One night, just after completing my first 10-day Vipassana meditation course, I had the most profound and beautiful experience of my life.

Even as I lay in bed, I remained in a deep meditative state. As I continued observing my inner world, I suddenly felt an immense, heavy energy—like a large stone—tearing out of my chest. Without understanding why, I burst into uncontrollable sobs.

Then, a memory surfaced—one I had buried for over 15 years. It was of my mother, who had cheated on my father and left our family when I was 12. The pain was overwhelming, raw, and fresh as if it had just happened.

As I relived that moment, the grief poured out of me. But then, something shifted. I saw my mother not just as my mother, but as a woman and as a human being, flawed and vulnerable, capable of making mistakes. And in that realization, my heart softened.

For the first time, I was able to forgive her. I wished her happiness, a life free from guilt. I no longer wanted her to carry the weight of my pain.

That night, I understood something profound: The depth of our pain determines the depth of our love and our capacity for forgiveness. The suffering my mother’s departure had caused me was, in the end, one of the greatest gifts of my life—it had allowed me to experience the transformative power of forgiveness.

I had never imagined I could forgive her. But in that moment, a miracle happened. It was God’s grace. ✨