Showing posts sorted by relevance for query unblocking our connection to love. Sort by date Show all posts
Showing posts sorted by relevance for query unblocking our connection to love. Sort by date Show all posts

Wednesday, July 30, 2014

Unblocking our Connection to Love

Forgiveness, Healing, and Remembering Who We Are


My Mind Holds Only What I Think With God

"That is a fact and represents the truth of What you are and What your Father is.  It is this thought by which the Father gave creation to the Son, establishing the Son as a co-creator with Himself.  It is this thought that fully guarantees salvation to the Son.  For in his mind no thoughts can dwell but those his Father shares.  Lack of forgiveness blocks this thought from his awareness.  Yet it is forever true." --A Course in Miracles Workbook Review IV p. 273

Lack of forgiveness blocks this thought from our awareness.  


This is one of the reasons why forgiveness is the key to happiness.  Our minds can never be fully restored to their true state, where we think and create with God, if we are holding grievances and judging others.

Simply put, we can never be happy when we are in a state of unforgiveness, because it blocks our connection to God.  And when our connection to God is blocked, we are not ourselves.  We are separated from our truth.  We are not living the love we were created to be.  And we are unable to give and receive love fully in this state.



Why Judgment Separates Us from Love


When we hold grievances and judge others, we are refusing to recognize the truth that not only were we created by the father as a co-creator, but that everyone else was, too!!

It is in the recognizing of this very fact, that we are all equal and the same...that we are all one...that we are all, simply, love...that we come to receive our own happiness.

Seeing Others as They Truly Are


Yes, others often forget their truth and behave in ways that are ignorant, selfish, or unkind.  But it is our responsibility as a true Son of God, to take the higher ground, to know their truth for them by holding a place of love in our minds for them.  And in so doing, we offer them—mentally and spiritually—a space to awaken to their own truth, that they too, are simply, love.  We offer them the chance to heal when we forgive them through our recognition of who they really are, co-creators of God.


The Healing Happens in the Mind


Because after all, this is all about the mind.  It's about what we do in our thinking. All minds are connected.  So when we forgive and offer love instead of fear, we are healing our own minds and we are offering healing to our trespassers as well.  And that is their chance to heal along with us.

Want to go deeper into forgiveness?


  • Read this posting on what might be today's most important forgiveness issue, Forgiving World Leaders.    
  • 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 →Forgiveness is the Key to Happiness. 
  • 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 and meditation time.  Take a look on Etsy →
Let these tools support your journey — because forgiveness sets you free.
--Sue Pipal

Sunday, November 10, 2013

What is Forgiveness? Colin Tipping Explains Its Power in Our Awakening

"What is forgiveness if it is not extending the energy of Love to another and joining with him or her? What is forgiveness if it is not the key to our awakening? What is forgiveness if it is not the ONLY way to overcome the illusion of separation?"--Colin Tipping

Colin Tipping on the Power of Forgiveness

Colin Tipping, a profound teacher on the topic of forgiveness, truly understood the deep transformative power that forgiveness can bring into our lives. His words are a beacon of wisdom for anyone on a spiritual journey. He asks us, “What is forgiveness if it is not extending the energy of Love to another and joining with him or her? What is forgiveness if it is not the key to our awakening? What is forgiveness if it is not the ONLY way to overcome the illusion of separation?”

Forgiveness as the Key to Awakening

For Colin, forgiveness isn’t just an act—it’s the key that unlocks our spiritual growth and re-establishes our connection to one another. When we forgive, we transcend the ego’s need to separate, heal the wounds of the past, and embrace the love and compassion that flow from a place of divine truth.

Releasing Separation and Embracing Connection

It is through forgiveness that we begin to understand that we are not separate from each other or from God. We are all interconnected, and when we forgive, we come back into alignment with this universal truth. Forgiveness isn’t about excusing behavior; it’s about releasing the energy that keeps us bound to past pain, allowing us to live in peace, harmony, and connection.

The Freedom That Comes with Forgiveness

I personally resonate deeply with Colin Tipping’s perspective on forgiveness. It is the gateway to our true nature, and it is through forgiving ourselves and others that we unlock the freedom to awaken to a life of love, compassion, and peace. It’s not always easy, but it is always worth it.

Explore Colin Tipping’s Community of Radical Forgiveness

If you’re ready to dive deeper into this powerful teaching, you can read more on Colin’s website, Radical Forgiveness. I also encourage you to purchase his book, also entitled Radical Forgiveness.  Unfortunately, Colin Tipping passed on in 2019, but his forgiveness community of coaches, programs and books lives on.  

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


http://bookstore.balboapress.com/Products/SKU-000678881/Forgiveness-is-the-Key-to-Happiness.aspx

Monday, July 7, 2014

The Judger Always Feels Judged

 A Course in Miracles Insight on Healing Criticism

"The Judger Always Feels Judged."

I've had this statement taped to the inside of my medicine cabinet door for the past four years at least.  I'm not sure where I found it, perhaps it's from A Course in Miracles.

What We Give, We Receive

It is an important reminder each day that what we give out is returned to us.  If I mentally criticize others on a regular basis, I know that I will feel like the world around me is watching me with disapproving eyes.
 
On the other hand, if I go about my day looking for the best aspects of everyone I meet, seeing them through eyes of love and overlooking shortcomings, I will be supported, valued and cherished by the world around me.

Seeing Through Eyes of Love

I once attended a seminar with Stuart Mooney, a self acclaimed American Buddha, who says he is enlightened.  I love what he had to say about the people in his world, "I just love everyone I see.  To me they are just so lovable, even the unpleasant ones."  Isn't this a perfect way to put it?

Everyone Is on Their Own Journey

Of course, not everyone out there is making the best choices.  When I say overlooking shortcomings, it's not that we don't always see another's "unpleasantness", but that we do learn to accept it as what is.  It's our job to respect everyone's right to their own adventures in this world.  If they choose to be difficult or misled, we have to just chalk it up to the fact that they simply don't know better and they're doing whatever it is they think they need to do to make the best of this life.  As Course students, we often say that we all either living love or crying out for love.

A Course in Miracles says that "we don't know what anything is for."  Therefore it's important not to judge what we see around us.  Since we are all here to get our forgiveness lessons so that we can grow and purify ourselves--until we eventually awaken, it is quite necessary that we have forgiveness opportunities.  That means someone has to play the bad guy so that there will be something to forgive. The person that you love to hate just may be a soul who has come here in this lifetime with an agreement to be annoying so that you can have the opportunity to forgive him and grow.

Of course, I'm not suggesting that we allow murders and child molesters to roam freely harming others at will.  When people behave in a manner that is dangerous to others, we need to protect the innocents. However, even criminals are deserving of our loving forgiveness.

Forgiveness as a Spiritual Practice

Healing one's mind of the habit of judging is not something that happens over-night, at least in my experience.  I've been working on it for some years now and although I've made a lot of progress, I still find my mind thinking critical thoughts occasionally.  It really is only a habit though and if you stop and notice it, over time it will lessen.

Watch Your Mind, Even on Screen

I think it's very important that we carefully watch television, listen to the radio, read the papers or browse the internet.  And we need to make sure we’re not judging people we don’t even know (or even judging characters in TV shows or movies).  Just because we don't know someone does not give us the license to judge them.  Remember that all minds are linked and on some level, you are attacking these people.  Also, this habit of judging people and fictional characters makes it even harder to stop judging the real people in our lives. 



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 → Forgiveness is the Key to Happiness

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.

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



Friday, May 16, 2014

Adyashanti on Forgiveness

How Misunderstanding Leads to Suffering—and How Forgiveness Heals


Adyashanti’s Teachings on Forgiveness

I'm just loving Adyashanti's new book, Resurrecting Jesus.  To me, Adyashanti's teachings are universal. Sometimes when I read his words or hear him talk, I think, "He has to be a A Course in Miracles teacher, not a Buddhist."  He is a true mystic.  In this new book, Adyashanti looks at Jesus's life and teachings from a fresh perspective and I'm finding it all very inspiring.

This morning in my reading I ran across this passage on forgiveness:

"Forgiveness comes from a deep openhearted state of compassion.  Really, it comes from our spiritual essence--which I call divine being--because from our spiritual essence there is an understanding of what suffering is all about. From the heart of divine being, what we realize is that everything that causes us pain and sorrow is ultimately born from misunderstanding.  It's a type of illusion.  When Jesus says "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do," this is what he's pointing to.  When people are in a state of spiritual clarity--an inner state of psychological, emotional, and spiritual unity--then by the very nature of that unity, they don't act out of ignorance  Ignorance is simply a misunderstanding of the fundamental reality, of what we truly are.  

When we lose consciousness of our deepest self, our deepest being as divine being itself, then in a sense we go unconscious.  Part of us goes to sleep, you might say.  Then, we are prone to illusion.  We misunderstand things.  We think if someone insults us, for example, that we need to respond with anger; we forget that they're just expressing their own inner conflict, their own inner division, which is ultimately based on misunderstanding.  The very root of sin, to use Jesus' language, is something that can be forgiven  It's forgivable because it's an unconscious act, a result of being spiritually asleep.  We can't be blamed for being unconscious, for acting out our unconsciousness, even for feeling the effects of our unconsciousness within our psychology.  

Everyone has those days when you feel like you've woken up on the good side of the universe when everything just naturally feels whole and complete, when you're happy and at peace and you don't really know why.  When this happens you're more aligned with life, and you naturally go about the day as a much more open person.  You're more compassionate and you're more loving because compassion and love are expressions of being internally united.  So forgiveness is ultimately an act that comes from that inner unification.  One doesn't have to be entirely unified inwardly to forgive.  Forgiveness can also come out of the sense of open-heartedness, of understanding that nobody is perfect.  

The open heart is compassionate because it maintains an essential connection.  But as soon as we separate ourselves from another--as soon as we say, "No there's nothing in you that corresponds with something in me," as soon as we forget that you and I essentially share the same spiritual essence--then we cut ourselves off, and we go into blame.  Forgiveness comes from that deep intuition of our sameness, of our shared humanity.  That perception starts to lower the walls of defense, and being judgmental is ultimately a defensive game, a way of saying, "I am not like you."  To forgive is really a way of saying, "I see something in you that's the same as in me."  Then, even though you may be upset, even though the other person may have caused you pain or harm, when you connect with your shared humanity, there's forgiveness."   



Want to go Deeper into Forgiveness?

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

Wednesday, November 13, 2013

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  



http://www.amazon.com/Forgiveness-Key-Happiness-Easier-Think/dp/1452583390

Monday, May 12, 2014

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.
Take a look on Etsy →

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

Friday, March 21, 2025

How to Forgive Cruel World Leaders (Even When It’s Hard)

Cruel world leaders?  It's not anything new.  Throughout history mankind has been led by self-serving, power hungry world leaders who have put their desires above the needs of those they lead.  Wars, poverty, and suffering in many forms are created by singular individuals or small groups who have used their power for their own selfish gains.  


Today not much has changed.  People continue to suffer in many places due to narcissistic leaders who start wars, oppress others or simply deny their people basic rights... all for the gain of power, land, resources or money.  

Why Forgiving Leaders Is So Hard — and So Necessary

From a spiritual perspective, how are we meant to respond?  On the one hand we see the suffering they create.  On the other hand, we know that we must forgive them.  Yes--it's a hard assignment, sometimes distasteful, perhaps one of the most difficult we will be given in life.  But we need to tackle it, so let's go.  

A Spiritual Perspective on Global Suffering

First, let’s zoom out and simply accept, as A Course in Miracles teaches, that we never truly know what anything is for here.  As souls, do we finally collectively evolve when we look upon all the horrible suffering in the world and choose love?  Could it be possible that suffering exists as a catalyst to help the people of the world to join together to create a better world and choose love, sharing, service and oneness finally and forever over fear, hatred and self service? Maybe, just maybe, these challenging world leaders exist to help us evolve.  They provide the contrast as what we don't want from which we can choose anew.  We might see them as great learning tools for society as a whole.  

Second, we need to know deep in our hearts that every one of us, no matter how seemingly difficult, ugly or bullying is actually part of the great oneness.  We are all sourced from God.  We are all joined together as one and all minds are connected.  It's true that when we come here to this crazy confusing planet many of us forget who we are, get lost in the madness and behave badly.  But that behavior does not change who we really are, our true identity as a Child of God.  It just means that we are temporarily not aware of who we are.

Remember the words of Jesus on the cross, "Forgive them, Father, for they know not what they do".  This is an important key to forgiveness, knowing that ultimately people might do better if they knew better.  

It's Okay to Feel the Pain

So here's how I forgive world leaders.  Often, I'll catch a headline on my ipad or I'll hear a story on NPR as I'm driving around in my car.  First, I stop and feel my feelings.  It's okay to acknowledge the pain.  For me, lately, its often specifically grief and sadness that I feel over the suffering today in places like the wars in Gaza and Ukraine, the hunger in Africa, the displacement of people such as in Myanmar, the denial of women's rights in Iran and Afghanistan and so many other places and issues.  (And of course, the painful schism right here at home in the US!)

Notice When You Judge  

I may also notice myself judging and condemning various people or groups.  Perhaps I might think something like, "I can't believe _______ is doing such a cruel thing.  He is a selfish bully who is only out for himself and is completely blinded about how his decisions affect others in the world."  

All right.  Take a beat.  

It's time to just notice that I am judging.  No need for me to criticize or scold myself for this.  I just notice and maybe take a breath or two to get myself back into my heart space.  And, by the way, I must be sure not to get so activated that I go into victim mode along with those harmed by these leaders.  I need to dig deep to control my thoughts and immediately stop all that negative jabber thinking in my brain right here.  I ban thoughts like, "That's so unfair.  He's a hideous man.  I hate him."  I use my breath to get myself into a calmer space of neutrality where I can do the important forgiveness work I need to do. 


A Forgiveness Prayer for World Leaders

After I allow myself a moment to acknowledge my feelings followed by a little breathing and mind calming,  I'll start to think or say something like:

 "World leader or power group (fill in any appropriate name) _______________, You are Spirit, whole and innocent.  I forgive you.  I release you.  I bless you with love."  

I might repeat or chant this for awhile until I feel a release in my heart.  

Then I simply go on with my day until the next time something happens and I feel activated again. I might have to repeat this little forgiveness trick every time I hear the news about this particular leader or part of the world.  That's okay.  I just keep noticing my feelings and working on my forgiveness.  If it's a daily thing or even something I need to do many times a day, that's just fine.  I just keep forgiving and converting my fearful, judgmental, angry, sad thoughts into forgiveness and love.  That's my job in all this.  It's the way I can be the most helpful to the world.  And it's your job too.  It's your mission, should you decide to accept it.  

Sometimes, that little short saying just isn't enough to clear through the anguish I feel at what is happening in the world.  In that case I pull out my big forgiveness prayer.  It always does the job for me although sometimes I have to do it two or three times to obtain peace. Here it is:  

"World Leader_____________, You are Spirit, whole and innocent.  I forgive you, I release you, I bless you with love. You are a child of God, perfect, whole and complete.  God created you exactly in his own image.  You are pure Love, you are pure Joy, you are perfect Peace.  God loves you infinitely.  You are God's beloved only Son.  I forgive you. I release you.  I bless you with love."

Blessed relief.  That feels better!

What About Their Supporters?

But wait, there's more...what do I do about supporters of selfish World Leaders?  Some of these leaders have actually been voted into power!  We forgive their supporters, too, of course, even if we can't relate at all to their opinions and choices.  Remember that God gave us all the gift of free will.  Free will is a law of the universe.  It seems that it was important to Him that we all be given the chance to choose how we perceive the world to be.  Everybody gets to choose their own favorite ride in this crazy Disneyland world.  Accept that.  Get over it.  Let them be.  Stop judging.  And go ahead and use one of the forgiveness practices above to forgive them.  

Best of all, you'll feel better when you do.  

Why Forgiveness Helps You

Remember that forgiveness releases you, too.  It's actually a gift you give to yourself.  Another law of the Universe--you get what you give.  When you forgive and offer love, what comes back to you is peace.  

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, “Forgive and Be Happy,” offers gentle guidance, spiritual reflections, and real-world practices to help you heal, release, and return to peace.
    Explore the book on Amazon →, Forgiveness is the Key to Happiness .  
  • 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.  Take a look on Etsy →
Let these tools support your journey — because forgiveness sets you free.
--Sue Pipal

Monday, November 11, 2013

"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?

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


http://bookstore.balboapress.com/Products/SKU-000678881/Forgiveness-is-the-Key-to-Happiness.aspx

Saturday, November 9, 2013

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?

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


http://bookstore.balboapress.com/Products/SKU-000678881/Forgiveness-is-the-Key-to-Happiness.aspx

Thursday, July 31, 2025

Knowing I Have to Forgive Feels Like Punishment… and I'm Not the One Who Did Anything Wrong

 

Sometimes there’s no worse feeling than realizing someone has done something truly terrible — and somehow, it’s your job to forgive them.

Maybe they lied. Maybe they betrayed you, hurt someone you love, or caused real harm in the world. You're the one who’s been wounded… and yet you're the one who has to take the high road?
It can feel unfair. Like you’re being asked to carry the burden of making peace — when the other person hasn't even apologized.

Honestly, getting started on forgiveness can be one of the most uncomfortable parts of the spiritual path.

There’s a moment — sometimes many moments — where forgiveness feels like giving up your sense of justice. Like letting someone “get away with it.” Like betraying your own pain.

And that’s where we need to pause and shift how we understand forgiveness.

Forgiveness isn’t saying it was okay.

It’s not pretending something didn’t hurt, or that it wasn’t wrong.

Forgiveness is saying:
“I refuse to let this pain rule my life any longer.”
It’s choosing freedom.
It’s choosing peace.
It’s choosing to stop carrying the energy of a harmful person or situation in your nervous system, your body, your thoughts.

When we forgive, we’re not excusing the behavior.
We’re releasing the hold it has on us.

It may feel hard at first — like you're being asked to let go when what you really want is justice.
But forgiveness doesn’t deny justice.
It simply says: “I trust that the universe, God, karma, or the soul's own journey will handle that part. My job is to reclaim my peace.”

You’re not letting them off the hook.
You're letting yourself off the hook.

You're not forgetting what happened.
You're simply choosing not to let it poison your spirit any longer.

You don't have to invite them over to dinner.  You don't even have to be anywhere near them if you don't want to.  

Jesus washed their feet.  But luckily, that is not being asked of us. We are only asked to forgive.  

It's sometimes hard to get started at, but with a little practice, we can do it readily and easily.

Forgiveness isn’t weakness.
It’s power.
It’s strength.
And sometimes — it’s the bravest thing you’ll ever do.


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

Tuesday, August 5, 2025

The Truth of Who You Are: Immense, Magnificent, Eternal


Photo by Aleksandr Ledogorov on Unsplash.com


Remembering Your Divine Magnificence and Eternal Nature

In a world filled with distractions, it’s easy to forget the truth of who we are. We are not limited by time, space, or circumstance. At our core, we are immense, magnificent, and eternal. These words are a reminder of the divine essence within you—a presence that transcends the physical and connects us to all that is. When you remember your true nature, you unlock the power to live in peace, love, and grace, knowing that you are always connected to the Source of all creation.

Let this truth guide you today: You are not just a person, you are a reflection of the divine, existing everywhere, always, and in perfect harmony with the universe. Embrace this truth and watch how it transforms your life.

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