Our Inherent Goodness

Our Inherent Goodness

A friend sent me a copy of her rabbi’s Elul. It speaks eloquently to a personal belief of mine that carries over professionally. Namely, that we are born inherently good and that we heal by connecting with others. 

Elul 10/September 5
“Sometimes, we stray from the path of goodness and need the help of others to be reminded of our better selves. In The Art of Forgiveness, Lovingkindness, and Peace, Jack Kornfield describes an African forgiveness ritual.

In the Babemba tribe of southern Africa, when someone does something harmful, they take the person to the center of the village where the whole tribe comes and surrounds them. For two days, they will say to the man all the good things that he has done.

The tribe believes that each human being comes into the world as good. Each one of us only desiring safety, love, peace and happiness. But sometimes, in the pursuit of these things, people make mistakes.

The community sees those mistakes as a cry for help. They unite to lift him, to reconnect him with his true nature, to remind him who he really is, until he fully remembers the truth of which he had been temporarily disconnected: ‘I am good.'”

– Rabbi Young

Share, Email or Print this...
Share on facebook
Facebook
Share on twitter
Twitter
Share on email
Email
Share on print
Print


Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *