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Jan 27, 2015
"To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover that the prisoner was you. ~Lewis B. Smedes" --
The Forgiveness Of Unforgivable Acts
As a child, Sujatha Baliga experienced repeated abuse at the hands of her own father. The deep pain and trauma of her experience would spur her towards victim advocacy. She enrolled in law school determined to become a prosecutor and help punish the perpetrators of such crimes. But a personal crisis in India followed by a serendipitous sit-down with the Dalai Lama himself, changed everything. "How do you work on behalf of abused people without anger as the motivating force?" she asked the famous paragon of compassion. His response electrified her. It set Baliga on a profound course that allowed her to ultimately forgive her father, and to also discover her true calling in the field of restorative justice, working equally for victims and accused persons. In this interview Baliga shares the Dalai Lama's unforgettable advice, along with her powerful story. A story that demonstrates our human capacity to transcend even the most horrific events with love.
BE THE CHANGE
Experiment with forgiveness today -- of yourself, of another, or of a circumstance. For inspiration, here is a poem by Thich Nhat Hanh, titled, "Please Call Me by My True Names." More ...