I celebrate Yom Kippur but a little different then tradition. Most who celebrate spend time in Temple or in constant prayer. Some believe that prayer is the only way for forgiveness but I think good deeds trump prayer. I feel that GOD would rather you help someone else and create good energy then sit and say a prayer over and over. There are many people throughout history that did negative things and thought by going to Temple or church and saying prayers that they would be forgiven. While they may be forgiven, which always depends on the acts committed, I feel the best way to talk to GOD and the best way to get forgiveness is by doing good deeds everyday not just on holidays.
I fast all day long from the night before on Yom Kippur. I do brush my teeth and get ready for the day. Many times in the day I reflect on my sins and what I could have done different or better. I reflect on all my faults as a person and the learned behaviors from my life experience. I reflect from the outside in. I can see what needs to be evolved and this reflection helps keeps me focused on advancing my soul to make better choices in my life. One of the things I always reflect is about thinking before I act and speak. Sometimes I may say the wrong thing at the wrong time. This is something easy when you think about it but sometimes hard in the moment. Not too many people reflect on becoming better, they just focus on asking for forgiveness to what they had already done wrong.
If I was GOD, and for a minute pretend you are as well. Would you rather someone go to a place of worship and say sorry by repeating prayers or would you rather your child go out and help another child in need. If you are not doing good things in your life for others, how do you expect to advance as a good person? When you are doing good deeds every day you are counsciously in the light of GOD so it is that much harder to do something wrong. You have to live everyday like you were in Church or Temple. Live to help your brothers and sisters in need.
One of the biggest obstacles some of us have to endure is the forgiveness of others. This type of energy can stay for a lifetime. Regardless if that person is in your life any longer, forgiveness of that person and that act is crucial to your well-being. Me personally, I forgive people before they even do anything wrong. After the act, I forgive them instantly and never hold a grudge. I may choose to not have that person in my life any longer but I let that relationship dissolve with love. Forgiveness does not mean you are a sucker, it means you are strong enough to put your energy first and that your health and mind is the most important factor.
I have had many close relationships but if that line is crossed, that is the end. I know who I am as a person. The closest people know who I am as a person. Knowing that, if my line is crossed it mean they do not respect you in such a way, and once someone does it once, most likely it will happen again. Just like a spouse hitting another spouse. Once it happens, the pattern just begun. This does not make them a bad person for crossing the line, just means the time has come to release the relationship. People are in your life for seasons, reasons and lifetimes. When their message is delivered, the time will come to move on. Sometimes that time is delayed because of attachment and sometimes it is quick.
On a personal note, I had a huge miracle this holiday. I love to fish. I always wanted to catch a Cobia fish. It is one of the best fighting fish but also one of the tastiest. I have never caught one and have been trying for 10 years now. Today I caught one, a nice size about 20 pounds. When I was bringing it in, the line brook as soon as I was lifting it up in my backyard. I was devastated. Right at that point it was high tide and the best time for fishing. Also right at that point my wife called and asked me to bring her a change of clothes that was 20 minutes away. I felt frustration for a minute then realized it is all good. I know things happen for reasons as long as you are doing the right things in life. After I dropped off the clothes, I came back home to fish.
About 15 minutes in, my line said zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz, I caught a big fish. After 20 minutes of fighting the fish, I reeled in not only a 40 pound Cobia but the biggest fish I ever caught. I was so happy and immediately reflected on my frustration after the fish fish. My time delay had to happen. I was using live fish so think about it. I had to throw the line in exactly at a certain time, the fish had to swim a certain path and the Cobia had to swim in a certain area. It all worked out just as it should be. So since I fasted all day, I got to break my fast with a miracle fish. It was delicious!!!!!!!!!
So the lesson of Yom Kippur and really in life itself is to do good deeds everyday, reflect on becoming a person soul everyday, talk with GOD everyday whether in conversation or prayer and forgive those who have wronged you and all the miracles with fill your life with happiness. May be all be filled with so much love that their is no room for any type of negativity. Namaste.
David Chi 