Ho'oponopono
Discover the transformative practice of Ho'oponopono, an ancient Hawaiian tradition that combines love, forgiveness, repentance, and gratitude in four powerful phrases. "I’m sorry. Please forgive me. Thank you. I love you."
How a doctor healed
a ward of mentally ill criminals
by doing nothing
Dr. Ihaleakala Hew Len, a therapist from Hawaii, successfully treated an entire ward of mentally ill criminals without ever meeting them face-to-face. His secret was simply looking at the files of the inmates and silently repeating the four phrases with true heartfelt love. After a few months patients that were shackled or heavily medicated were allowed.
“I just kept saying, ‘I’m sorry, please forgive me, thank you, I love you, over and over again. Turns out that loving yourself is the greatest way to improve yourself, and as you improve yourself, you improve your world. Whenever you want to improve anything in your life, there’s only one place to look: inside you. And when you look, do it with love.”
How to do Ho'oponopono
Begin by taking a deep breath and closing your eyes. Visualize either yourself or someone who has caused you pain. Embrace the image and allow yourself to feel the emotions. Now, repeat the phrases with sincere conviction: "I love you, I'm sorry, Please forgive me, Thank you." Repeat them like a mantra, infusing them with genuine love, apology, forgiveness, and gratitude.
Next, imagine the person embracing you with waves of light and love. In your imagination see them as healed.
Understanding the mechanics of Ho'oponopono
Ho'oponopono operates on the belief that at a deeper level, we are all energy. Through this practice, you reclaim and nurture your energy by invoking love and forgiveness. This act of self-love is a precious gift you give yourself. Remember that when you engage in Ho'oponopono, you are not only speaking to the person in your imagination but also connecting with a piece of the universal soul. It's a profound way to cultivate love and healing within yourself.
If you love reading as much as I do, here is one book on ho'oponopono
I wanted to find out more about the roots of Ho'oponopono so I did a lot of reading on the topic. I was expecting to find ancient spiritual truths, but was disappointed. Most of the literature on the topic is new age, Western thought projected onto Hawaiian culture. Several of the books seem to have borrowed most of their content from the original book on Huna, Growing into Light by Max Freedom Long. He has been criticized by some for being a Westernizing and simplifying traditional Hawaiian beliefs and practices
According to indigenous Hawaiians the mantra, “I Love You. I'm Sorry. Please Forgive Me. Thank You.” is what they term “Faux’oponopono.” It is not Hawaiian in origin and has no resemblance to true ho’oponopono.
In reality, ho’oponopono is a demanding family gathering that can takes weeks. When a Hawaiian family encounters trouble, they call upon a senior member to help them resolve their problems through prayer, discussion, and confession.
That said, I found that saying “I Love You. I'm Sorry. Please Forgive Me. Thank You.” with genuine feelings and honest intent has brought me peace of mind in difficult situations.
I enjoyed reading The Easiest Way by Mabel Katz because it's a genuine story of a woman struggling to find peace and success in her life. Mabel has a simple way of explaining rather deep spiritual concepts. Throughout the pages of this book she uses folk tales, allegories, and personal anecdotes to explain her ideas. There is an innocence and honesty and gentleness about her, and she provides valuable background information on ho'oponopono.
I’m Dr. Rodger Douglas, DMH, a South African-born homeopath now based in Osaka, Japan. With a psychology degree from Nelson Mandela University and a diploma from the Hahnemann College of Heilkunst, I specialize in holistic care for fibromyalgia. I serve clients by phone or video across the US, Canada, the UK, and beyond.
