...the manner of verbally or writting apologies or such... seems when sincere to be a state of awareness of being grateful... of moving beyond... learning, growing.
we may consider that "shame" is a sin... see "The Holy Science". why shame a sin ?
we are not the action -- although the law of cause and effect (karma) from actions may come... if we continue to attach to past patterns / former completed actions because of "shame" everytime we recall, then we will continue to be pounded by the waves of the karmas... instead, pull the weed and plant a flower in it's place. it is just as easy to exhibit a good habit as a bad habit... it's often simply a matter of recognition, and harnessing will power to erode the pattern of addiction, and grooves set by repeated moments of addictive actions of bad habit...
but I spout on in words perhaps not relevant... namaste...
It seems to me that we see our lives take on certain trends over the years. Past patterns are not so easy to expunge from our consciousness and thus we feel shame because we still play the old grooves. Seeing the trends of our life eroding the patterns of addiction we take some comfort that we are headed in the right direction. There is nothing static. We are either moving forward or going backwards, No one can determine our strides but God. Yet at times we are reflective and want to see progress. Otherwise it become discouraging . Perhaps this is part of the cause of the shame.
Jitendra
