It is one thing to have such thoughts when we perceive that we have been wronged, it is another to sell on the thoughts and still another to act on it. Usually, it is the thought that we have been wronged that needs examining because more often than not, we do not have all the facts or misinterpreted someones intention or other confusion in our own perception. That leaves us with the cases, like someone murdered, that are more clear cut.
My interpretation of the christian "turn the other cheek" is that it requires us to gain perspective and look for the bigger picture. Sometimes, having more information about the circumstance will give us this, sometimes not. Forgiveness and turning the other cheek does not require us to continue to be wronged again and again, or to deem the behavior "right" or justifiable. It does require us, after we remove ourselves from harm, to see all life as sacred and changing, and reconnect with our own love of life, in spite of the sorrow and horror in the world. Anyone who can do this once, can do it again. If we do it enough, we can sustain it. If it becomes our natural state, we've found a way to live this life with peace in our hearts. No small task. On Monday, October 20, 2014 7:50:36 AM UTC-4, pol.science kid wrote: > > Yeah .. the thing is.. we think that some people deserve the hurt they > get... might be from us.. or from someone else... how do we restore > balance.. what intrigues me is forgiveness.. do you think someone can > forgive the murder of their loved one... or some great financial/material > loss... now Gandhi comes to my mind.. i never quite agree with his > thought.. although having been instructed on him since school.. he believes > the turn the other cheek Christianity virtue... but its just so hard to > conceive... maybe we cant escape our moral judgement world in any way.. > maybe we take revenge becos we think we owe it to ourselves the defense > against wrong.. really confusing stuff all this.. > > On Mon, Oct 20, 2014 at 2:23 AM, archytas <[email protected]> wrote: > >> Chimps do revenge - if you inject one as a vet it will bite you if given >> the chance over the next couple of days. Films give us a sense of justice >> from revenge, though examples I've seen in reality have been pathetic and >> misguided. >> >> >> On Sunday, 19 October 2014 19:18:30 UTC+1, Allan Heretic wrote: >>> >>> The problem today is there is little to be ashamed about, the mentality >>> seems to lead to what one can get away with. The only shame is in getting >>> caught..:-) >>> >>> That is the political moral standard demonstrated by many politicians, >>> business and religious leaders today. >>> >>> >>> Allan >>> A Living Soul >>> >>> >>> -----Original Message----- >>> From: Molly <[email protected]> >>> To: [email protected] >>> Sent: Sun, 19 Oct 2014 3:59 PM >>> Subject: Re: Mind's Eye Re: Revenge >>> >>> The moral gauge I suggest to kids is "never do anything you would not >>> want everyone to know about." The age of transparency. >>> >>> On Sunday, October 19, 2014 9:35:46 AM UTC-4, Allan Heretic wrote: >>>> >>>> When the blind follow the blind they both will fall into a pit. >>>> >>>> Looking at the justification for moral values little should surprise >>>> anyone. The actions vs talk how can there be morals. I was talking with my >>>> daughter and she made the comment to me that was an honor yet kind of >>>> strange. When she had a situation that she did not know how to deal with >>>> it >>>> she always asked herself how would my Dad handle it? >>>> >>>> Who are the moral compasses today? Who are our guides? Or is it simply >>>> does it really matter as all there is what one sees? >>>> >>>> Allan >>>> A Living Soul >>>> >>>> >>>> -----Original Message----- >>>> From: Molly <[email protected]> >>>> To: [email protected] >>>> Sent: Sun, 19 Oct 2014 3:09 PM >>>> Subject: Mind's Eye Re: Revenge >>>> >>>> I don't know what percentage of humanity is capable or observing self >>>> and correcting self, but the longer I live, the smaller I think that >>>> number >>>> may be. As I look around, i see so many of the people around me acting out >>>> their emotions (revenge among them) on others. Not always easy to see if >>>> they know just what they are doing and why. >>>> >>>> On Sunday, October 19, 2014 8:28:54 AM UTC-4, archytas wrote: >>>>> >>>>> Complex stuff Pol. I get the feelings, but can't remember doing much >>>>> about them. Politicians raise it in me as soon as their lips move. So >>>>> does my grandson (currently idle, smelly teenager), though 'tough love' >>>>> doesn't appeal. Academic criticism often feels a form of it and a lot of >>>>> projection and ad hom is involved. In my time, cops used to beat up sex >>>>> offenders, largely on the basis the court system didn't work. I used to >>>>> pursue them for other crimes. There is nothing more exhilarating than >>>>> pointing out the flaws in others (from the movie Clerks), a sort of >>>>> revenge. Many lecturing colleagues took revenge out on students - >>>>> education generally looks pretty nasty to me. >>>>> >>>>> I like to think I can walk away from it, as in not retaliating in >>>>> rugby, but I always did within the rules. Human behaviour is so dire we >>>>> might be in a constant state of vendetta. In films the black hats are >>>>> set >>>>> up as so bad they deserve what they get. In reality, we tend to take out >>>>> revenge on powerless victims. Child sexual exploitation may be an >>>>> example. The victim is usually subject to multiple acts of revenge from >>>>> supposedly decent people. >>>>> >>>>> On Sunday, 19 October 2014 12:13:23 UTC+1, pol.science kid wrote: >>>>>> >>>>>> I was on the internet.. and just came across this tv series called >>>>>> "revenge".. and i was thinking... are we capable of not taking revenge.. >>>>>> regarding matters that affect us too deeply... i have pretty mean >>>>>> vengeful >>>>>> feelings when i feel i have been wronged unjustly.. of course when i >>>>>> cant >>>>>> do anything in the situation i act out my revenge mentally.. plan >>>>>> something >>>>>> to get back to the person ... its quite a revelation when you think >>>>>> yourself quite a decent person.. What do you guys think of revenge.. its >>>>>> dealt with in every movie and television series or novel.. and of course >>>>>> what our instructive morality from 'elders' says is that do not take >>>>>> revenge.. But i think forgiveness is a capacity.. and we are so inclined >>>>>> for revenge.. Since most of you have pretty varied experience in life.. >>>>>> Have any of you ever taken revenge.. or decided not to? >>>>>> >>>>>> -- >>>> >>>> --- >>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google >>>> Groups ""Minds Eye"" group. >>>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send >>>> an email to [email protected]. >>>> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. >>>> >>> -- >>> >>> --- >>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google >>> Groups ""Minds Eye"" group. >>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send >>> an email to [email protected]. >>> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. >>> >> -- >> >> --- >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >> ""Minds Eye"" group. >> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an >> email to [email protected]. >> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. >> > > > > -- > EverComing > -- --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups ""Minds Eye"" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
