How to overcome guilt I am interested in knowing what the Buddha said about guilt. I think I know that it is an unwholesome mind state. Is there any specific teaching that can be gleaned from the suttas. Can anyone also recommend any meditation or contemplation practices to get over crippling guilt.
Within the Vinaya, a transgression (one that causes guilt or not) is overcome by declaring it to at least one monk.. The length of time it takes to overcome the transgression was set at the length of time the transgression was kept secret (keep some wrongdoing secret for a year, it is easy to imagine you won't just be able to consciously brush it off in one day!).

The quote on fools and wise people does this idea justice for me:


  "Monks, these two are fools. Which two? The one who doesn't see his
  transgression as a transgression, and the one who doesn't rightfully
  pardon another who has confessed his transgression. These two are
  fools.
  
  These two are wise people. Which two? The one who sees his
  transgression as a transgression, and the one who rightfully pardons
  another who has confessed his transgression. These two are wise
  people." AN 2.21


(also, has always worked for me on a personal level - admitting wrongdoing and guilt, preferably in a non-secretive, open setting to others is usually the best way of admitting this to your self, and therefore starting the process of changing yourself for the better)