A key to empowerment that moves us to higher consciousness is clearing away the debris of how we see ourselves and gaining freedom from our thoughts that keep us from attaining our natural, or innate alignment – and thoughts of forgiveness. That forgiveness is often centered on how we see facts that may describe the essence of the truth, but not truth itself. Lao Tzu saw this and dramatically spoke of identifying how it related to a higher authority, i.e., universal truth. The Confucians saw this as an opening to say that “higher authority” was the emperor himself, who was seen as the manifestation of God here on earth. Even to the point of making Wang Pi’s (226–249 AD) version of the Tao Te Ching required reading and understanding, a central part of the examination system required to pass to move up in Chinese society. It was a step program. A central focus of granting forgiveness was/and still is the ability to in affect implant a new consciousness as if we had an eraser for our big mistakes. To create a new story. To challenge existing mores and streams of consciousness by changing the feelings of those who offend or feel they have been offended. A central theme of Wang Pi’s commentary that became a classic study of both Taoism and Confucianism was this sense of condoning or excusing actions with the ability to forgive and move on to restoration. He believed that those who don’t live for themselves are the refuge of others. This made Confucius claim that we live with a sense of benevolence towards all the ultimate that man could achieve.

This concept was especially difficult following the early Han dynasty when Emperor Chin (221 to 206 BC) united China and constructed the Great Wall, but destroyed all the ancient texts of Taoism, Confucius and much more, along with killing scholars who were seen as not in agreement with him. After his death came a time of reconciliation and the gaining of the “faculty of forgiveness”. With the next five to six hundred years ushering in a renaissance of thought with the entry of Buddhism from India integrating with the thoughts of Confucius, Chuang Tzu, and Lao Tzu. If there is a “model of forgiveness”, it must begin with setting ourselves free… of letting go.  To let go of “error thinking” and to make room for forgiveness, both a sense of what you see as either positive or negative. As if the Taoist knew how to care for our inner world, while the Confucians man’s outer world… or relationships with others.

Again as I have referenced before, this is why meditation is important as an aid in seeing beyond ourselves. Thereby moving our intention to intuition and forgiving ourselves first. A key attribute of forgiveness is understanding that “like unto itself is drawn”. That we attract what is attracting us. It is not that opposites attract (the popular culture understanding of I Ching/yin and yang), it is that in unison things move as complementary opposites. Forgiveness understands that we as humans are inherently flawed. Yet we are universal and connected to and are affected by everything we touch and everything likewise is affected by us. We are divine and we begin to practice reconciliation when we achieve some sense of higher or “inner consciousness”.

This begins when we send forth gratitude for acknowledging who we are, or are yet to become and forgiving ourselves and others. This is an essential step in the process of becoming transcendent and aligning with our higher source. It is when we chose attention to this truth that wisdom prevails. To forgive is to re-align with our ultimate identity that brings forward completion. It is not about coming to terms with another person. It may be that you say “I am done with you”, so that I can begin to gain alignment with who I am. Thereby identifying with my own highest, or greater truth. To go forward to something greater connecting with the flow of energy and vibrations that flows toward me. This higher consciousness shifts our attention to the benefit that another person has given us, not what we felt had to be forgiven. It is this sentiment that is an underlying tenet of the I Ching. Of being able to return to the beginning of what defines us and connecting with the flow of energy that determines the ultimate outcome of who we are yet to become. It’s like going out the same door that you entered.

Along the way, we pick things up as attachments that over a lifetime come and go in importance, but in reality have no real meaning. We mistake the essence of unconditional love for what we are attracted to in the moment. Nelson Mandela, after over thirty years in prison in South Africa was still an eternal optimist. Upon his release his initial comments centered on the idea that “I will keep my feet moving forward” that ultimately led to reconciliation in his homeland. The Buddha said we each deserve peace and that the truth you believe makes you unavailable to distraction. It is in this way by illustrating the keys to forgiveness that we remind others of their own divine goodness – of who they are. Of alignment with divine truth and that it is through our own awareness that we heal the world. That we are who we choose to be in our capacity to give forward. Or as Gandhi said, “We must be the change we want to see in the World”…

Lao Tzu said and Wang Pi confirmed that “When the Tao prevails contentment reigns. People don’t seek external things but cultivate themselves instead”. This begins with a sense of forgiveness. With this you begin to know thyself and take steps of becoming eternal.

3/20/2017 DCD