I have a lot of sympathy for the view that when you peel away all the outer layers of defence mechanisms and reactivity, what remains under the surface is love - so that rather than *trying* to love and forgive per se, the business of life is removing whatever isn't love until all that remains is love. The more you rest in confidence and peace, the more you forgive others' evil actions by default for the simple reason that they can't hurt you any more. On that level there is no "us" and "them", just one being who can't possibly not love itself, because it is love.
Sounds very nice and mystical, but is it achievable in practice? 1 or 2 people seem to have gotten there alright. I'm nowhere near it, but it's my guiding ideal.
I have a lot of sympathy for the view that when you peel away all the outer layers of defence mechanisms and reactivity, what remains under the surface is love - so that rather than *trying* to love and forgive per se, the business of life is removing whatever isn't love until all that remains is love. The more you rest in confidence and peace, the more you forgive others' evil actions by default for the simple reason that they can't hurt you any more. On that level there is no "us" and "them", just one being who can't possibly not love itself, because it is love.
Sounds very nice and mystical, but is it achievable in practice? 1 or 2 people seem to have gotten there alright. I'm nowhere near it, but it's my guiding ideal.