The Power of Forgiveness

HH Dalai Lama with Richard Moore

This is a wonderful and powerful teaching by His Holiness the Dalai Lama who spoke about "The Power of Forgiveness" at the University of Limerick, in the Republic of Ireland. His Holiness was invited by Richard Moore.

Richard Moore, the founder of the charity ‘Children in Crossfire’, was blinded accidentally by a rubber bullet fired at point blank range into his face by a British soldier in 1972. Moore had not only forgiven the soldier who fired the rubber bullet, but he had also befriended him.

The Dalai Lama called him “my hero” and said that “Richard Moore has led an exemplary life. He has put compassion in action”. The sense of forgiveness and humanity shown by Richard Moore is an example for the world to learn to overcome negative emotions such as anger.

Moore, 48, recounted that after he realised that he would never see his parents’ faces again, he cried one night until he fell asleep. He said that he had accepted the situation he was in just like that (snapping his fingers), and said: “Forgiveness is a gift for yourself.”

“I have learned to live in a different way. One can take away one’s sight, but one cannot take away one’s vision.”

I hope you take some time to listen to this teaching by His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Also, toward the end of the video, a wonderful song for His Holiness.... 

"If you like to take it in, I would like to let it go".