Om Shanti… Dear Readers
Foreword
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There are words that do not die — they settle into your memory, into your energy field.
What you are about to read is my personal reflection on forgiveness and reconciliation. Not a preachy essay, not a universal truth — but a glimpse into how these words have unfolded in my life. Every person walks their own path, and I honor yours as you read this. On social media, I often see inspiring content about inner growth. Yet rarely do we hear about the raw experiences, the confrontations, the scars that remain — especially when ignored. That’s why I share not only insights, but also my own story. How forgiveness and reconciliation have shown themselves in my life — sometimes as a whisper, sometimes as a storm. My understanding has deepened through inner work, yogic philosophy, and the guidance of Yogis and Gurus who appeared on my path.
Yoga is not just physical movement. It is a way of life, an inner journey. In this blog, I explore forgiveness and reconciliation through the lens of yoga. My intention is not to convince, but to invite — to feel, to reflect, to open your heart. Because maybe, just maybe, your forgiveness is already waiting… deep within.
Forgiveness and Reconciliation on the Yogic Path
I remember exactly when I first truly felt the word ‘forgiveness.’ Not as a concept, but as a raw, trembling truth in my chest. It wasn’t a decision. It was a moment of release — of acknowledging that I no longer wanted to carry the burden of what had been done to me.
My mother once screamed words during her illness that felt like a curse. She wished me a child so bad that I would understand what she had gone through. I was seventeen. Those words became scars. I buried them for years. But scars don’t disappear by ignoring them — they ask for attention, for touch, for healing. Forgiveness is not approval. It is not saying: “It was okay.” It is saying: “It hurt deeply. And I choose not to hold onto that pain anymore.” In yoga, forgiveness is an inner sadhana — a practice, a discipline.
It requires:
• Svadhyaya (self-study)
• Ishvara Pranidhana (surrender)
• Karuna (compassion)
You and the Path of Yoga
You may carry scars too. Fresh or old. Spoken or silent. And you may wonder: where does reconciliation begin? Where does forgiveness begin?
Yoga offers several paths:
1. Bhakti Yoga – The Path of Devotion
Forgiveness flows like a prayer, a tear falling into the heart of the divine. Reconciliation may arise as an inner meeting with the higher — even if the other is no longer present.
2. Jnana Yoga – The Path of Wisdom
You explore the nature of self, ego, and suffering. You ask: Who am I? What is this story I’m holding? Forgiveness arises through insight. Reconciliation becomes a shift in perspective.
3. Karma Yoga – The Path of Action
You act without attachment to results. Forgiveness is a choice: not to respond from resentment. Reconciliation may happen — or not. You do what is right, and let go.
4. Raja Yoga – The Path of Meditation
You descend into silence. In meditation, you meet pain without judgment. You visualize the other. You have the conversation that never took place.
Definitions
• Forgiveness is an inner process. It is the release of resentment, pain, and judgment. It is a choice to free yourself.
• Reconciliation is rational. It requires mutual willingness. Sometimes it’s possible, sometimes not. And that’s okay.
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Afterword: My Reconciliation
My mother passed away from cancer 55 years ago at the age of 43. Reconciliation in the classical sense — a conversation, an embrace — was no longer possible after my 19th year. But I have met her in meditation. I have seen her in dreams. I have heard her voice in the wind. And I have reconciled with her many times. Not because she asked — she couldn’t anymore. Reconciliation was not an obligation, but a choice.
And you? Where does your forgiveness begin? Which yoga path calls to you? Bhakti? Raja? A blend? What matters is that you begin. That you dare to look. That you dare to feel. Forgiveness is not an endpoint…It is a door you can walk through. You hold the key. You may choose. You may heal. And know this: your inner teacher, the Paramatman, lives in your heart. You are never alone. So go for it. Let your light shine. Kamala
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Guided Meditation: The Gate of Forgivenes
Sit quietly.
Close your eyes. Breathe in deeply… and exhale slowly.
Let your shoulders drop. Let your face soften.
Feel your body supported by the earth.
Imagine you are in a temple — an inner space, quiet and warm.
In front of you stands a gate.
On the gate is written: Forgiveness & Reconciliation.
You walk toward the gate.
You place your hand on the wood.
Feel the vibration. Feel the memory.
Behind this gate lives a memory — a person, a situation.
Something that still moves within you.
Open the gate.
Let come what wants to come.
Without judgment. Without haste.
See the other. See yourself.
Breathe in: I see you.
Breathe out: I see myself.
Let a golden light descend over both of you.
A light that does not justify, but softens.
A light that does not forget, but liberates.
Repeat silently:
“I release what no longer serves me.
I open my heart to healing.
I am free.”
Stay in this space a little longer.
Feel what changes.
Feel what remains.
When you are ready, gently close the gate.
Thank the memory. Thank yourself.
Breathe in deeply… and out.
Move your fingers. Open your eyes.
You are back. But something within you has shifted.
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🙏
