INTRODUCTION

the focused power of your consciousness that transmutes
everythingintoitself.
In a fully functional organism, an emotion has a very
shortlife span.It islikea momentary rippleor wave onthe
surface of your Being. When you are not in your body,
however, an emotion can survive inside you for days or
weeks, or join with other emotions of a similar frequency
thathavemerged andbecome the pain-body,aparasite that
can live inside you for years, feed on your energy, lead to
physical illness, and make your life miserable (see Chapter
2 ).
So place your attention on feeling the emotion, and
checkwhetheryourmindisholdingontoagrievancepattern
such as blame, self-pity, or resentment that is feeding the
emotion. If that is the case, it means that you haven't
forgiven. Nonforgiveness is often toward another person or
yourself, but it may just as well be toward any situationor
condition—past,presentorfuture—thatyourmindrefuses
toaccept.Yes,therecanbenonforgivenessevenwithregard
tothefuture.Thisisthemind'srefusaltoacceptuncertainty,
to accept that the future is ultimately beyond its control.
Forgiveness is torelinquish your grievance andso to let go
of grief. It happens naturally once you realize that your
grievance serves no purpose except to strengthen a false
senseof self.Forgiveness is tooffer noresistancetolife —
to allow life to live through you. The alternatives are pain
andsuffering,agreatlyrestrictedflowoflifeenergy,and in
manycasesphysicaldisease.
Themomentyoutrulyforgive,youhavereclaimedyour
power from the mind. Nonforgiveness is the very nature of
the mind, just as the mind-made false self, the ego, cannot
survivewithout strifeandconflict.Themindcannot forgive.
Only you can. You become present, you enter your body,
you feel the vibrant peace and stillness that emanate from
Being.ThatiswhyJesussaid:"Beforeyouenterthetemple,
forgive."