Ho’oponopono: Forgive to Heal

The philosophy of Ho’oponopono, an ancient Hawaiian practice, centers on conflict resolution and spiritual healing through forgiveness, reconciliation, and unconditional love. It emphasizes personal responsibility and the power of internal transformation to resolve external issues. This article explores its origins, traditional practices, and modern interpretations.

Ho’oponopono: Forgiving Oneself

Originating from the earliest inhabitants of Hawaii, Ho’oponopono began as spiritual healing rituals. In the 20th century, Nalamaku Simeona adapted these ancestral teachings, popularizing a contemporary version that transitioned from a community-led process to a self-help methodology where individuals actively participate in their own healing.

Polynesian Beliefs and Repression

Traditional Polynesian cultures believed that personal errors caused illness, as they angered the gods. Confession was seen as crucial for purification; withholding it could lead to sickness and death. This aligns with the psychoanalytic concept of repression, where unresolved tensions manifest physically when negative experiences are suppressed, causing psychological and physical strain. Confession was thought to neutralize these harmful effects.

Ancestral Practice of Ho’oponopono

In Hawaiian, “Ho’oponopono” translates to “mental hygiene” or “to set things right.” The prefix “ho’o” turns a noun into a verb, while “pono” signifies “goodness, morality, correctness, virtue, justice, ethics.” Thus, “ponopono” means “to correct, reorder, or guide back to proper alignment.”

Distinguished Hawaiian researcher Mary Pukui described early Ho’oponopono as a family tradition where members would convene to resolve deep-seated issues, fostering forgiveness and mutual understanding. It was viewed as a spiritual method to mend interpersonal relationships that could lead to individual and group ailments, ultimately believed to improve relationships with the divine and ensure spiritual peace.

Ho’oponopono in Modern Times

While not formally endorsed by experimental psychology or scientifically validated intervention practices, Ho’oponopono has found diverse applications over recent decades.

Traditional Application with Offenders

During the latter half of the 19th century in Hawaii, prison programs implemented Ho’oponopono, involving offenders in sessions with elders and their families. This served as an alternative method for resolving interpersonal and intrapersonal conflicts.

Karma Cleansing

By the 1970s, traditional Ho’oponopono was adapted for industrial society. Its philosophy of forgiveness and conflict resolution extended to social issues, simultaneously acquiring a psycho-spiritual character aimed at purifying an individual’s emotional burdens. This adaptation heavily emphasized the impact of negative karma, stressing the importance of acknowledging and experiencing the pain caused to others. It incorporates elements of solipsism, asserting that “each individual creates their own life and circumstances. Every immoral action leaves an imprint on the psyche and is reflected in every object or living being present at that moment.” Cleansing or purifying karma becomes essential for consciousness expansion.

Ho’oponopono: Without Limits

Contemporary 21st-century interpretations of Ho’oponopono highlight the pursuit of a “zero state,” free from limitations, attachments, memory, or identity. To achieve this state, termed “Self-I-Dentity,” practitioners often repeat a specific mantra:

Please forgive me. I’m so sorry. I love you.

The modern philosophy behind Ho’oponopono advocates for full responsibility for one’s actions and the actions of others. Conflicts are seen as originating internally, rather than from external reality. To change personal reality, one must first change oneself. While this principle bears resemblance to solipsism, Ho’oponopono does not negate the consciousness of others. Instead, it views all consciousnesses in the world as interconnected components. By purifying one’s own consciousness of past errors, one contributes to the purification of all, fostering deeper understanding and connection with others.