Two words that begin with “p” in Spanish, yet mean very different things. We should forgive ourselves for our foolishness and, to do so, understand its causes, just as we should forgive the foolishness of others as we forgave our own. This would not be so difficult if we understood the chain of causes that led them to act that way.
What will never make any sense, however—and will itself be another act of foolishness—is to keep allowing violations, mistreatment, offences, lies, deceit, mockery, contempt, disregard, and so on. It makes no sense because, by keeping the light green for all of this, we are teaching by example. We are teaching that this is right.
And what will keep happening? The absurdity will continue. It will continue for as long as we make room for it. But if we gradually close every door to it, only one path will remain: the path of sense. Or, perhaps better still, common sense.
Those who walk the path of awakening must attain complete happiness, which means they cannot allow themselves to be unhappy. So it will never be about swallowing the indigestible or tolerating the intolerable. Nor about deceiving ourselves about it.
Lying always begins with ourselves, then spreads and is traded for favours that buy more lies. If happiness and love are to come first in your life, lies must disappear, because they deny both outright.
Freedom begins and ends within us, as we recognise all the absurdities and self-deceptions we engage in. We fall into them through a lack of self-love and recognition of our own worth. Once we recognise our value, we can no longer accept crumbs or allow contempt. We accept only what is given to us with true Love.
And none of this is possible without walking the path of TRUTH.
We forgive the absence of Love and stop allowing it, both in ourselves and in others, for if we seek Love and happiness, we must reject everything that denies them.