What is Ho'oponopono?

I found something which I think will give us a clearer understanding of Ho'oponopono. Written by Joann Turner, the following is an exerpt from an article "There's Got to Be an Easier Way."

Here it is:

Meeting with Ihaleakala Hew Len, Ph.D. was like stepping into a peaceful oasis, right in the middle of Dennys. Dr. Ihaleakala is an educator and psychologist, who is both a practitioner and teacher of this ancient art, which he has updated for today's world.

Dr. Ihaleakala took my tablet of paper and showed me a blank page, he said, This is how we all come in...clear, knowing who we are, no preconceived ideas we are the number 1, which represents our wholeness. Then, the first thought of separation occurs (as he makes an x on the unblemished sheet) and we have picked up our first barnacle. We are no longer one, but have gone into division...now represented by two. Two takes us to the place of right and left; good and bad; light and dark.

We have caused the blemish on our wholeness to come into being, and we can ask that it be cleared. This is where Ho'oponopono comes in.

Ho'o means cause in Hawaiian and ponopono means perfection. We have the ability to keep returning to this perfect state...the blank page, just by asking for whatever lies within us, that has caused this barnacle, this division in thought, to come to the surface to be released. We asked for forgiveness that we have harbored this thought which has separated us from our Oneness with Spirit...and the thought barnacle disappears.

Dr. Ihaleakala mentioned, that sometimes he needs to ask up to three times, for the reason behind the thought to come up for release. And, when it is released, the space is immediately filled again with that loving Oneness.

When we are confronted with the barnacles of another, Dr. Ihaleakala said, instead of going into our judgements (which only reinforces our own division barnacle of two ... that the other is different, in turmoil, or sick) that here is where we ask to clear our own consciousness of seeing division. If we can see division in our world, and all with whom we come in contact, then it is because we are carrying division within us.

As we ask to release divisive thoughts within us, our own state of Oneness returns. Division no longer has to be reflected out into our world our world is cleared and made whole, as we clear ourselves.

If your children, your partner, or your friends are experiencing division within their lives, look to clear your own thinking and see how it affects those within your life.

• What ideas within you have drawn these reflections into your outer world?
• Ask for any thought which reflects this division in your own life to come forward for clearing, and ask for forgiveness for holding such a thought which is out of alignment with the principle of Oneness and Love.

Or, as one of our great prophets have told us, Love is all there is. This idea also gives an added meaning to the instructions, Love your neighbor, as you love yourself. We have always thought that we needed to do the first part, when it was the second part which needed to be experienced. How can we love another, when we have not begun to love ourselves?

And Ho'oponopono offers us a simple. not easy, but simple, method of loving our state of Peace and Oneness so much, that we must keep returning to it. We return to that state of Oneness by asking for anything less than oneness to be released. We affect change in our world, by affecting change within ourselves.

And, there is more...but this is the basis upon which this belief, or knowing, is built.

Editorial from The Messenger - April, 2002
Joann Turner, editor/publisher