[Coollabioto]

Hello and welcome! I'll try and keep this post short:

Basically, I took Philosophy and Ethics in school and in our second year we started Buddhism. Ever since I have immersed myself into Siddhartha's teachings I found that if I ever became religious, it would be Buddhism. I completely believe that ALL life is equal regardless of what or who they are, and Dukkha and other things. However, there are some things that I find myself unable to believe in.

As we all know, the Noble Eightfold Path teaches right mindfulness, actions, emotions etc. But if someone were to bully or torment me I would not stand idle. I would do something about it; possibly dealing something in return.

Does this completely sabotage my chances of reaching Nirvana, or gaining good kamma? Could I possibly say that one of the teaching was that effecting something will effect you in return? I don't really know .

[ansarigf]

I don't think that you would never receive good karma because of that. However, I always felt that buddhism leans heavily towards protecting or standing up for yourself in nonviolent ways. Frankly, it's something I'm not as experienced in as some others here.

However, I don't think much good will come from the idea of revenge. People who do bad often don't realize what they are doing, or think they are justified (like when people try to get revenge). So somebody hurts you, you get revenge, then they think "What was that about?! I never did anything to deserve that!", so then they lash out at you and you think "What was that about?! I was just getting my rightful payback!", and then you lash out at them and the cycle goes on for the foreseeable future.

That's one of many reasons why it is important not to dwell on people who have wronged you.

Thoughts, anybody?

[Agitoligflise]

But if someone were to bully or torment me I would not stand idle. I would do something about it; possibly dealing something in return.

It is worthwhile investigating you intentions in dealing something in return. According to the Buddha, right intentions are the intention of renunciation, the intention of non-ill will, and the intention of non-cruelty.

[riverakathy]

i liked this video, which is mostly about responding to negative emotions from others

[qp0yfHOf]

Hi DukkhaGone,

Welcome to BWB !


Element - that's a good video, who's the monk ?

[luspikals]

... who's the monk ? Try here and here

[ServiceColas]

Thanks plwk


ok ....

[dWSOj26H]

The issue that you describe is one that I often ponder. Not so much the desire for revenge, but the possible downside(s) to passivity. Would our lives be better if people were passive when Hitler was in power? What about the people of Burma?

On the other hand, revenge is a desire; one can either let desire control them and essentially be a slave to it, or one can realize the insignificance of such a desire and overcome the resulting suffering without passing it on to somebody else (just as suffering was received). Isn't there already enough negativity going around? Why perpetuate it? To get off on feelings? Why be a slave to feelings?

This is my thought process at least.

Also, if you spread negativity in the name of revenge, that negativity could easily be spread to somebody else by the initial aggressor. Negative actions often lead to more negative actions. Here's an example:

My brother got in an argument with his neighbor, in which his neighbor threatened him. My brother took it very personally, and wanted to hurt the guy. This neighbor of his has a very short temper, especially with his kids (they are young). If my brother were to jump him, surely it would put the neighbor in a bad mood. Surely the neighbor would spread this negativity to his kids, and his kids would suffer as a result of his bad mood. So the negativity that my brother spread in the name of revenge would come to negatively affect the neighbor's kids, possibly the neighbor's wife, and who knows who else would be negatively affected. All because my brother felt the need to perpetuate the negativity.

Typically the possible chain of events is not so apparent, but that is how negativity (and suffering) perpetuates. Fortunately, my brother did not seek revenge, and the neighbor's kids did not have to experience the resulting suffering.