Guilt is a betrayal, for sure. To me guilt involves an imagined necessary atonement for some historical wrong-doing. Or presumed wrong-doing! There is a definite tone of inadequacy, of being unequal to the task, and of being externally controlled. To release our supposed weaknesses, to live more fully and consistently with our true natures would indeed seem a Western spiritual liberation.

I have not done a Write on this so I will wonder out loud here about the self as an illusion preventing enlightenment. On some level (I say this speculatively as I seem to have a "self" still clanking about), it seems the "self" is the root of all suffering, both in the past and present so to be free of it might lead to enlightenment. If there was no "self" and there was simply shared energy, I would think guilt might become a non-issue for all would be one and there would be neither a guilt giver or receiver. This leads me to wonder whether forgiveness or commpassion would exist either.

Christy