It is very important to touch our ancestors. When we touch our ancestors, we touch ourselves. We know that we are one. If we know that we are from the same roots, then we know that we are one. After having bowed to our ancestors, we turn around and bow to each other and embrace each other and forgive each other for the unskillfulness that has been committed in the past. That is also beginning anew. It would not mean anything if you bow to your ancestors and you don’t forgive your brother or your sister. In the Christian Bible you find the same teaching. Before you place an offering on the altar of God, make sure that you have reconciled with your brother. If you have not reconciled with your brother, placing an offering on the altar of God, does not mean anything. Celebrating New Year, we have to celebrate in such a spirit, touching our ancestors, blood ancestors and spiritual ancestors, we have an opportunity to realize that we are brothers and sisters to each other.

To forgive is to cancel all demands, conditions, and expectations held in your mind that block the Attitude of Love. . . .

Canceling is not the same as pardoning, condoning, or approving. It does not wipe out the wrong of another. We cannot cancel another's action or another's error. Forgetting or clearing the memory of the wrong is not canceling. Canceling is the dropping or removing of the requirement that the other person perform in any certain way in order to be loved.