From Dictionary.com, “Dharma is the social customs regarded as religious or moral duty; the essential principle of  the cosmos; natural law and conduct that conforms to this (Hinduism)” 

Dharma: "Ideal truth as set forth in the teaching of Buddha.” “(Buddhism)

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All religions have their commandments and moral precepts that one can follow to live according to cosmic law and order; for example, Christians follow the Ten Commandments, from the Old Testament;  Buddhist also have a Ten Commandants, and a Five Precepts;  Hinduism has similar listings, their primary texts are the Vedas, Upanishads, Puranas and the Bhagavad Gita. You will find a list of religions and spiritual traditions at this Wikipedia link with descriptions of philosophies, commandments and precepts.

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The Western form of Confession, and the similar Repentance, is considered Dharma. Repentance is espoused in the Buddhist verse found in Practices and Vows of Samantabadra Bodhisattva (chapter 40):

 

 “For all the evil deeds I have done in the past,
  Created by my body, speech and mind,
  From beginningless greed, hatred and delusion,
  I now know shame and repent them all.”

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The “fifth step confessional” is a vital part of the alcoholics, 12 Step Program. It says, “Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.”  

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The fifth step is a confession of “alleged wrong-doings” that one has committed in this lifetime. We use the term, “alleged wrong-doings” because there are religious institutions that define some acts as sinful while other denominations regard them as normal. You have freewill, so it is up to you if your behaviors serve your best interest and contribute to your eventual meeting with your creator.

 

The fifth step confession provides emotional, mental and spiritual relief when shared with a trusted confidant. It is the unloading of all that needless emotional baggage you have been carrying around. This sharing is you forgiving yourself. It is a bogus notion that the confidant does the forgiving, or is an intermediary to your personal God. Only you can forgive yourself. The confidant is a listener and nothing more. Read this again, “Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs” (Confession is now termed reconciliation in some traditions).

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Regarding holding on to emotional baggage, read this page on the medical consequences of doing that, here.

 

This vital step in forgiving yourself will naturally lead to the next step, forgiving others. No deed will free your soul more than forgiving someone you think has wronged you. A simple way is Ho'oponopono, a forgiveness practice  and reconciliation for yourself, and others. Ho’oponopono is a Hawaiian word you can learn more about, here.

 

Make a list of all the people who have wronged you in your life and repeat the Hoʻoponopono mantra:

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"I love you. I'm sorry. Please forgive me. Thank you."

 

Do the same with all the people you have wronged in your life. Forgive them and repeat the mantra:

 

"I love you. I'm sorry. Please forgive me. Thank you."

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This mantra is based on the idea that, "taking responsibility for everyone's actions, not only for one's own. If one would take complete responsibility for one's life, then everything one sees, hears, tastes, touches, or in any way experiences would be one's responsibility because it is in one's life. The problem would not be with our external reality, it would be with ourselves. Total Responsibility, according to Hew Len, advocates that everything exists as a projection from inside the human being" (from the Wikipedia article referenced above).

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You are the world

Krisnamurti

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       This is Dharma, may all the Gods, Goddesses and Angels protect and guide you in your endeavors. Namaste.

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