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Forgiveness is one of the most deeply personal and universally challenging human experiences. Whether we’ve been betrayed by a loved one, wronged by a stranger, or tormented by our own guilt, the weight of resentment can cling to the heart like a heavy stone. Many spiritual traditions speak of forgiveness, but in Buddhism, it is not framed as a moral obligation or forced virtue. Instead, forgiveness is a liberating practice — one that frees both the forgiver and the forgiven.

Within the Buddha’s teachings, forgiveness is not merely a matter of pardoning others. It is a profound inner transformation rooted in wisdom (paññā), compassion (karuṇā), and non-attachment (anatta). The Buddha didn’t offer a command to “forgive” in the way religions sometimes do; instead, he illuminated how clinging to hatred and ill will leads to suffering — and how letting go opens the door to peace.

This article explores how the Buddha taught forgiveness, based on early Buddhist scriptures, and how we can embody these teachings in our daily lives. In a world so often divided by grievance and revenge, the Buddha’s path offers a radically gentle alternative: the courageous act of release.

What Is Forgiveness in the Buddha’s Teachings?

In early Buddhism, forgiveness is not a distinct doctrine but is intimately tied to the practice of letting go of hatred (dosa), cultivating loving-kindness (mettā), and purifying the heart. It is an active letting go of anger, ill will, and resentment.

The Pāli term “avera” — meaning “without hatred” — appears often in Buddhist texts. Rather than demanding forgiveness through command, the Buddha guides us to recognize that holding on to resentment is itself a form of suffering.

Forgiveness in Buddhism is thus not about excusing harmful actions or condoning injustice. Instead, it’s about understanding the nature of suffering, impermanence, and non-self — and choosing not to perpetuate cycles of hatred.

The Buddha’s Words on Forgiveness

1. “Hatred is never appeased by hatred” — Dhammapada 5

“Na hi verena verāni, sammantīdha kudācanaṃ;
Na hi verena verāni, sammantīdha kudācanaṃ;
Averena ca sammanti, esa dhammo sanantano.”

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

This foundational verse of the Dhammapada reveals the very heart of Buddhist forgiveness. Hatred cannot be extinguished by more hatred. The antidote to anger is not vengeance, but non-hatred, which includes compassion, understanding, and release.

In this teaching, the Buddha points not just to a moral truth, but to a psychological one: continuing the cycle of retaliation only deepens suffering. To forgive is to interrupt the cycle of hatred.

2. The Parable of the Saw — Majjhima Nikāya 21

One of the most powerful teachings on forgiveness comes from the Buddha’s Simile of the Saw:

“Monks, even if bandits were to sever you savagely limb by limb with a two-handled saw, he who gave rise to a mind of hate towards them would not be carrying out my teaching.”
(Majjhima Nikāya 21, Kakacūpama Sutta)

This radical instruction demonstrates the depth of the Buddha’s encouragement to abandon hatred — even in the face of extreme harm. The message is not to suppress emotion or deny reality, but to recognize the poison of anger and choose non-hatred instead.

Such a teaching isn’t a command to endure abuse passively. It’s a call to understand that the inner quality of the heart matters more than external circumstances. Even when suffering greatly, we can choose not to add hatred to our pain.

3. The Story of Angulimāla — Majjhima Nikāya 86

Another compelling example is the story of Angulimāla, a feared bandit who had killed many. When he encountered the Buddha, his heart was transformed:

“Stop, Angulimāla.”
“I have stopped, O Blessed One. You stop!”
(Majjhima Nikāya 86)

The Buddha forgave Angulimāla — not by ignoring his actions, but by recognizing the possibility of inner transformation. Angulimāla later became a monk and arahant.

The forgiveness here is not naïveté. It acknowledges the past, but does not imprison someone in it. This story speaks to the power of compassion to reform even the most tormented minds.

Why Forgiveness Matters on the Path

Forgiveness in Buddhism is not for the benefit of others alone — it is an essential part of purifying one’s own heart. Clinging to resentment is a form of attachment and aversion, both of which hinder awakening.

The Buddha taught that our suffering arises from craving, clinging, and ignorance. When we hold on to a grudge, we are:

To forgive is to loosen these bonds. As the Buddha said:

“As a mother would risk her life to protect her child, her only child, even so should one cultivate a boundless heart towards all beings.”
(Karaṇīya Mettā Sutta, Sutta Nipāta 1.8)

A boundless heart does not hold grudges. It sees all beings as caught in the same suffering — and thus, forgives not with superiority, but with shared humanity.

Common Obstacles to Forgiveness — and Buddhist Wisdom

1. “They don’t deserve forgiveness.”

From a Buddhist view, forgiveness is not earned — it’s offered freely, for the healing of the heart. Waiting for the other person to apologize, repent, or change keeps you bound to them emotionally. Letting go is your liberation.

2. “If I forgive, I’ll be weak.”

Forgiveness is not passivity. It is an act of strength to face your pain, understand it, and release it. In fact, the Buddha’s path to awakening involves cultivating the four divine abodes (brahmavihāras) — one of which is mettā (loving-kindness), a cornerstone of forgiveness.

3. “I can’t forget what happened.”

Forgiveness does not mean forgetting. The Buddha never said to erase memory. Instead, he taught to relate to memory without clinging or hatred. We acknowledge the truth of suffering, but we don’t need to continue it.

Practicing Forgiveness in Daily Life

Forgiveness is a practice — not a single act, but a path to be walked. The Buddha gave tools that help cultivate this quality in everyday life.

1. Practice Mettā Meditation

Loving-kindness meditation helps soften the heart, reduce resentment, and foster goodwill.

A traditional structure involves sending well-wishes to:

This practice trains the mind to respond with care — even to those who have caused pain.

2. Contemplate Karma and Ignorance

The Buddha taught that all beings act out of delusion, craving, and ignorance. When someone harms, it is often due to their own suffering and confusion. This doesn’t excuse their actions, but it helps us see them without hatred.

Reflect: “What pain or ignorance might have led them to act this way?”

3. Use the Breath to Let Go

The breath is a gentle companion when emotions arise. When anger or hurt surfaces:

This simple act creates space between reaction and response, allowing forgiveness to emerge naturally over time.

4. Forgive Yourself

Many suffer more from self-hatred than from what others have done. The Buddha reminded us that all beings make mistakes — the key is to learn, grow, and not cling to guilt.

Say to yourself: “I did what I could with the understanding I had. May I learn. May I be at peace.”

Forgiveness as Liberation

Forgiveness is not an obligation or a reward — it is freedom. The Buddha taught that liberation comes from relinquishing all clinging. Resentment, hatred, and guilt are forms of clinging that keep us bound to the past.

In the Itivuttaka, the Buddha said:

“There are these five cords of sensual pleasure… whoever delights in them… is called a person bound by Mara. But the one who has abandoned them… is unbound, released.”
(Itivuttaka 3.1)

The same principle applies to grudges. We are not free while clinging to the pain of what others have done.

To forgive is to be unbound.

Walking the Path: A Quiet Invitation to Reflect and Practice

Forgiveness, as taught by the Buddha, is an act of deep wisdom and love. It does not deny pain, but transforms it. It does not justify wrong, but refuses to perpetuate harm. It is a way of breaking the cycle of suffering — within ourselves and in the world.

Whether we are forgiving another or ourselves, the invitation remains the same: to let go of what binds the heart.

“Whatever has the nature of arising, all that is bound to cease.”
(Majjhima Nikāya 56)

So too can our anger and pain cease — if we release our grip.

Practice Prompt:
Take a few moments today to sit in silence. Bring to mind someone you struggle to forgive — even if that person is yourself. Without forcing, repeat gently:

“May you be free from suffering.
May I be free from resentment.
May peace come to both of us.”

How would your life change if you forgave — not to free them, but to free yourself?