Why do we forgive others?

[Perfect_Trust]

I got this in a fortune cookie with my takeaway at Chinese New Year:

Forgive your enemies, it messes with their heads.

 

[SeaCat]

I learned about forgiveness the hard way, through hatred.

To forgive is not to forget, nor is to let go of all of your anger. To forgive is to allow youself to let go of hatred and to stop destroying yourself and others.

I hope that others learn this before their hatred destroys them.

Cat

 

[CharleyH]

I got this in a fortune cookie with my takeaway at Chinese New Year:

Forgive your enemies, it messes with their heads.

Well, aren't you the good philosopher.

 

[CharleyH]

I learned about forgiveness the hard way, through hatred.

To forgive is not to forget, nor is to let go of all of your anger. To forgive is to allow youself to let go of hatred and to stop destroying yourself and others.

I hope that others learn this before their hatred destroys them.

Cat

I admire your take Cat. We learn of forgiveness through ourselves - there is no other way. We can forgive and not forget, but forgiveness is letting go of anger, and unless I have read wrongly? You have let to let go of yours.

 

[jomar]

I learned about forgiveness the hard way, through hatred.

To forgive is not to forget, nor is to let go of all of your anger. To forgive is to allow youself to let go of hatred and to stop destroying yourself and others.

I hope that others learn this before their hatred destroys them.

Cat

Yes. Although true forgiveness probably lets go of anger too.

 

[SeaCat]

I admire your take Cat. We learn of forgiveness through ourselves - there is no other way. We can forgive and not forget, but forgiveness is letting go of anger, and unless I have read wrongly? You have let to let go of yours.

Not so much anger, although that is part of it. (What is hatred but uncontrolled anger?) Yes I did learn to let go of my hatred and through that my unquestioning anger.

I started first through questioning why I hated an entire group of people. My hatred drove me to do things that I am not proud of, things that now shame me. I began questioning why I hated an entire group of people for the actions of the very few. It took time, a lot of time and a lot of pain and soul searching. I did it though.

That was a start for me. It led me to think about hatred itself. It's causes and it's consequences. It led me eventually to even start letting go of my hatred. Now though I don't allow myself to feel this hatred. I don't allow myself to destroy myself.

Cat

 

[CharleyH]

Not so much anger, although that is part of it. (What is hatred but uncontrolled anger?) Yes I did learn to let go of my hatred and through that my unquestioning anger.

I started first through questioning why I hated an entire group of people. My hatred drove me to do things that I am not proud of, things that now shame me. I began questioning why I hated an entire group of people for the actions of the very few. It took time, a lot of time and a lot of pain and soul searching. I did it though.

That was a start for me. It led me to think about hatred itself. It's causes and it's consequences. It led me eventually to even start letting go of my hatred. Now though I don't allow myself to feel this hatred. I don't allow myself to destroy myself.

Cat

I admire your determination. I have never really held hate
- I have hated but never for long. I can't control my forgiveness and I know that sounds odd - but I really can't. I am not sure I have ever really even hated the worst people in my life - maybe I did once -I just do not remember any more and I really do not care if I did. It's odd, but that sums up me.

 

[SeaCat]

I admire your determination. I have never really held hate
- I have hated but never for long. I can't control my forgiveness and I know that sounds odd - but I really can't. I am not sure I have ever really even hated the worst people in my life - maybe I did once -I just do not remember any more and I really do not care if I did. It's odd, but that sums up me.

Charley I have hated and done so in ways you wouldn't understand. I held onto my hatred for several years. I hated an entire group of people. I hated them because of the actions of a very few. I almost destroyed myself before I learned what my hatred was doing to me. I hurt a lot of other people because of my hatred, and I live with that on a daily basis.

I have paid for and still pay for my hatred. I can only hope that one day I can allow myself to forgive myself.

Cat

 

[CharleyH]

Charley I have hated and done so in ways you wouldn't understand. I held onto my hatred for several years. I hated an entire group of people. I hated them because of the actions of a very few. I almost destroyed myself before I learned what my hatred was doing to me. I hurt a lot of other people because of my hatred, and I live with that on a daily basis.

I have paid for and still pay for my hatred. I can only hope that one day I can allow myself to forgive myself.

Cat

I understand that through my mother, and others I have seen diing, and also through my own life, Cat ... forgive yourself. You deserve it.

I personally do not want to die hating even one person. If they want to hate me that is fine and their trip. I will never hate them, though.

 

[SeaCat]

I understand that through my mother, and others I have seen diing, and also through my own life, Cat ... forgive yourself. You deserve it.

I personally do not want to die hating even one person. If they want to hate me that is fine and their trip. I will never hate them, though.

Now you understand why I say I no longer allow myself to hate.

Cat

 

[CharleyH]

Now you understand why I say I no longer allow myself to hate.

Cat

I've never not understood it.