--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: True forgiveness is the only key to real…" description: "\"“True forgiveness is the only key to real awakening. This level of forgiveness sees that individuals are always doing the very best they can in each mo..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/554/david-cowan-78417_forgiveness_true-forgiveness-is-the-only-key-to-real_2063916.jpg" --- # True forgiveness is the only key to real awakening. This… ![“True forgiveness is the only key to real awakening. This level of forgiveness sees that individuals are always doing the very best they can in each moment,” quote by David Cowan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/554/david-cowan-78417_forgiveness_true-forgiveness-is-the-only-key-to-real_2063916.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/554/david-cowan-78417_forgiveness_true-forgiveness-is-the-only-key-to-real_2063916.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/554/david-cowan-78417_forgiveness_true-forgiveness-is-the-only-key-to-real_2063916.jpg) > ““True forgiveness is the only key to real awakening. This level of forgiveness sees that individuals are always doing the very best they can in each moment,”” David Cowan ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Forgiveness unlocks deep awakening, recognizing everyone does their best at each moment. **In simple terms:** Forgiveness leads to awakening. Key Takeaway Forgive to grow. Themes forgiveness awakening self‑compassion growth spirituality Mood peaceful hopeful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - conflict resolution - personal therapy - relationship repair Key Concepts mindfulness psychology self‑acceptance Questions to Reflect On - Can true forgiveness coexist with accountability? - How does forgiveness affect personal growth? A Different Perspective Forgiveness can be hard when hurt is deep. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Awakening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/awakening/) [Forgiveness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forgiveness/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [The world, like a dream full of attachments and aversions seems real until the awakening.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adi-shankara/the-world-like-a-dream-full-of-attachments-and-aversions-seems-real/) [Adi Shankara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adi-shankara/) > [Forgiveness is the key to moving on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-limn/forgiveness-is-the-key-to-moving-on/) [Jeremy Limn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-limn/) > [“Often what prevents us from seeing beauty in the outside world is the fact that we fail to see beauty in ourselves and other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-j-ciorra/often-what-prevents-us-from-seeing-beauty-in-the-outside-world-is-the/) Anthony J Ciorra > [Forgiveness is the key to action and freedom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-arendt/forgiveness-is-the-key-to-action-and-freedom/) [Hannah Arendt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-arendt/) > [Forgiveness is the key that can unshackle us from a past that will not rest in the grave of things over and done with.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-b-smedes/forgiveness-is-the-key-that-can-unshackle-us-from-a-past-that-will/) [Lewis B. Smedes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-b-smedes/) > [Many people want payback and to see others suffer. Forgiveness is the key to freedom. You can choose to be enslaved and burdened or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iyanla-vanzant/many-people-want-payback-and-to-see-others-suffer-forgiveness-is-the/) [Iyanla Vanzant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iyanla-vanzant/) > [Left to Tell reminds us that we are all sons and daughters of God; that with faith, miracles will always appear; and that forgiveness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colette-baron-reid-2/left-to-tell-reminds-us-that-we-are-all-sons-and-daughters-of-god/) [Colette Baron-Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colette-baron-reid-2/) > [Forgiveness is the key to happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-ferguson/forgiveness-is-the-key-to-happiness/) [Bill Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-ferguson/) > [When the mind goes off, open the heart where forgiveness is the key.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ali-bassam/when-the-mind-goes-off-open-the-heart-where-forgiveness-is-the-key/) [Ali Bassam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ali-bassam/) > [“I have come to believe that forgiveness is the key to survival. It does no good to see everything as a struggle between opposing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-holt/i-have-come-to-believe-that-forgiveness-is-the-key-to-survival-it/) Elliott Holt > [Forgiveness is the key that unlocks the door of resentment and the handcuffs of hatred. It is a power that breaks the chains of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/forgiveness-is-the-key-that-unlocks-the-door-of-resentment-and-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A wise one said, We are most like God when we forgive. It is easy for us to blame, but hard for us to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-lockwood-huie/a-wise-one-said-we-are-most-like-god-when-we-forgive-it-is-easy-for/) [Jonathan Lockwood Huie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-lockwood-huie/) > [Forgiveness is the key to breaking the cycle of karma and reincarnation. Forgiveness doesn't mean: "What you did was okay." It simply means, "I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doreen-virtue/forgiveness-is-the-key-to-breaking-the-cycle-of-karma-and/) [Doreen Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doreen-virtue/) > [Forgiveness is a key to opening 1 door & looking forward to the future. Forgetting is another key to a lock'd door behind you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/forgiveness-is-a-key-to-opening-1-door-looking-forward-to-the-future/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I am responsible for what I see. I can elect to change all thoughts that hurt. I could see peace instead of THIS. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-prather/i-am-responsible-for-what-i-see-i-can-elect-to-change-all-thoughts/) [Hugh Prather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-prather/) ## More by David Cowan > [“The accumulated research into quantum physics has begun to explain how the mind, or consciousness, has always played a major role in determining our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cowan/the-accumulated-research-into-quantum-physics-has-begun-to-explain/) David Cowan > [“There are only two choices in how you or anyone else experiences the moment—in a state of love, or in a quest for love.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cowan/there-are-only-two-choices-in-how-you-or-anyone-else-experiences-the/) David Cowan Explore all 3 David Cowan quotes ## More Awakening quotes > [It is natural that our minds replay old stories, because that is our own mechanism for trying to work out unresolved problems. Yet rerunning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tara-brach/it-is-natural-that-our-minds-replay-old-stories-because-that-is-our/) [Tara Brach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tara-brach/) > [Imitation is the first instinct of the awakening mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-montessori/imitation-is-the-first-instinct-of-the-awakening-mind/) [Maria Montessori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-montessori/) > [“It is not so much about fighting against the ego; it is more about harmonizing with it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-sara/it-is-not-so-much-about-fighting-against-the-ego-it-is-more-about/) [Grace Sara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-sara/) > [Dawn's faint breath breathes with your mouth at the ends of empty streets. Gray light your eyes, sweet drops of dawn on dark hills.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cesare-pavese/dawn-s-faint-breath-breathes-with-your-mouth-at-the-ends-of-empty/) [Cesare Pavese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cesare-pavese/) > [“Low states are a like a poison to the psyche. Millions of people throughout the world take tranquillizers each day to combat depression, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/belsebuub/low-states-are-a-like-a-poison-to-the-psyche-millions-of-people/) [Belsebuub](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/belsebuub/) > [The awakening of the soul to its bondage and its effort to stand up and assert itself - this is called life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/the-awakening-of-the-soul-to-its-bondage-and-its-effort-to-stand-up/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [My political awakening, if I can be as grand as to call it that, was all about what was happening around me. It wasn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicola-sturgeon/my-political-awakening-if-i-can-be-as-grand-as-to-call-it-that-was/) [Nicola Sturgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicola-sturgeon/) > [How often have you sailed in my dreams. And now you come in my awakening.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/how-often-have-you-sailed-in-my-dreams-and-now-you-come-in-my/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“CWC (Church Women Concerned) enabled us as women in that part of South Africa, to see ourselves as ordinary citizens who found themselves in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sindiwe-magona/cwc-church-women-concerned-enabled-us-as-women-in-that-part-of-south/) Sindiwe Magona > [I feel there is a great spiritual awakening on the planet right now. More than any previous time, people are drawn to meditation, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agapi-stassinopoulos/i-feel-there-is-a-great-spiritual-awakening-on-the-planet-right-now/) [Agapi Stassinopoulos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agapi-stassinopoulos/) > [When I was 20 years old, I got cast in 'Spring Awakening' and got swept up in this experience where it was kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-groff/when-i-was-20-years-old-i-got-cast-in-spring-awakening-and-got-swept/) [Jonathan Groff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-groff/) > [Motivation is awakening own mind and Inspiration is arising spirit in others to find their own with their heart and soul in all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anuj/motivation-is-awakening-own-mind-and-inspiration-is-arising-spirit-in/) [Anuj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anuj/) > [“Everything we perceive to be solid and static is made up of almost entirely empty space.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-p-kauffman/everything-we-perceive-to-be-solid-and-static-is-made-up-of-almost/) [Joseph P. Kauffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-p-kauffman/) > [Life is perhaps best regarded as a bad dream between two awakenings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-o-neill/life-is-perhaps-best-regarded-as-a-bad-dream-between-two-awakenings/) [Eugene O'Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-o-neill/) > [“The Illusion - The source of suffering can be linked back to a condition of the mind that creates the illusion of separation--the state…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-m-blanchard/the-illusion-the-source-of-suffering-can-be-linked-back-to-a/) L.M.Blanchard [Browse all 1,440 Awakening quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/awakening/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“True forgiveness is the only key to real awakening. 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