"I love you.
I'm sorry.
Please forgive me.
Thank you."
That's it. A absolute miracle in 4 short sentences. My dear friend Anne taught me this mantra while here in Kauai. She shared that this deeply loving prayer, called ho'oponopono, has created massive changes in her life.
This traditional Hawaiian practice has been made globally famous by the work of Dr. Hew Len. He worked at Hawaii State Hospital practicing ho'oponopono on the files of hundreds of murders and other insane violent people, without even meeting any of them in person. He just did this prayer as a "cleaning" on himself. Over time, less restraints were needed on all prisoners and they became less violent and agitated. The turn around time of inmates went from several years to several months. Eventually, in what seemed like a miracle, all inmates were "cured" and the hospital was shut down due to a lack of need.
I was immediately intrigued by ho'oponopono and within a few days started practicing. I watched this video and practiced along with it, feeling my heart melt. Then I just tried to remember throughout the day to practice. When I had something or someone come to mind which was troubling... I just began saying and feeling the words, moving intuitively. I've starting sensing big shifts, big releases on a deep level. Knowing very little about the practice, I felt an instantaeous, deep devotion to it. Since then, I've learned a bit more about Dr. Len. I figrued I would share it with you...
Dr. Len says there are tragedies in our life because our minds keep experiencing the same things over again and again. The solution is to "clean" ourselves through love. Dr Len asks in response to everything he experiences, "What is going on in me that I am experiencing this?".
Dr. Len takes 100% responsibility of what he is experiencing by inquiring how he is creating this experience. By going inside and "cleaning" our unconscious, we can change what we see. He believes we have shared data, or memories, with everyone. It is all about cleaning out the "data" we experince internally which says someone or something outside of us is "____". Perception is an end product of the data produced by our unconscious. We experience suffering, fear, etc because there is data inside which must be erased.
In regards to the "miracle" at the hospital, Dr. Len says he didn't "heal" them, he just took care of himself. He views these patients as coming along in his life, and in in a way saying, "you got stuck, you should let go". He just cleaned up whatever was going on in him that kept them in a hospital. He didn't do it for the benefit of them, it was to create freedom within himself. He says that this helps him see God in everyone.
Dr. Len says the most important question anyone can ask is, What is going on in me that I am experiencing this?" He is dedicated to falling in love with memories the same way Jesus fell in love with his enemies. You say to the memory that replays emotion you are resisting by saying, "I love you, thank you for showing me where I have to make amends."
Dr. Len says this practice isn't about analyzing, it is about letting go. When you are in a state of emptiness there is no data playing. This means you are absolutely free and clear. Most of the time we move through life with "dead" information based on past memories. Letting go of these brings a state of enlightenment direct from Source, where you can speak a language of love and truth.
Dr. Len does the cleaning on everything as a habit. He views his purpose of existing to be making amends. For example, before meeting people he does it on all the people he will meet ahead of time, the address, the camera, taking 100% responsibility for everything he will experience. He believes you have to be able to talk to everything, from people to furniture to plans and projects. He believes that when you talk to them like little children and make amends, then things become right and the right people and resources show up. The basis of this is the Hawaiian belief that everything is alive.
So... that is a lot of "information" for those who like that sort of thing. For me, so far, ho'opponopono has been more of an intuitive heart practice. I find myself doing it with my own body, my parents, my x-husband, my boyfriend, my friends, my extended family, the island, the ocean, and even food which I ate, my own self criticisms, my business and creative dreams. I know more will continue to reveal itself to me with practice... I am so grateful for this beautiful gift. Mahalo!
Wow, this is inspiring and made me cry. Thank you.
Posted by: Verafleischer | November 20, 2010 at 01:25 PM