Engyo said:
If all you are talking about is a personal code of personal revenge, then there is no need. If you want to come up with a workable justice system which encompasses a personal code of revenge, then you have to get into such subjects. I am not aware of any justice system in today's world which allows for personal revenge, but that doesn't mean one doesn't exist, of course. Without such a justice system, applying one's personal code of revenge is going to run afoul of civil authorities pretty quickly, methinks.
From a Buddhist perspective, I work from the standpoint of karma rather than revenge. It doesn't matter what someone else did to me, what matters is what causes my choices and actions create. I am not responsible for anothers' actions; I am responsible for my own. The other person created their own karma when they did whatever they did; they will reap the effects of the karma they created. It's not necessary for me to be the instrument of those effects.
Engyo, Namaste.
Well, of course I go with your 'take' on this Engyo; personal revenge is harmful - to the person who dishes it out; I think this applies just as much for a Christian as in the Buddhist sense. What we choose to do as an action is down to us - if it is to hurt someone else, then I cannot see it as being condonable.
Lady Crimson, you advocated "I personally do. An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth."
I can understand that this is often the way our nature takes us, but consider Matthew:-
5:38 Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:
5:39
But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.
5:40
And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also.
5:41
And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.
5:42
Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.
5:43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.
5:44
But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
5:45
That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
5:46 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?
5:47 And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?
5:48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
Jesus knew no believer could be sinlessly perfect (Matthew 6:14,15) in this life. Nevertheless, this must be the standard and the goal--not for gaining salvation, but for living the Christian life. The word "perfect" also can be understood as "complete" or "fully mature," but this state is no more attainable than sinless perfection--in fact, they are really the same. We do have such a standing in Christ, and we should perpetually seek to fulfill this standard by God's help.
The 'Instructions' here are straight - if someone hits you - let him hit you again......
There is again that strange (Why strange ?) similarity of the Buddhist way and of the Christian way - the Buddhist, by hitting back, and letting the 'slight on him' fester away, just really destroys himself - he in effect does harm to himself ; and I think the above passages show that God wants us to try and follow that concept. He knows we will never be 'Without sin' - but he asks us to try as hard as we can!
