Practicing forgiveness is not always easy to do. Whether they are actions by others that have hurt us, or actions we have done ourselves (that we have trouble forgiving ourselves for), we can find ourselves holding on to the pain for many years after the event. But holding on to pain, not only keeps us trapped in our own suffering, it also restricts our capacity to develop unconditional love and compassion to all.

In this video, I explore the merits of practicing forgiveness, and I share some stories of people during the Buddha’s life who were able to use self-forgiveness for their own spiritual gain.