Questions on teshuva:

1. What does the word “teshuva” mean?
2. Returning to where?
3. When was the concept of teshuva created and why?
4. What does teshuva do to change something that has already happened in the past?
5. What are the essential stages for teshua?
6. What is some practical advice for doing teshuva?

Idea for answers on teshuva:

1. “Teshuva” means to return. Actually the word תשוב means to return and the additional ה added to the word represents the way to return. The Gemora Menochos 29b brings how this world was created with the letter ה. There are two openings in this letter (as opposed to the letter ם that is totally closed). The bottom opening represents the free choice of this world that can let a person drop down and out away from Hashem. However, the small opening on the top left of the ה is a small opening for those who want to do teshuva and return close to Hashem.
2. There are two ways to view what the returning is when doing teshuva. Either it is returning back to coming close to Hashem. Or it means turning back from Hashem’s anger created from the sin.
3. Teshuva was one of the seven things created before the creation of the world. (Gemora Pesochim 54a) Anything that was created before the creation of the world means that it is essential for ensuring the continued existence of the world. Teshuva is essential to ensure that man can continue to exist as without it man is doomed to failure. The possuk says אין צדיק בארץ אשר יעשה טוב ולא יחטא, that every person, even the greatest, sins. Without the opportunity to undo the wrong the world would enter a spiral of descending into evil.
4. The Mesillas Yeshorim (end of Chapter 4) addresses the problem of teshuva. He says that the world was created to run with the pathway of din, judgement. However, there is so-to-speak what appears to be an override switch of mercy, known as teshuva. He is addressing there how the two can work in sync. He answers that mercy does three things: it gives him time to do teshuva; the punishment is given in diluted amounts to enable the person to continue living; teshuva by wanting to undo the sin can uproot and annul the sin.
5. The first thing is regret. Then, if he hasn’t already done so, the person must stop sinning. Then there is vidui, verbal admission of the sin, and requesting forgiveness. The final stage is  to accept upon himself not to repeat the sin in the future.