yoga for forgiveness

[Guest guest]

Sat Nam,

 

One of my yoga students has requested that I teach a

class with the theme of forgiveness. Based on the

enthusiastic feedback of some of my other students, I

would like to teach a series of classes based on

forgiveness and the issues surrounding it -- releasing

anger, attachment, etc.

 

I'd like to get some feedback on where to start and in

what order to go from this group (esp. Gururattan) --

where do you think forgiveness begins, meaning: what

is at the root of it?

 

Shall I go with a set for opening the heart chakra

first, or do we need a root chakra set first to create

safety for the forgiveness and heart opening to begin?

(I do a full chakra series later in the year, so I

would rather go more specific with this one.) Also,

can you recommend any good passages/poetry based on

forgiveness?

 

Thanks so much for your help.

 

Sat Nam,

Jai Gopal Kaur

Okinawa, Japan

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Dear Jai Gopal,

 

Below is something I pulled up. I am not sure where it is from. But it is

realistic and deals with the emotions instead of stuffing them.

 

There is a NMB on Forgiveness. You can look it up on www.yogatech.com

ezine button.

 

Forgiveness comes when we are in a different consciousness. Start out with

the set on Pineal Gland in Sexuality and Sprituality to open the

consciousness to the higher dimensions. Then do a set or meditation to pull

this energy into the heart. The head and heart will merge and expand into

one big space where all are included.

 

Sat Nam,

 

Gururattan Kaur

 

Anger/Forgiveness

 

 

 

No matter how long we have been alive, no matter how solid our spiritual

ground, we may still feel an overwhelming desire at times to punish, or get

even, with another person. We want revenge. We want to see the other

person hurt the way he or she has hurt us. We want to see life deal that

person just rewards. In fact, we would like to help life out just a little

bit..

 

Those are normal feelings, but we do not have to act on them. These feelings

are part of our anger, but it's not our job to deal justice.

 

 

We can allow ourselves to feel the anger. It is helpful to go one step

deeper and let ourselves feel the other feelings - the hurt, the pain, the

anguish. But our goal is to release the feelings, and be finished with them.

 

 

We can hold the other person accountable. We can hold the other person

responsible. But it is not our responsibility to be judge and jury. Actively

seeking revenge will not help us. It will block us and hold us back.

 

 

Walk away. Stop playing the game. Unhook. Learn your lesson. Thank the other

person for having taught you something valuable. And be finished with it.

Put it behind you, with the lesson intact.

 

 

Acceptance helps. So does forgiveness - not the kind that invites the other

person to use us again, but a forgiveness that releases the other person and

sets him or her free to walk a separate path, while releasing our anger and

resentments. That sets us free to walk our own path.

 

 

Today, I will be as angry as I need to be, with a goal of finishing my

business with others. Once I have released my hurt and anger, I will strive

for healthy forgiveness - forgiveness with boundaries. I understand that

boundaries, coupled with forgiveness and compassion, will move me forward.

[Guest guest]

Thank you so much for posting this! It's just what I needed to read

today. I often feel guilty because I disentangle myself from people

who are dominant, controlling, possessive, and alchaholic. I know I

am better off without them, but sometimes have self doubt. I wonder

why there are so many people I don't get along with. I'm in a

neighborhood riddled with hard drugs, and the people are insistent

and demanding. We are living opposite lifestyles. I disengage, and

keep my focus on the people I really connect with and trust. This

enrages them.

Reading this made me feel so much better. It feels good to move

forward and not repeat painful, unhealthy patterns.

Sat Pal Kaur