[Susanleech]

Topic pretty much sums it up. I've realized that guilt is the cause of all my anxieties. I'm "jumpy" about everything, because for some reason I feel guilty. I feel like I've done something wrong, or that I'm "dirty". Probably because there's so many things in my past that I have done.

Any advice on dealing with guilt?

[Chiquita]

Sometimes it can even be possible to become obsessed with the past and the things that one feels that one did unskilfully or wrongly. However, I think that after having regret about whatever it was, one then needs to be able to forgive oneself and move on. Metta practice (loving kindness/goodwill) directed towards oneself as well as others can be helpful.


Here's some good advice in connection with self -view from Ajahn Sucitto at the link:

http://www.cittaviveka.org/transcrib...%20Sucitto.pdf

[Vagtlaldo]

Hello Aardvark,

Hope this can be of some help from Bhikkhu Bodhi:

The Buddha points to two mental qualities as the underlying safeguards of morality, thus as the protectors of both the individual and society as a whole. These two qualities are called in Pali hiri and ottappa. Hiri is an innate sense of shame over moral transgression; ottappa is moral dread, fear of the results of wrongdoing. The Buddha calls these two states the bright guardians of the world (sukka lokapala).

He gives them this designation because as long as these two states prevail in people's hearts the moral standards of the world remain intact, while when their influence wanes the human world falls into unabashed promiscuity and violence, becoming almost indistinguishable from the animal realm (Itiv. 42).

While moral shame and fear of wrongdoing are united in the common task of protecting the mind from moral defilement, they differ in their individual characteristics and modes of operation.

Hiri, the sense of shame, has an internal reference; it is rooted in self-respect and induces us to shrink from wrongdoing out of a feeling of personal honor.

Ottappa, fear of wrongdoing, has an external orientation. It is the voice of conscience that warns us of the dire consequences of moral transgression: blame and punishment by others, the painful kammic results of evil deeds, the impediment to our desire for liberation from suffering.

[...]

Yet the Buddha's stress on the importance of hiri and ottappa was based on a deep insight into the different potentialities of human nature. He saw that the path to deliverance is a struggle against the current, and that if we are to unfold the mind's capacities for wisdom, purity and peace, then we need to keep the powderkeg of the defilements under the watchful eyes of diligent sentinels.

[...]


"The Guardians of the World"

[Goooooblin]

Thank you both. I knew I could count on you.

[zabiqapara]

the Buddha praised letting go of the past, renewal & moving forward. he said:

He who having been heedless is heedless no more, illuminates this world like the moon freed from clouds.

He, who by good deeds covers the evil he has done, illuminates this world like the moon freed from clouds.

Dhammapada Who once was heedless,
but later is not,
brightens the world
like the moon set free from a cloud.

His evil-done deed
is replaced with skillfulness:
he brightens the world
like the moon set free from a cloud.

Dhammapada

[PareKeect]

Thank you Element. Wonderful.

[gimffnfabaykal]

Aardvark

The past we cannot change.

The future we do not know.

The present we can control.

Life is not a race but a journey to be savoured each step of the way

Yesterday is history

Tomorrow is a mystery

Today is a Gift

When you wake up in the morning and you are breathing it is going to be a good day

No matter how good you were yesterday today you will be even better

Peace

Gerry

[Barbshowers]

Agree with Gerry. We have to accept that we cannot change the past.
We may use the past for our lesson or warning for the present or the future.
But we should not use the past to panalise ourselves.
We should focus on the present. If we do the present well, the future should be good.

[XIMHOTEP-X]

This struggle of dealing with guilt, and for me obsessing about the past, is something I have a terrible time with, too. It's another element of what has brought me here. I wish you well in dealing with your struggle.

[Thigmaswams]

If you are guilty about what you have done that you know is 'wrong', then do your best to repent, make amend (to people you have wronged) and figure out how to change your behavior so you do not repeat your error again.

If you are guilty about what you have done that you don't think is 'wrong', then figure out why you are guilty and go from there.

[jojocomok]

Guilt as i understand it is an inner conflict between something we have thought, said or done and our ideals (the super ego).

There are different ways to deal with it:

1- To stop thinking about the past and to move on (most Buddhists follow this way i believe)

2- Not suppressing the experience that caused you to feel guilty but to keep on memorizing it and analyze the situation and to see that its not as big as you think it is (to see the biases in your mind), and to try to forgive yourself (i think most modern psychologists follow the second method)

Finally, all negative mental states (including guilt) are caused by the delusion of the self (the ego). So if you can stop taking everything personal and remind yourself that your emotions, mind and body are not you, that would solve not only guilt, but all negative emotions that you might experience in the future.

Regards,
Bundokji

[nizcreare]

There's an MP3 talk from Ajahn Amaro which can be listened to: - "Who's fault is it, the power of guilt " (14mb) Dated 24th July in the list at the link.

http://www.amaravati.org/index.php?teachings/audio

[dushappeaps]

I've realized that guilt is the cause of all my anxieties.

Is your guilt mostly irrational or on trivial matters which normally do not bother anyone? If so, perhaps anxiety is the cause of guilt; not the other way round.

[ASSESTYTEAH]

Is your guilt mostly irrational or on trivial matters which normally do not bother anyone? If so, perhaps anxiety is the cause of guilt; not the other way round.

Well, I have a past of some criminal activity and illicit drug use. All of which are years and years behind me. But when I go out into the public I still feel like I'm having to run or dodge everyone, like I still have something to hide. And it gets overwhelming. When I see a police officer my heart starts racing, even though I've done nothing and paid for all my crimes. This is my biggest issue when being in the public. I start to feel like I used to feel. Like I have to hide from people.

[qilmuz6v]

Practising a little daily meditation and looking at Ajahn Jayasaro's 'Buddhist Meditation' videos on YouTube might help you to begin to relax a little and let go of the past.

This is the introductory one:

[masterso]

I came across this video teaching about dealing with guilt :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U29nbssXzxQ