In many religious traditions, forgiveness is a central concept. The idea of seeking forgiveness, especially from a divine figure, is often associated with the Judeo-Christian framework, where one asks for forgiveness from God for their wrongdoings. But Buddhism presents a fundamentally different perspective. There is no concept of forgiveness in the way we commonly understand it in the West. Instead, the Buddha offers a path of purification, not forgiveness.
The question arises: Who would we ask to forgive us in Buddhism? Certainly not the Buddha. The Buddha is not a creator or a divine being who dispenses mercy or pardon. He does not grant forgiveness or wash away sins with holy water. Rather, he is a teacher who points the way to freedom from suffering, guiding us through his teachings on the nature of reality. The Buddha helps us to understand the causes of suffering and how to become ultimately free of suffering—not to act as an intermediary who forgives our wrongdoings.
At the heart of Buddhism is the understanding of suffering, as laid out in The Four Noble Truths. The Buddha teaches that suffering is an inevitable part of life, arising from our attachments and desires, and the only way to overcome it is through the cessation of these causes. Rather than offering a framework for forgiveness, the Buddha emphasises personal responsibility and self-purification.
Forgiveness, in the Buddhist view, doesn’t quite align with the path to liberation. The aim isn’t to seek forgiveness from others or from a divine being but to purify the mind from the causes of suffering. This purification is a deeply personal process.
Buddhism offers a powerful method for clearing away negative karma through what is known as The Four Remedial Forces. This practice isn’t about asking for forgiveness but about recognising and purifying one’s negative deeds. The process involves four steps:
1. Confessing negative deeds: Acknowledging our wrongdoings and taking ownership of them is the first step in purification. This is done internally and often with a trusted teacher, the Buddha or the Triple Gem.
2. Feeling deep remorse or regret: It’s essential to feel genuine remorse for our actions. This remorse is not rooted in guilt but in a clear recognition of the harm caused by our actions.
3. Resolving to never repeat the action: A critical part of the process is making a firm commitment to oneself to avoid repeating the negative actions. Not out of fear, but from a place of understanding, we recognise that our negative actions or lifestyle have caused harm to ourselves and others. There is a genuine sense of, "I never want to repeat this again; I no longer want to live this way."
4. Applying the remedy: In Mahayana Buddhism, this remedy is the cultivation of Bodhicitta, the mind of enlightenment. Practitioners turn to purification practices like The Three Heaped Sutra and in Vajrayana it’s the practice of Vajrasattva, which helps the mind to clear negative karma.
This process emphasises taking full responsibility for our actions and committing to personal transformation. It is not about asking for forgiveness but about working diligently to purify the negative karma created by our past actions.
When we have wronged someone, Buddhism encourages us not to ask for their forgiveness but rather for their forbearance. Forbearance means requesting their patience and understanding while we work on ourselves to perfect our actions and change our behaviour. It acknowledges that the process of purification takes time and effort, and it invites others to give us the space to engage in this inner work.
This concept of forbearance reflects the deep personal responsibility embedded in Buddhist teachings. Rather than externalising the process of healing, the emphasis is on internal purification and transformation. We are not asking others to relieve us of our guilt or pain; instead, we are asking for their patience while we purify our minds and correct our actions.
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