Let us invoke this state of unconditional love by meditating on the phrase:

“Forgiveness is my function as the light of the world”.