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Ask A Buddhist: On Forgiveness

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What do you want to ask a Buddhist? Fill out the form below or submit your question online.

By Ven. Thubten Chonyi

Does being Buddhist mean that one must forgive pain brought on by others and if yes, should one allow the hurt to be repeated?

The English terms “forgive” and “forget” were coupled as far back as 1300, and the idea has pervaded our culture ever since. However, they are two distinctly different activities. While forgiveness is prized across spiritual traditions—and in psychology as well—forgetting may not be wise.

In Buddhism, forgiveness means letting go of anger. Forgiveness doesn’t condone others’ destructive actions. Instead, it frees us from the continued suffering of holding resentment and hatred against those who have harmed us.

Sometimes the injury is very real: emotional or physical violence hurt when they occur and leave lasting marks that require our attention in order to heal.

On the other hand, we sometimes develop grudges over perceived harms, meaning we misinterpret someone’s actions by projecting negative motivations onto them that they actually didn’t have. Or we have emotional sensitivity about certain issues and someone unwittingly stumbles into us, pressing that tender “button.”

Either way—whether the harm is deliberate or unintentional—we suffer, and the common response to suffering is to either lash out or withdraw in some form of anger. Over time, as we re-live the harm in our minds again and again, the angry response accumulates into a thick and solid grudge.

Eventually, the grudge itself can bring us as much or more misery and harm than the original hurt. Our outlook on life gets cloudy and dark, we mistrust others, and it may even affect our health.

Here’s the Buddha’s advice on this topic from a well-known, ancient text, “The Dhammapda” –

When we hold fast to such thoughts as ‘They harmed me, they mistreated me, they molested me, they robbed me,’ we keep hatred alive.

If we thoroughly release ourselves from such thoughts as ‘They harmed me, they mistreated me, they molested me, they robbed me,’ hatred is vanquished.

Never by hatred is hatred conquered, but by readiness to love.

This is eternal law.

Forgiveness, therefore, benefits us, the receiver of harm. When we let go of anger and resentment, our mind is at peace. We no longer repeat the injury to ourselves by dwelling on the experience. We can go on with our lives with an open heart, cleansed of the poisons of anger and hatred. We can learn to trust again.

Notice that the Buddha’s quote doesn’t say anything about forgetting the harm or allowing it to continue. If we are in a threatening or dangerous situation—physically, emotionally, mentally, or spiritually—we should try to get out of it or change the circumstance. That’s wisdom. Suffering is not glorified in Buddhism. In fact, all Buddhist practices are focused on relieving suffering and increasing happiness and well-being.

In short, to answer your question directly: yes, it’s good to forgive and no, there’s no reason to allow the harm to continue.

My teacher, the Buddhist nun Venerable Thubten Chodron, has given numerous teachings on the topic of forgiveness. Here’s a short guided meditation that helps to cultivate internal forgiveness—forgiving ourselves—and shows how forgiveness affects our external actions. For many more teachings on the topic, go to her website, Thubten Chodron.org, and enter forgiveness in the search box. I also recommend The Wisdom of Forgiveness by the 14th Dalai Lama and Victor Chan, published by River Head Books, NY.

Wishing you freedom from harm and from the suffering of anger.

Ven. Thubten Chonyi
Ven. Thubten Chonyi
Ven. Thubten Chonyi is a nun in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition. She has studied with Sravasti Abbey founder and abbess Ven. Thubten Chodron since 1996. She received novice ordination at the Abbey in 2008 and full ordination in 2011 in Taiwan. Ven. Chonyi regularly teaches Buddhism and meditation at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Spokane and other local locations.

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4 years ago

Hello,

This is an important public service announcement concerning our future well being. I found this information very interesting and should be viewed by everyone. Please take the time to read it over:

We are approaching a future in which they will mandate us to have an RFID microchip placed in our body. This microchip will contain all our personal information, and we will lose much more of our privacy because of the tracking capabilities.

Did you know this chip matches perfectly with Biblical prophecy? Please read on!

“He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man: His number is 666” (Revelation 13:16-18 NKJV).

Referring to the end times, this could only be speaking of a cashless money society, which we have yet to see, but are heading towards. Otherwise we could still buy or sell without the mark among others if physical money was still currency. This mark could not be spiritual, because the word references two distinct physical locations on the body. If it was spiritual, it would just say in the forehead.

We can see throughout the history of time how we are being conditioned through the process of convenience. More specifically with how we make payments. We went from physical money to credit and debit cards containing digital currency, to these cards having a chip in them, to now being able to place your card near a device that will read its data. As well as self check-out lines in our market places and the cryptocurrency industry making a rapid climb in such form as bitcoin. These are all stepping stones for the powers that run this world to bring about their ultimate goal, that is to place a microchip in each and every one of us.

RFID chip implant technology is on the rise and will become the future of a one world cashless society.

Continue reading on to see how it perfectly matches up with Bible prophecy!

From a YouTube video titled, “Warning From Man Who Designed RFID Microchip”

Here are some notes from the video:

“Carl Sanders sat in seventeen New World Order meetings with heads-of-state officials such as Henry Kissinger and Bob Gates of the C.I.A. to discuss their agenda on how to bring about this one-world system. The US government commissioned Mr. Sanders to design a microchip for identifying and controlling the peoples of the world-a microchip that could be inserted under the skin with a hypodermic needle(a quick, convenient method that would be gradually accepted by society).

Carl Sanders, along with a group of engineers behind him, with US grant monies provided by US tax dollars, took on this challenge and designed a microchip that is powered by a lithium battery, rechargeable through the temperature fluctuations in our skin. Without having knowledge of the Bible(Carl was not a Christian at the time), these engineers spent one-and-a-half-million dollars doing research on the best and most convenient place to have the microchip placed under the skin.

Guess what? These researchers found that the forehead and the back of the hand(the two spots Revelation says the mark will go) are not only the most convenient spots, but are also the only viable places for rapid, consistent temperature fluctuations in the skin to recharge the lithium battery. The chip is approximately seven millimeters in length, .75 millimeters in diameter, about the size of a grain of rice. It is capable of storing pages upon pages of information about you. All your general history, work history, crime record, health history, and financial data can be stored on this microchip.

Carl Sanders believes that this chip, which he regretfully helped design, is the “mark” spoken about in Revelation 13:16-18. The original Greek word for “mark” is “charagma,” which means a “scratch or etching.” It is also interesting to note that the number 666 is actually a word in the original Greek language. The word is “chi xi stigma,” with the last part, “stigma,” also meaning “to stick or prick.”

Brother Sanders reached out to a doctor asking what would happen if the lithium contained within the RFID chip leaked into the body. The doctor answered by saying a terrible sore would appear in that location. This is what the book of Revelation has to say: “And the first(Angel) went, and poured out his vial on the earth; and there fell a noisome and grievous sore on the men which had the mark of the beast, and on them which worshipped his image” (Revelation 16:2).

WHAT IS THE NAME OF THE BEAST, THE NUMBER OF ITS NAME? THE MYSTERY OF THE NUMBER 666 REVEALED?

What I first want to mention, before I share my thoughts on the number of the beast, is that God confirms in threes. We can see this all throughout scripture: “For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one” (1 John 5:7 NKJV). “and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:4 NKJV). “…Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!” (Revelation 4:8 NKJV). There are many more examples, but I thought I would just share three of them to make the point.

Looking at Revelation 13:16-18, the first group of three I would like to bring attention to is that the mark of the beast is described in three separate verses, 16, 17 and 18. The next three I see is in verse 16, “He causes all…” is followed by three contrasting categories of people, “both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave…”. Then unto verse 17, it opens with, “and that no one may buy or sell except one who has…”, followed by three explanations of what one must have to buy or sell, “…the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name”. Now in verse 18, we read “Let him who has understanding calculate…”, which is followed by, “the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man: His number is 666”. The last three I see is the number 6 being used three times in a row. The reason I’m making this point is because of the number 666, as you will read below.

“17: even that not any could buy or sell, except the one having the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of its name” (Literal Greek Translation).

Here we see the mark being identified as having the name of the beast, and that name being identified as being a number. We can know that these attributes being shown in verse 17 are all in one thing because the Bible warns of us about receiving the mark, singular. It is clear in verse 17 that we cannot buy or sell without the mark(being previously identified as a microchip), but why cant we buy or sell without the name of the beast, or the number of its name? What does that have to do with us buying or selling if the number of the beast only applies to identifying the Antichrist, as the common thought has been? So we need the number of the beast to buy or sell. What does this mean?

“here the wisdom is, the one having the mind let him calculate the number of the wild beast, number for of human it is, and the number of it 666” (Revelation 13:8 Greek Translation).

“Here is wisdom. Let him that has understanding count the number of the beast: for the number of man; and its number is six hundred sixty-six” (Jubilee Bible 2000 translation).

“In this situation wisdom is needed. Let the person who has insight figure out the number of the beast, because it is a human number. The beast’s number is 666” (GOD’S WORD translation).

The Greek word “anthrōpos” being used in verse 18 where it says “of human” is the Greek strongs concordance G444. The first two definitions of the word are “a human being, whether male or female”, and, “generically, to include all human individuals”. Could the number of the beast apply to all mankind? In the Greek, and other translations, you will notice the beast is described as an “it”, instead of “him”. The reason I’m making this point is because when a translation says “His number is 666”, this would imply a singular person, the Antichrist. But by saying “the number of it 666”, implies that it is of the beast system as a whole.

Throughout time there have been people trying to calculate numbers based on titles and names that add up to the number 666 to identify one person. But from verse 18, I do not see where God is instructing us to count up to 666, but rather to count the number of the beast. This number is identified as 666. So the verse is telling us to count the number 666.

What does it mean to count? It means to add up. So how could we add up 666? Remember my previous point about God confirming in threes. So logically, what would be the best way to count the number 666? To count it equally in threes based off the number. We cannot count it equally as 600+60+6, this would also bring us back to the start. We cannot count it as 600+600+600, or 60+60+60, because there are no zeroes in between or at the end of 666. The only option is 6+6+6=18. What is interesting is that the verse that reveals for us to count the number itself is verse 18, being the third verse out of three verses that describe the mark of the beast. What is 18 divided by 3? 6. So 3×6=18, or 6+6+6=18.

Another interesting point is the only two other combinations(making a total of three possible combinations) for placing a “+” symbol in between the 6’s are 66+6=72, and 6+66=72. Adding 7+2 and 7+2 equals 18. Add both 72’s together and you get 144. Why the number 144 is interesting is because the verse following Revelation 13:18 is the first time in the Bible where the 144,000 are being described in detail: “Then I looked, and behold, a Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having His Father’s name written on their foreheads…” (Revelation 14:1).

Now if you add up all three numbers by counting 666 by moving the “+” symbol around, it would be 72+72+18=162. What is interesting about the number 162, is, if you divide 144,000 by 162, you get 888. The name of Jesus in Greek gematria adds up to 888. Revelation 14:1 not only mentions the 144,000, but also the Lamb who is Jesus.

Applying the same format that I used with calculating the number 666, in which I got the numbers 144 and 162, they also bring interesting results bringing us to the number 18:

– 14+4=18*

– 16+2=18*

– 1+4+4=(9), 1+6+2=(9), (9+9)=18*

– 1+44=(45), 1+62=(63), (4+5)=9, (6+3)=9, 9+9=18* | (45+63)=108, 10+8=18*

– 14+4=(18), 1+44=(45), (1+8)=9, (4+5)=9, 9+9=18* | (18+45)=[63] | 16+2=(18), 1+62=(63), (1+8)=9, (6+3)=9, 9+9=18* | (18+63)=[81] | [6+3]=9, [8+1]=9, 9+9=18* | [63+81]=144

– 1+4+4=(9), 14+4=(18), 1+44=(45), (9+18+45)=[72] (any two combinations of (9, 18, 45, and 72 will add to 18*) | 1+6+2=(9), 16+2=(18), 1+62=(63), 9+18+63=[90] (any two combinations of (9, 18, 63, and 90 will get you 18*) | [7+2]=9, [9+0]=9, 9+9=18* | [72+90]=162

Now what is interesting about the number for Jesus, 888, is that if you apply this same formula, you get 8+8+8=24. Why the number 24? Revelation chapter 4 tells us there are 24 elders seated around the throne of God. This is the same throne where Jesus sits.

Now if you take 8+8+8=24, and 8+88=96, and 88+8=96, you get 24+96+96=216. Take 144,000 divided by 216 and you get 666. Remember that this was the same exact formula to get the number 162 out of counting 666 that brought about the number 888 when dividing 144,000 by 162. It is perpetual.

With using the same formula of counting by adding the “+” symbol in between the numbers, why do all these numbers relate in such a way?

Another interesting point to note is that if you add up all the numbers from 1 to 36, it totals 666. The number 36, as in three sixes? Could this be a hint that we should add up three sixes instead of perceiving the number as six-hundred sixty six?

So what could this mean? We know in this world we are labeled by numbers in various forms. From our birth certificate to social security, as well as our drivers license, being identified based upon a system of rulership. So it is plausible that this RFID chip will contain a new identification that has a total of 18 characters. Could this be the name of the beast, the number of its name? The beast system that is identified by 18 characters? This would correlate with scripture that speaks of a mark that we must have to buy or sell in our right hand or forehead, and that it also contains the number of the beast, during a future cashless money society.

Revelation 13:11-15 tells us that a false prophet will rise up deceiving many to take the mark because of the miracles he does before men. At all costs do not take it!

“Then a third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand, he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation. He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever; and they have no rest day or night, who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name” (Revelation 14:9-11).

Did you hear about the lady from a major media outlet who reported a major event occurring approximately 20 minutes before it actually happened?

It’s time we know the truth.

A reporter from BBC reported the fall of World Trade Center 7 on September 11th 2001 approximately 20 minutes before it collapsed!

Remember, WTC 7 did not get hit by anything, so there would be no reason to assume it would collapse. But she didn’t report on assumption, but that it already did fall!

What could this mean? The only logical explanation is that the power that orchestrated 9/11 is the same power that controls the major media outlets!

Don’t believe me? View the broadcast yourself posted on YouTube titled: “BBC Reports 911, WTC 7 Collapse BEFORE it Happens”

It gets even worse…

Did you know there is other footage they don’t want us to see twice? I’m speaking of footage on the day of September 11th 2001 during the time the planes hit both Trade Towers. Eye witness reports say the following concerning the planes:

– “No, it wasn’t a commercial airliner”
– “…but it didn’t have any markings on it that I saw”
– “no emblems, no logos”
– “It definitely did not look like a commercial plane”
– “I did not see any windows on the sides”
– “It was a black plane, it looked like a fighter jet”
– “It was black, it looks like a military plane”
– “It was a military plane”

This video also shares testimonies from firefighters who share their experience being in the world trade towers as bombs were exploding(to weaken the steel beams of the trade towers to cause the free fall collapse).

As a terrorist, how could you smuggle bombs into the trade towers with all of its security systems which includes bomb sniffing dogs? Also, if terrorists did plant the bombs, then why weren’t we told about the bombs?!

You can watch a video of this on YouTube by titled: “9/11 – THE FOOTAGE THEY DIDN’T LET YOU SEE TWICE (9/11 2001 Documentary)”

What about the attack on the Pentagon? Was it really a plane that hit it, or something else, maybe a missle?

Why did the FBI go around and confiscate camera footage from the surrounding buildings not releasing them to the public when they clearly showed us the planes that hit the trade towers?

Why was the only footage presented to the public from one of the most heavily guarded buildings in the world low quality footage showing only five frames at about one frame per second?

The U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld admitted the day before the attack that the Pentagon was missing 2.3 trillion dollars. Could this attack on the Pentagon have anything to do with covering up that information?

So where is this all going? What is the ultimate agenda of this major event that occurred on September 11th 2001? Why did we go to war with Afghanistan and Iraq?

David Rockefeller is quoted to be saying:

“Some even believe we are part of a secret cabal working against the best interests of the United States, characterizing my family and me as ‘internationalists’ and of conspiring with others around the world to build a more integrated global political and economic structure–one world, if you will. If that’s the charge, I stand guilty, and I am proud of it.” – David Rockefeller, Memoirs

Another video to watch is an infamous interview done with movie producer Aaron Russo titled, “Aaron Russo RFID Human Implant Chip”

Aaron Russo produced such movies as Mad as Hell, Trading Places, and America: Freedom to Fascism. He gained the attention of a man named Nick Rockefeller who saw the movie Made as Hell and knew Aaron was running for governor of Nevada. Knowing the impact Aaron was having on society, who being a freedom fighter standing for the constitution of the United States, Nick sought to befriend him to subtly recruit him into his secret society.

Aaron shares what Nick had told him:

“He’s the one who told me 11 months before 9/11 ever happened that there was going to be an event. He never told me what the event was going to be…and out of that event we were going to invade Afghanistan to run pipelines from the Caspian Sea. We are going to invade Iraq to take over the oil fields to establish a base in the middle east, and make it all part of the New World Order…”

“I remember he was telling me how he was going to see soldiers looking in caves for people in Afghanistan and Pakistan and all these places. And there was going to be this war on terror, where this is no real enemy, and the whole thing is a giant hoax. But it is a way for the government to take over the American people…”

Aaron asked Nick, “What’s the end goal? And he said the end goal is to get everyone chipped to control the whole society. To have the bankers, the elite people controlling the world…”

Visit http://WWW.BIBLEFREEDOM.COM to see all the proof! It is at the point where it takes more faith not to believe that the Bible truly is the word of God!

You will see proof for Noah’s Ark, the Red Sea Crossing, Sodom and Gromorrah, scientific evidence the Bible is inspired by God, testimonies from all walks of life concerning Jesus, and much more!

“EITHER HUMAN INTELLIGENCE ULTIMATELY OWES ITS ORIGIN TO MINDLESS MATTER OR THERE IS A CREATOR…” – JOHN LENNOX

For some time, the dominate theory in the scientific community was that the universe was eternal, without a beginning. As progression was made, the final conclusion came to be that the universe is expanding from a single point known as the Big Bang, in which space, time and matter all came into existence at that single event.

This troubled scientists who’s worldview was purely naturalistic, as this notion concludes that what caused the universe to come into existence must be spaceless, timeless, and inmateral, favoring the Biblical God.

The non-biblical religions tell us that god or god’s create within space and time that eternally exist. The Bible stands alone and says that time and space don’t exist until God creates the universe.

The Bible tells us that God is a Spirit who fills the Earth, the heavens, and the Heavens of Heavens cannot contain Him. That He dwells in unaproachable light, being eternal with no beginning. This is the type of being who could cause the universe to come into existence. This also fits with reason that there must be an uncaused cause, otherwise you are left with an infinite regression in which idea is not logically coherent.

The Bible also states in multiple places that God stretches out the heavens, thousands of years before scientists discovered an expanding universe.

Ask yourself, if there is a God, wouldn’t He be personal, because we as His creation are personal? Wouldn’t He have reached out to us by now? Wouldn’t His word be the most read and translated in the history of the world, full of predictive prophecies? The Bible is that word!

“For the scientist who has lived by his faith in the power of reason, the story ends like a bad dream. He has scaled the mountains of ignorance; he is about to conquer the highest peak; as he pulls himself over the final rock, he is greeted by a band of theologians who have been sitting there for centuries.” – Robert Jastrow, astronomer

Jesus says we must be born again to enter the kingdom of God (John 3). In our sins, we are spiritually dead. Therefore we must be born from above by the Spirit of God to be made alive again.

I hope this information has convinced you of the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ for the salvation of your soul. All religion is man-made, and the Bible warns that there will be many false doctrines that will spread throughout the world. Jesus calls us to pick up our cross and follow Him. Not any religion or denomination. He wants us to have a relationship with our Father in Heaven, to worship Him in spirit and in truth.

Jesus says narrow is the way that leads to life, and few be there that find it (Matthew 7:13-14). Will you humble yourself before the Lord tonight in prayer, acknowledging that you need a savior? He is faithul to forgive. Keep asking Him for the Holy Spirit, so you may receive the Spirit of Christ, giving you a new heart, and He will lead you into all truth.

“He who covers his sins will not prosper, But whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy” (Proverbs 28:13).

Place your trust and hope in Jesus Christ. Today is the day of salvation, for you are not promised tomorrow!

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6).

Renay Latzig
4 years ago

These are in fact wonderful ideas in about blogging. You have touched some good points here. Any way keep up wrinting.

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