About Forgiveness Prayers
When we practice forgiveness prayers, it is helpful to see the three ways we can forgive:
- We must ask for forgiveness from others we feel we have caused suffering
- We must ask that we forgive ourselves
- We must ask for forgiveness toward those we feel have caused us suffering
I think that the first aspect of our forgiveness prayer is that we acknowledge that there is something to forgive. We acknowledge that we have caused suffering to others and to ourselves, or that there are others who have caused us suffering.
It’s very helpful to then acknowledge that the root of all this suffering is fear, anger, pain and confusion, and that sometimes this has been done willingly and sometimes just through our own or others confusion.
We then need to ask for forgiveness. I also feel that it’s important to acknowledge the forgiveness that has already taken place, and to be grateful for it. You can always name specific people who we want to forgive or be forgiven by.
It’s important that we create our own forgiveness prayer that resonates with us.
It’s very helpful to then acknowledge that the root of all this suffering is fear, anger, pain and confusion, and that sometimes this has been done willingly and sometimes just through our own or others confusion.
We then need to ask for forgiveness. I also feel that it’s important to acknowledge the forgiveness that has already taken place, and to be grateful for it. You can always name specific people who we want to forgive or be forgiven by.
It’s important that we create our own forgiveness prayer that resonates with us.
How to Practice Forgiveness Prayers
An example of a forgiveness prayer could be something like this:
I know that, through my thoughts or actions, I have caused others pain and suffering, either knowingly or unknowingly, because of my own confusion, fear, anger or pain, and I ask that I be forgiven. Please forgive me to whatever extent it is possible at this time.
I’m grateful for all the forgiveness which you may already have given me.
I know that, through my thoughts or actions, I have caused myself pain and suffering, either knowingly or unknowingly, because of my own confusion, fear, anger or pain, and I ask that I forgive myself to whatever extent I can at this time. Please forgive me.
I’m grateful for all the forgiveness which I have already given to myself.
I know that there are others who, through their thoughts or actions, have caused me pain and suffering either knowingly or unknowingly. I know that this comes from their own confusion, fear, anger or pain. I ask that I can forgiveness them, to whatever extent I can at this time. May I forgive them.
I’m grateful for all the forgiveness which I have been able to give.
I know that, through my thoughts or actions, I have caused others pain and suffering, either knowingly or unknowingly, because of my own confusion, fear, anger or pain, and I ask that I be forgiven. Please forgive me to whatever extent it is possible at this time.
I’m grateful for all the forgiveness which you may already have given me.
I know that, through my thoughts or actions, I have caused myself pain and suffering, either knowingly or unknowingly, because of my own confusion, fear, anger or pain, and I ask that I forgive myself to whatever extent I can at this time. Please forgive me.
I’m grateful for all the forgiveness which I have already given to myself.
I know that there are others who, through their thoughts or actions, have caused me pain and suffering either knowingly or unknowingly. I know that this comes from their own confusion, fear, anger or pain. I ask that I can forgiveness them, to whatever extent I can at this time. May I forgive them.
I’m grateful for all the forgiveness which I have been able to give.
YIN OFFERINGS |
|
