Friday, October 25, 2013

Retribution

ret·ri·bu·tion

noun

  • 1 : recompense, reward
  • 2 : the dispensing or receiving of reward or punishment especially in the hereafter
  • 3 : something given or exacted in recompense; especially: punishment

Now Maria, why did you bring this topic to the LBC?  Oh, wait, it has as the first definition as a positive note, recompense or reward, not the way I usually think of it.  I usually think of it more like the 3rd entry and sometimes like the 2nd.  So, let's see what my fevered brain can reward me with ...

I used to think of the afterlife as somewhat a reward for a good life or punishment for a bad one.  I was young and life progresses in stages; as I experienced more I was much less inclined to view the "hereafter" this way.

Instead, I progressed to a belief in karma, kind of a more immediate and comprehensive understanding of moral cause and effect.  It made sense to me that the good and bad you did was directly connected with a result.  It still does, in a way!  However, I don't think of it in terms of karma as most people use it.  I think our beliefs themselves are the causative agent.

Life has these ladders of development for everyone.  I am not preaching or telling you that I am right.  What I am saying is that understandings and philosophies grow with life experience and our choices.  Personally, I find retribution to be emotionally tempting at times, but overall a poor choice of focus.  It doesn't bring back loss and the desire for it is only evidence of an internal struggle that someone is losing with reality.

I don't castigate anyone for wanting it unless it leads to something destructive aimed at another.  It might come in the form of terrorism or war.  It might come in the form of spousal abuse.  It might come in the form of cheating or theft for personal gain.  It might come in the form of excessive litigation.

Whatever its form, I'm sure that we can do better.  Have the ladders of life experience led anyone else out there to a similar conclusion like mine?

17 comments:

  1. I think of retribution as being punished. :( A reward would be nice but that's not what comes to my mind.

    bikehikebabe

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  2. In our religion, we believe there is more than one heaven. One is the Celestial, whose glory is likened to that of the sun. One is the Terrestrial, whose glory is likened to that of the Stars. One is the Telestial, whose glory is likened to that of the moon. How you live determines to which heaven you will go. But pretty much everyone goes to a heaven. The "hell" most people talk about is reserved for a very select small group.

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  3. Yes. It is simply not worth the bother. I have found that it is best to move on and find new challenges. If you would like to explore that philosophy further, let us exchange a few mails. It will make you laugh at the least.

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    Replies
    1. Would it not be worth the bother if you were a young man? This is something that bears much further discussion frankly. Both th etopic and our individual considerations.

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    2. I will mail you and Conrad separately with a quote to start the process.

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  4. Learn, turn the page and move on to the next chapter!

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  5. @Delirious

    Religions have wrestled with a lot of different structures for the hereafter so that they would relate to life. I say that you need to be true to your beliefs and grow naturally within them, religious beliefs included.

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  6. @Rummuser

    I owuld enjoy upping our contact, right now the difficulty being the same as that which often causes me to post late. I am busy with family and business. The good news is that things are going extremely well.

    Hopefully, we can find some time to Skype although we will need to find a time that is possible for both of us. Here's to the sharing!!!

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    1. It will happen. I too am too involved in too many things right now and it will be the second half of November before I can get some time to sit back and relax.

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  7. Fos I'm with you on karma which comes around to a question asked of me by a HS friend - the question was said in earnest - what did you do to deserve this?speaking of course with the situation with Lynn. As I look back on life I have stopped asking the question. So I suppose I just need to ride this demon til the end. When my dues are paid, that will be the time it ends.,

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  8. Retribution … a poor choice of focus. Hadn't thought of it that way Fossil, but you're absolutely right.
    blessings ~ maxi

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  9. @shackman

    Sometimes it seems like the dues are paid in a different coin than most people think of. Things like the learning of compassion or gaining empathy.

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  10. @Maxi

    Yep. There's a better way to use energy, that's for sure.

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  11. Hi TOF. The truth is, we've covered so many topics it's hard to find something we haven't done and this seemed as good a topic as any.

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  12. @Maria Perry Mohan

    We have indeed covered a lot of topics!

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