Son, Your Sins are Forgiven

Adyashanti on Healing, Identity, and Forgiveness

I'm reading a wonderful book right now by Adyashanti called Resurrecting Jesus, Embodying the spirit of a Revolutionary Mystic.  Adyashanti is himself a modern day mystic and his take on Jesus's life and teachings is fresh and beautiful.

This morning I was reading in Resurrecting Jesus about a healing Jesus performed in Mark 2:5.  In it, a paralyzed man was brought to Jesus for healing.  Jesus simply said to him, "Son, your sins are forgiven." and the man was healed.

What Did “Sin” Originally Mean?

Adyashanti points out that the word sins, at that time, had simpler connotations than they have been given in the following 2,000 years.  The original Greek meaning for the word hamartia or sin, was to miss the mark. Another meaning is simply the word flaw.  Our current meaning of sin is so much darker and deeper.  We think of our sins as being evil and they are strongly attached to feelings of shame and guilt.

What if, instead of thinking of sin as the source of guilt and upset in our lives, we merely choose to see the ways we have missed the mark?  After all, we are simply trying to do what it takes to survive and find a few comforts here in our earthly reality, our space and time reality.  We all make mistakes here, we misjudge, we miss the mark.  We all have flaws.  Having a flaw is not inherently evil.

How Divine Presence Heals and Forgives

Adyashanti makes a second point; that the paralytic had to do nothing to be healed by Jesus.  He was merely brought into Jesus' presence.  "And this is really Jesus's greatest healing power, the power of his presence."

Jesus bestows his forgiveness on people as a kind of healing balm.  For a human being to receive true forgiveness is a potent thing.  When the forgiveness is authentic, it has a very deep and powerful effect.  Sometimes another forgives us, and sometimes we are called to forgive ourselves so that we can move on in a really heartful way.  When we repent (repent means to have a change of heart), our sin (missing the mark) is forgiven.  Then we are realigned with the wisdom of the unified heart.  --Adyashanti

Adyashanti goes on to say:

The healing balm is forgiveness; that's what heals the flaw.  That's what allows us to rebalance ourselves, to find our equilibrium-- psychic, emotional and spiritual.  That is really what Jesus does: he is righting the person,  helping them to quickly find internal balance.  When they find balance, when their inner state is unified, the healing takes place.

Jesus Saw the Son, Not the Sin

I really enjoy Adyashanti and I admire what he has to say here, but I think he misses one important point in what Jesus has to say.  The first word that Jesus says to this man is Son.  Jesus addresses him as Son — not in the sense of ‘young man,’ after all, Jesus himself was only 30 at the time.  But rather as Son, Son of God, the Son of God, an essential member and vibrant part of the Sonship.

When Jesus uses the word Son, he is reminding the paralytic of his true identity, and Jesus is raising his own thinking.  He doesn't see a poor broken sinner in front of him.  Rather, he sees a true Son of God, one whom God created in his own image and whom is loved by God infinitely.  This man is just as God created him to be.  He is perfect, whole and complete.  He is eternal, everywhere and always, unchanging in his true state.

Let Your Forgiveness Mirror the Divine

Let our own forgiveness be as Jesus's.  Let us know that everyone misses the mark sometimes.  We all have flaws.  Let us always be firmly anchored in the presence of the divine which resides in each of us. And finally, let us look deep into the mind of our trespassers and know their deepest truth.  They are Sons of God.  

Want to go deeper into forgiveness?

Read this posting that explains more on why forgiveness is our best pathway to peace and happiness: Unblocking our Connection to Love

My book, Forgiveness is the Key to Happiness, offers gentle guidance, spiritual reflections, and real-world practices to help you heal, release, and return to peace.
Explore the book on Amazon →

Make forgiveness a daily practice. Let the Forgiveness Metta Cards guide you each morning with affirmations and soul-soothing reminders to help you release and bless. A beautiful companion to your journal or meditation time.  Read The Metta Deck Story.  
Take a look on Etsy →

Let these tools support your journey — because forgiveness sets you free.
—Sue Pipal

Abundance Affirmations--Pair them With Forgiveness

The Power of Affirmations

Affirmations are a simple but powerful way to invite abundance into your life. They help reprogram the mind, shift perspective, and open your awareness to opportunities, blessings, and joy that might otherwise go unnoticed. But affirmations work even better when paired with forgiveness.

Why Forgiveness Enhances Abundance

Unforgiveness blocks energy. Holding onto resentment, guilt, or anger can create invisible barriers to abundance—whether that’s peace, love, joy, or even material prosperity. When we forgive, we clear the space in our hearts and minds, making room for the positive energies of life to flow freely.

Daily Affirmations to Pair with Forgiveness

Here are some affirmations to repeat daily, ideally after a moment of self-forgiveness or forgiving someone else:

• I release all that no longer serves me and open to the abundance of love and joy.

• I forgive myself and others, and I am free to receive all good things.

• Every day I attract opportunities, love, and blessings in perfect timing.

• I am worthy of abundance in all areas of my life.

• My heart is open, my mind is clear, and I trust the flow of life.

Bringing It Into Your Daily Life

Pairing affirmations with forgiveness is more than a practice—it’s a lifestyle. Each time you notice resentment, guilt, or judgment creeping in, pause, forgive, and then repeat your affirmations. Over time, this habit transforms not just your mindset, but the energy you project into the world, attracting more of the goodness and abundance you seek.

And Before Bed

Another great affirmation which I use frequently to help me wind down for bed and sleep deeply is a simple meditation.  Breathe in and say "I accept".  Then breathe out and say "the love of God".*  Repeat this over and over.  Again, this is another great tool, but if you want lasting happiness, forgive first and then meditate.  Make forgiveness a permanent part of your bedtime ritual and watch your life change.

*From The Way of Mastery

Sweet Dreams!

Want to go deeper into forgiveness and abundance?

• Explore how forgiveness reconnects us to divine compassion in Unblocking our Connection to Love.

• My book, Forgiveness is the Key to Happiness, offers heartfelt guidance, spiritual tools, and real-life practices. Read it on Amazon →

• Let daily affirmations support you too — discover the Forgiveness Metta Card Deck for a gentle morning practice of peace and release. View the deck on Etsy →

• Browse more forgiveness tools, art, and daily reminders in our Etsy Shop →

• Want to receive free weekly forgiveness coaching emails? Sign up and get insights, tools, and inspiration to deepen your practice of forgiveness → Sign up here

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Forgiveness Removes Guilt

Forgiveness Removes Guilt

I encourage everyone I know to start a daily forgiveness practice. Why? Because when we develop the habit of daily forgiveness, over time our guilt will be removed.

We all carry huge storehouses of unresolved guilt lurking in our subconscious minds. We feel guilty for every lie we've ever told, every unkind thought we've ever had, every person we've ever judged, or rule we've ever broken. We believe we have sinned.

 

The Mother-Lode of Guilt

Over the years, this guilt builds up. However, it pales in comparison to the mother-lode of guilt we create every moment we live apart from God. Living as individuals in our egos and choosing to ignore our true identity and oneness as God’s Son* leaves us with an iceberg of guilt beneath the surface of our conscious minds. Only forgiveness can heal this deep guilt.

Guilt Blocks Our True Inheritance

Without forgiveness, we believe we are unworthy. Guilt blocks our ability to experience the true gifts which are our inheritance from God. These gifts include peace, love, happiness, knowledge, beauty, and abundance.

The Key to Happiness

Here is the key to happiness: do your forgiveness work, and you will be able to live in God’s gifts. Forgive and release guilt, and you will begin to believe yourself worthy of accepting everything that God has to offer.

*Son--The word Son in A Course of Miracles, refers to the collective Sonship, of which we are all a part, having been created by God.  We are all his perfect Son, the Christ.

Want to go deeper into forgiveness?

• Explore how forgiveness reconnects us to divine compassion in Unblocking our Connection to Love. Read it here →
• My book, Forgiveness is the Key to Happiness, offers heartfelt guidance, spiritual tools, and real-life practices. Read it on Amazon →
• Let daily affirmations support you too — discover the Forgiveness Metta Card Deck for a gentle morning practice of peace and release. View the deck on Etsy →
• Want to receive free weekly forgiveness coaching emails? Sign up and get insights, tools, and inspiration to deepen your practice of forgiveness. Sign up here →

Let these tools light your path — because forgiveness sets you free.
— Sue Pipal

How Bob Newhart’s ‘Stop It’ Sketch Teaches Us to Let Go of Judgment

Bob Newhart’s Timeless Wisdom on Judgment

I recently attended a seminar in which Jon Mundy spoke. He mentioned how he is often asked about judgment—how to stop judging others. He reminded me of an old Bob Newhart episode that really puts things into perspective.

Just Stop It! The Power of Simple Advice

In the episode, Newhart’s character, a therapist, tells his patient simply: "Stop it. Just stop it!" It’s hilarious, but also profoundly simple advice that highlights how we often make our judgments more complicated than they need to be. The solution is as simple as Newhart’s character suggests: stop it. Stop the judging and choose to live in peace instead.

A Personal Connection to Bob Newhart

For me, this brought to mind not only the wisdom of Newhart's sketch but also my own personal connection to him. I have always loved Bob Newhart and watched many of his shows in reruns. Interestingly, my sister's first husband's father was the producer for Newhart's show. Bob Newhart’s mild manner always reminded me so much of my own dad, and I could sense his gentle, calm energy, even on-screen.

A Humbling Moment with Bob Newhart

One day, when I was in my early 20s, I was waiting at a stop signal on Hilgard Ave, adjacent to the UCLA campus. As I glanced over at the car idling next to me, I was delighted to see that it was none other than Bob Newhart! He had a small child (probably a granddaughter) in the seat next to him, and as I watched, he wrapped his arm tenderly around her, bending over to listen intently to whatever the child was saying. It was a charming, quiet moment that seemed to capture the essence of Newhart’s calm demeanor in real life.

Letting Go of Judgment: Choosing Peace

This moment, combined with Newhart’s iconic sketch, helped me realize how much judgment complicates our lives. It’s easy to get caught up in judging others, but if we can pause and reflect, we can choose to let go of judgment and replace it with love, peace, and understanding. The simple wisdom of “stop it” is more powerful than we often give it credit for.

So there you have it folks, let's all just stop it.  STOP IT!!  Stop the judging and live in peace. 

Want to go deeper into forgiveness?

Explore how forgiveness reconnects us to divine compassion in Unblocking our Connection to Love. Read it here →
My book, Forgiveness is the Key to Happiness, offers heartfelt guidance, spiritual tools, and real-life practices. Read it on Amazon →
Let daily affirmations support you too — discover the Forgiveness Metta Card Deck for a gentle morning practice of peace and release. View the deck on Etsy →

Let these tools light your path — because forgiveness sets you free.

— Sue Pipal  

"This Mind is in all People"--Embracing Oneness and Forgiveness in Ernest Holmes' Teachings

"The Mind which you use is the Mind which I use; It is the Mind which everyone uses.  It is the Mind of God and, because the Mind of God is a complete Unity, It is Omnipresent.  Therefore the Mind which you use and which is your mind now is the God-Mind in you.  This Mind is in all people, envelops all, and is at the center of every thing.  This is why it is that when you know the Truth at the center of your own being you know it within the only Mind there is."  --Ernest Holmes, Living the Science of Mind, p 118

We are all the same.  Strip away this world of dreams and it all boils down to one thing, we all spring forth from the same single mind.  We are one.  When we know this about another person, we are able to overlook any silly behavior they show us in this dream world.  It's not important.  It's them forgetting who they really are.  Just know their real truth for them, and let it go...

We Are One: The Mind of God in All of Us

Ernest Holmes, in his Living the Science of Mind, beautifully captures a profound truth: “This Mind is in all people.” He explains that the Mind which you use is the same Mind that I use; it is the Mind of God. This Mind is omnipresent, enveloping all beings and existing at the center of everything. The Mind of God is complete unity, and when we know the Truth at the center of our being, we know it within the only Mind there is.

This idea reveals a deep spiritual truth: we are all interconnected through the divine Mind. The barriers that we perceive between ourselves and others are illusions of the ego. At the core, we are all manifestations of this single divine Mind, and when we remember this, we can begin to see through the surface-level actions of others.

Overcoming the Illusion of Separation

When we strip away the distractions of this world—our judgments, our fears, our separateness—we come to realize that we all spring from the same source. We are one. Our differences, our mistakes, and the ways we fail to live up to our true nature, are just reflections of us forgetting who we truly are. They are part of the "dream" world we navigate while we journey toward awakening.

When we understand this, we can look past the behavior of others in the "dream world." Just as we seek to remember our own truth, we can also hold space for others to remember theirs. 

Forgiveness is Knowing the Truth of Another’s Being

When we forgive, we’re not excusing behaviors or letting anyone "off the hook." Instead, we’re choosing to acknowledge that at the deepest level, we are all connected and that each of us is a reflection of the divine Mind. Forgiveness is not just a gift we give to others; it’s the way we free ourselves from the illusion of separation.

Let this truth guide you today: you and everyone you meet are part of the same divine Mind. When you know this truth for yourself, you can know it for them too. And in that knowing, you can let go of any judgments and truly live in peace.

Want to go deeper into forgiveness?

• Explore how forgiveness reconnects us to divine compassion in Unblocking our Connection to Love.
• My book, Forgiveness is the Key to Happiness, offers heartfelt guidance, spiritual tools, and real-life practices. Read it on Amazon →
• Let daily affirmations support you too — discover the Forgiveness Metta Card Deck for a gentle morning practice of peace and release. View the deck on Etsy →

Let these tools light your path — because forgiveness sets you free.

— Sue Pipal

The Importance of Forgiveness in Jesus’ Teachings: A Path to Peace

"And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us." 

Jesus' teachings emphasize the profound importance of forgiveness in our spiritual lives. He repeatedly instructed us to forgive others, not just seven times, but seventy times seven (Matthew 18:22), highlighting the boundless nature of forgiveness. He even forgave those who crucified him, showing us that forgiveness is the key to healing and peace. For Jesus, forgiveness wasn't just a moral imperative; it was a pathway to freedom from suffering, aligning us with the love and compassion of God. His words and actions set the ultimate example of how to live in alignment with divine love and compassion through the practice of forgiveness.

Want to go deeper into forgiveness?

• Explore how forgiveness reconnects us to divine compassion in Unblocking our Connection to Love.
• My book, Forgiveness is the Key to Happiness, offers heartfelt guidance, spiritual tools, and real-life practices. Read it on Amazon →
• Let daily affirmations support you too — discover the Forgiveness Metta Card Deck for a gentle morning practice of peace and release. View the deck on Etsy →

Let these tools light your path — because forgiveness sets you free.
— Sue Pipal

A Forgiveness Blessing: Sending Healing to Those Who Trigger You

Try this sometime on someone you feel annoyed with.  Simply close your eyes and feel these thoughts going out to them, blessing and healing.  All thoughts are shared.  When you know your brother's truth, it becomes available for them to know, too. 

You are immense, because you are everywhere. 

You are magnificent, because you are what God is. 

You are always, because you live in eternity.