Dear Maria:

There is no requirement that you forgive Rachel. Why bother?

I will explain: she betrayed you and did not correct the betrayal. Buddhism, for me, is about seeing reality for what it is, “being awake”-

So there it is, reality. You wrote that the sting of betrayal hurts less now than when it was fresh. This is a good indication, and hopefully, it will hurt less in the future. You met new people, you wrote, had therapy and are learning to be truly happier.

So .. why bother with the quest of forgiving Rachel, for what purpose?

anita