Our default position whenever possible is forgiveness and gratitude. Forgiveness counters arrogance and ego. This moves us towards insight and wisdom. Gratitude opens our heart to compassion. Wisdom and compassion lead to the two bodies of a Buddha – the Dharmakaya and the Rupakaya. Forgiveness and gratitude are just the beginning. We must deepen our forgiveness into the wisdom realizing the emptiness of objective existence. We must deepen our compassion into the universal compassion of Bodhicitta. Feel happy! We are on the path! Do the best you can and feel good about that. Beating ourselves up as a habit is dysfunctional. Recognize it and stand up to it. Tell it, “No More.”
