Some Dharma Advice #3
[21]
Past
Learn lessons from the past
and let the hurt go.
Its lessons are all it is worth,
while the hurt is worthless.
[22]
Lessons
If still hurting from the past,
it means its lessons
are not fully learnt yet –
including the lesson to let hurt go.
[23]
Forgiveness
Remember to forgive,
but remember what learnt.
Forget the grudge,
but forget not what learnt.
[24]
Pain
It might feel painful to forgive now,
but it will feel more painful
to bear grudges for the rest of your life.
[25]
Apology
Why punish yourself further
by expecting apologies and amendments
from those who wronged you?
[26]
Agreement
Forgiveness does not mean
condoning wrong done to you,
it means to not do wrong to you,
by bearing hurtful grudges.
[27]
Courage
If suicide due to despair
is not an act of courage,
but the lack of courage,
how can it lead to greater courage
to face similar despair in the next life?
[28]
Control
Spiritual refuge tend to be sought
in one(s) believed to have greater control over oneself,
but the one with the greatest control is always oneself,
even with others offering great support.
[29]
Grudge
Do learn on and move on –
to increase learning,
and advance to the next lesson.
Do not grudge on and suffer on –
which lessens learning,
and misses the next lesson.
[30]
Peace
While both suffering from grudges lose peace of mind,
the one who lets them go wins peace for oneself,
even if the other does not make peace with this.