Have you ever held onto a grudge long after the moment had passed? Maybe someone’s words left a wound, or a betrayal hardened your heart. It’s easy to justify the pain — and far harder to release it. But deep down, we all sense this truth: holding on hurts us more than it heals.

Forgiveness, in the Buddhist tradition, isn’t about forgetting or excusing harm. It’s about liberating the heart from suffering. As the Buddha taught, clinging to anger is like “grasping hot coals with the intent of throwing them at someone else — you are the one who gets burned.”

This article will explore powerful Buddhist quotes on forgiveness — not just to admire them, but to let them speak to your own life. We’ll reflect on how these teachings guide us toward compassion, release, and peace.

Let’s begin with the wisdom of the Buddha and his disciples, and slowly walk the path of forgiveness together.

🪷 Key Buddhist Quotes on Forgiveness — and What They Teach Us

1. “Holding onto anger is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die.” — (Often attributed to the Buddha)

This vivid metaphor captures the self-destructive nature of resentment. Though scholars debate whether the Buddha said these exact words, the message aligns deeply with his teachings. Anger corrodes the mind. When we refuse to forgive, it is we who suffer.

Reflection:
What am I still holding onto that poisons my own peace?
Who is truly being hurt by my refusal to let go?

Forgiveness isn’t about them. It’s about you.

2. “He abused me, he struck me, he overpowered me, he robbed me. Those who harbor such thoughts do not still their hatred.” — Dhammapada, Verse 3

This quote comes straight from the Dhammapada, a central text of early Buddhism. It points to the mental habits that keep hatred alive. When we replay the injury again and again, we trap ourselves in a loop of suffering.

The very next verse offers the antidote:

“He abused me, he struck me, he overpowered me, he robbed me. Those who do not harbor such thoughts still their hatred.” — Dhammapada, Verse 4

Reflection:
Do I keep telling myself the story of how I was wronged?
What would it mean to lay that story down?

The Buddha shows us that freedom lies not in what happened, but in how we relate to it.

3. “Hatred is never appeased by hatred in this world. By non-hatred alone is hatred appeased. This is an eternal law.” — Dhammapada, Verse 5

Here, the Buddha states a timeless truth — one that feels especially urgent in today’s divided world. Retaliation may feel natural, but it doesn’t heal. Only compassion can break the cycle.

Reflection:
Can I meet anger with understanding, even when it’s hard?
Where have I seen hate escalate because no one stepped back?

Forgiveness is the courageous act of breaking the chain.

4. “In this world, there are three things that cannot be long hidden: the sun, the moon, and the truth.” — Attributed to the Buddha

While not directly about forgiveness, this quote reminds us that truth will surface. Sometimes we hold onto anger out of a desire for justice — for others to know what they did. But Buddhism teaches us to trust in karma, in cause and effect.

You don’t have to carry the burden of making things right. Let life unfold.

Reflection:
Am I trying to control the outcome instead of releasing it to truth?
What if my peace doesn’t depend on their apology?

Forgiveness lets truth rise — without bitterness.

5. “As a mother would protect her only child with her life, even so let one cultivate a boundless love toward all beings.” — Metta Sutta

Forgiveness is rooted in metta — loving-kindness. When we practice forgiveness, we extend love not just to those who deserve it, but to those who are difficult, wounded, or lost.

This doesn’t mean tolerating abuse. But it does mean seeing others with eyes of compassion.

Reflection:
Can I wish well for someone who hurt me — not because they’re right, but because I choose peace?

This is the heart of Buddhist forgiveness: boundless, courageous love.

🌱 Applying Forgiveness to Everyday Life

Let’s ground these teachings in the messiness of real life. How do these quotes help us when:

• A friend betrays your trust

You feel hurt and disappointed. The story loops in your mind. But remembering the Dhammapada’s verse, you gently remind yourself: “Those who harbor such thoughts do not still their hatred.” So, you pause. Breathe. Maybe write them a letter — even if you never send it. Not for them. For your own release.

• You’re angry at yourself

Buddhism includes self-forgiveness. If you’re stuck in guilt, remember that hatred — even self-directed — is not appeased by more hate. As you would forgive a friend, you practice kindness toward your own past mistakes.

• A parent or partner let you down

Forgiveness doesn’t mean excusing harmful behavior. But it does mean choosing not to carry the weight. As Thich Nhat Hanh once said, “When another person makes you suffer, it is because he suffers deeply within himself.” Seeing the suffering in others can soften the sharpness in us.

🧘 Forgiveness and Core Buddhist Teachings

These quotes aren’t just moral advice — they’re deeply woven into Buddhist philosophy:

• Non-attachment (upekkha)

Clinging to resentment binds us. Forgiveness is a form of letting go, a movement toward equanimity.

• Karma

The law of cause and effect reminds us: everyone faces the fruits of their actions. We don’t need to be the enforcers of justice. Trusting karma brings peace.

• Impermanence (anicca)

Everything changes — even pain, even relationships. Holding onto the past denies its transient nature.

• Compassion (karuna)

Forgiveness is born from compassion. Not pity, but the willingness to understand another’s suffering — and your own.

These teachings offer not just comfort, but liberation.

🔍 Practice: How to Cultivate Forgiveness

Here are a few gentle practices inspired by the quotes above:

🕯 1. Metta Meditation (Loving-Kindness)

Repeat phrases like:

Start with yourself. Then extend it outward — even to someone you struggle with.

✍️ 2. Journaling Prompt

Ask yourself:

🌬 3. Breath and Release

As you breathe out, imagine letting go.
Breathe in peace.
Breathe out resentment.

You can do this anytime — in the car, before sleep, or after a hard conversation.

🪷 Sit with This Wisdom

Forgiveness is not easy. The Buddha never promised it would be. But he pointed to a path that is clear, compassionate, and free.

Each quote we’ve explored reminds us: holding on hurts. Letting go heals. We forgive not because others always deserve it, but because we deserve peace.

So next time anger rises, or an old wound reopens, return to these words. Let them meet you where you are. Let them remind you: forgiveness isn’t weakness — it’s freedom.

“Hatred is never appeased by hatred. By non-hatred alone is hatred appeased.”
May these words live in your heart. May they bring you peace.