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From Nordan Symposia
Jump to navigationJump to search2002-11-08-Self Forgiveness (view source)
Revision as of 19:06, 3 September 2009
, 19:06, 3 September 2009→Opening
==Session==
==Session==
===Opening===
===Opening===
Daniel(Bill): Faithful friends, this is Daniel. Let us pray.
Daniel(Bill): [[Faith]]ful [[friends]], this is Daniel. Let us pray.
To You, God . ..eternal, infinite, almighty, wholly pervaded by love and generosity, and beside Whom there is no Other, we, Your universe creatures, Your sons and daughters, bow our hearts and heads in glad submission to the great direction of Your loving will in our lives. Strengthen these, my students, that they may grasp the nobility of their heritage, the splendor or their destiny, and the joy of their humanity. Amen.
To You, God . ..[[eternal]], [[infinite]], almighty, wholly pervaded by [[love]] and generosity, and beside Whom there is no Other, we, Your [[universe]] [[creatures]], Your sons and daughters, bow our [[hearts]] and [[minds|heads]] in glad submission to the great direction of Your loving will in our lives. Strengthen these, my students, that they may grasp the nobility of their heritage, the splendor or their [[destiny]], and the [[joy]] of their [[humanity]]. [[Amen]].
My dear friends, I am Daniel, still your teacher, always your friend, never ashamed of you or discouraged by you, but, rather, am I pleased to be, once again, in this tender, confidential and trusting relationship. My, time goes by and this group continues to mature! But, some of you say, "You are too generous with us, for we are full of failures and setbacks. We look upon our imperfections with a magnifying glass. We are not worthy to be your friend." And I reply, "Nonsense!" (Laughter) "Absolute nonsense!!" (More embarrassed laughter) Dear ones, it is true that I want to lecture you, and then we can have discussion, on the topic of self forgiveness. [Editor's Note: The TR had informed the group that he had heard ahead of time that self forgiveness was the topic.]
My dear friends, I am Daniel, still your teacher, always your friend, never ashamed of you or discouraged by you, but, rather, am I pleased to be, once again, in this tender, confidential and trusting [[relationship]]. My, [[time]] goes by and this group continues to mature! But, some of you say, "You are too generous with us, for we are full of failures and setbacks. We look upon our imperfections with a magnifying glass. We are not worthy to be your friend." And I reply, "Nonsense!" (Laughter) "Absolute nonsense!!" (More embarrassed laughter) Dear ones, it is true that I want to lecture you, and then we can have discussion, on the topic of self forgiveness. [Editor's Note: The TR had informed the group that he had heard ahead of time that self forgiveness was the topic.]
Because of comments that have been made over the last few months and, indeed, have been made over the years, this topic remains relevant, comments such as I just illustrated in my self depreciating monologue. Because of these sorts of [[feelings]] and [[expression]]s on your part, once again we desire to talk about self [[forgiveness]].
===Lesson===
===Lesson===
First of all, understand that self forgiveness is not a simple intellectual decision. You have all experienced the understanding in your mind that God is forgiving and understanding, and that none of you stand in debt to Him; and at the same time feel guilty, remorseful, resentful of your imperfections, hasty and impatient to be done with your habits that bring you grief. In other words, at the same moment that you intellectually understand that you are forgiven by the Source of your life, you almost stubbornly hold on to your lower self opinion. Surely, if you could simply say, "Ok, I forgive myself", it would be done, wouldn't it?
First of all, understand that self forgiveness is not a simple intellectual decision. You have all experienced the understanding in your mind that God is forgiving and understanding, and that none of you stand in debt to Him; and at the same time feel guilty, remorseful, resentful of your imperfections, hasty and impatient to be done with your habits that bring you grief. In other words, at the same moment that you intellectually understand that you are forgiven by the Source of your life, you almost stubbornly hold on to your lower self opinion. Surely, if you could simply say, "Ok, I forgive myself", it would be done, wouldn't it?
