Guided Forgiveness Meditation

A Guided Forgiveness Meditation encourages you to explore how the qualities of anger and forgiveness express themselves within you. How many times do you find yourself reacting in anger and the regretting the results? How many times do you find yourself envying someone who approaches a similar situation with calm? The Buddhists believe that calm, patience and forgiveness are qualities that can be practiced and thereby, cultivated. In my own experience, I know this to be correct. Guided Forgiveness Meditation is one of many ways to cultivate those qualities within you.

While the flash of heat that is anger is easily recognizable, the subtle, but noticeable softening associated with forgiveness is often overlooked as we rush through our hectic daily pace. A Guided Forgiveness Meditation allows you to experience whether it is easier to give forgiveness, than to ask and receive it. It challenges you to forgive yourself the same way you would others. It requests that once forgiveness has been fully offered and received, you offer the accompanying sense of acceptance, peace and caring for others independent of all self-interest (the Buddhist concept of metta) to an ever-widening circle, until it encompasses the planet. While the analytical side of me is ever skeptical, I have personally experienced the wave of forgiveness as it expands. It is something beyond words ... truly beyond boundaries ... and can only be experienced.

I love to offer the Guided Forgiveness Meditation to groups because the subtle energy of forgiveness is compounded in the presence of others. I truly believe that peace on our planet starts with each individual – that as I strive to find ways to be more accepting, more patient, more open, that it affects those around me. As more people take on that challenge, the smaller circles of influence begin to overlap and magnify. Being with a group, whose mere presence signifies an unspoken, shared commitment to bring forgiveness into their lives, makes me feel hopeful that the world can change one person at a time.

To my great pleasure, the major regional newspaper where I live, The Ventura County Star, published a 3/4 page story on this meditation when I offered it at the start of 2008. Numerous people, from up to 40 miles away, braved a Southern California storm to attend the meditation, and we had to relocate to a large hall to accommodate everyone. All of the feedback I've received affirmed that this meditation touches people deeply.

You can check my calendar to find out the specific date and time when this will be offered next. Alternatively, consider signing up for my newsletter, so I can keep you posted on all of my upcoming events and programs. If we meet at a time that meshes with your schedule, please RSVP for the meditation, so that I can arrange for a room that comfortably accommodate the event. If you are unable to attend and can't wait until the next time I offer this amazing meditation, consider making arrangements for me to come lead it At Your Place.