Ho'oponopono

sounds Hawaiian / feels Jewish

Sha lo ha

 

In Jewish practice, Repentance and the Day of Atonement absolve one from sins committed against God.  Sins against another person are absolved only when restitution has been made and the pardon of the offended party has been obtained.

Ho'oponopono is an ancient Hawaiian practice of reconciliation and forgiveness, combined with repentance prayers.

Traditionally hoʻoponopono is practiced by healing priests or kahuna lapaʻau among family members of a person who is physically ill. 

In modern practice it is performed within the family by an elder, or by the individual alone.   

Ho'oponopono, in modern practice, can be as simple as repeating these four sentences many times during the day.

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

The words feel familiar - reminiscent of prayers spoken on Rosh Hashonah and Yom Kippur; the apology for committing an alphabet of sins.

These words also support the concept of Tikkun Olam, Repairing the Universe.

When you consider how these concepts work in harmony, you get a very deep understanding of sha lo ha.