“If anything I have said or done 

has offended you, 

please forgive me.” 

Wow! How many of us have the strength of character—not to mention the courage—to look another person in the eye and say the above?

The simplicity of the words notwithstanding, it is incredibly personal. The person who sincerely means what they say will do so while looking unguardedly the other person in the eye. Sounds daunting?

Okay, perhaps before you try to figure out whether this is something worth working on, picture being on the receiving side of this apology. “If anything . . . offended you . . . forgive me.” Imagine how blown away you’d be!

Your petty resentments just dissolve into nothingness.

Your pent-up irritation. Poof!

Your anger? Gone.

Who can stay angry at someone who so honestly—and humbly—wants to apologize? Impossible! This is the power of an apology sincerely meant and humbly given. 

Wanting something is not enough for it to happen . . . (Click image for video)

Listen to Dharma 

like you listening to the birds in the Pure Land. 

Ideally,  when we listen to talks on the Dharma, we set all tasks and distractions aside, sit down, and focus on the talks. But life is rarely ideal. If ever. With much to do at work and at home, and with distractions everywhere we turn, we rarely have optimal conditions to practice and learn.

How do we find and dedicate the time we want—and need—to do both?

We know that buddha-name chanting requires dedicated focused time. Our learning, however, can be more flexible. We can take a hint from those who listen to Dharma talks in the Pure Land. In that land, Amitabha Buddha has birds who sing the Dharma because he understands that even beings who manage to attain birth there will find it easier to periodically take a more relaxed approach to learning.

We can do the same. Integrate some of our learning into our daily tasks. Perhaps during our daily commute or when doing routine tasks. Wherever we find ourselves.