In the context of having been financially swindled by devious scammers, here is a unique reflection, based on various writings, that can help us see how to fulfill Jesus’ command to love our enemies:
“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; …” (Matt. 5:44, King James Version)
“But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil.” (Luke 6:35, New King James Version)
To have wealth and property is normally thought of as desirable, but attachment to them is an obstacle on our spiritual path.
The Bible cautions against the love of money: “But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” (1 Timothy 6:6-10)
Consequently, someone (such as a scammer) who deprives you of your money and possessions is, in fact, freeing you from the fetters these things have created in your mind. Ideally, and this is certainly counter-intuitive, you can even feel gratitude!
If you own nothing, you are free. No enemies or thieves will bother you. As the saying goes: “If you have no wealth, thieves won’t break in. If you carry no bags, robbers won’t lie in wait.”
It is important to remember that a material loss may be the result of karma, or the law of compensation, coming into play. It could be the result of our having in some ways deprived others of their possessions in the past – though it may not be (karma is a complex issue).
If it is the result of our past wrongdoing, then there is no reason to feel angry with anyone other than ourself.
It is true that when we have money, we may attract dishonest people. In that sense we may become a target – and, figuratively, we may be shot at and suffer. Also, as a result of past negative actions, we may have set ourself up as a target at which the arrows of suffering are now being shot. If we were not a target, there would be nothing at which to shoot arrows.
A truly spiritual person would ideally never have angry thoughts toward anyone who harms them. Instead, their main concern would be for the perpetrator’s welfare. This is compassion, because the spiritual person knows that the perpetrators (in our case, scammers) will have their turn at suffering in due time – when causes and conditions are right. (People sometimes mistakenly think that criminals get off scot-free – however, this is not the case. It is only that the right causes and conditions have not yet fallen into place.)
To feel compassion for someone who is harming us is an effective way of purifying our own shortcomings, freeing ourself from anger, and developing the positive side of our nature. As a result, the harm that the person has done to us can help carry us along our spiritual path!
In the beginning, this may well seem difficult to put into practice. But to have a truly good heart is something for which everyone has the capacity – but it needs to be developed.
For example, consider doing this: Take all the suffering of the person harming you into your heart, and send them your own happiness, with great compassion.
For doing what is suggested above, it is important to have a thorough grounding in the practice of the four boundless attitudes. They are as follows:
- boundless love, the wish that all others may have happiness;
- boundless compassion, the wish that they may all be free from suffering;
- boundless joy, the wish that all those who already have some happiness may keep and increase it; and
- boundless impartiality, the recognition that beings are all equally deserving of love, compassion, and joy.
Finally, in the morning, our first thought should be the commitment to do whatever we can during the day to help others. If anyone has tried to harm us, make the wish that they be free from all animosity and vindictive feelings, and that all their positive aspirations may be fulfilled.
To bring about a true change in one’s attitude in the way described is hard at first. However, if we understand the meaning behind this spiritual training, and keep on trying to apply it, we will find that it will help us in every difficult situation, just as a well-designed vehicle can travel any distance quickly and with ease.
(Source: Based on Rinpoche, Dilgo Khyentse. The Heart of Compassion: The Thirty-Seven Verses on the Practice of a Bodhisattva. Boulder, CO: Shambhala Publications, 2007.)
We are likely to feel anger towards someone who robs us (as in a scam theft) or incites others (accomplices) to rob us. We may be saddened by having lost our possessions [money], besides which they have no right to deprive us of them; so we may decide to take them to court to try to recover what we have lost. However, a spiritual person should not do such a thing.
(Source: Based on Dalai Lama. Commentary on the Thirty-Seven Practices of a Bodhisattva. Dharamsala, India: Library of Tibetan Works and Archives, 1995.)
While we are in the world, we will definitely encounter adverse circumstances, for that is the very nature of this world and is to be expected. If we buckle under the pressure of stressful situations, it will be difficult to maintain, let alone advance our spiritual practice.
Therefore, we must transform these unfavourable circumstances into our spiritual path, preparing us to enter the Kingdom of God. With help from beyond ourselves, we can transform distressing events and difficulties, as well as loss, ruin, suffering, blame, and criticism into the spiritual path.
If someone robs us of our wealth or possessions, or instructs others to, a spiritual person’s response is not to retaliate.
When our money is stolen or things are ruined by others, it is helpful to remember that wealth and possessions can chain us to this world — they can make us overly preoccupied with worldly cares and concerns. So, by stealing them, in a way, they have broken some of those chains.
Often, when we have money and possessions, we can also continuously suffer from dissatisfaction, always wanting more and better. We also worry about our money and possessions being stolen and have to protect them vigilantly. In reality, through having money and possessions and clinging onto them with attachment, we create much negative karma which will result in our own suffering!
Thinking in this way, we will see and feel that the thief (scammer) has in fact taken away the basis for our creating negative karma. He has actually released us from our chains and has opened the door to true freedom for us.
Finally, because we are imperfect beings, in our past we have all accumulated some karma to suffer, and one can say that this is stored in our mind stream like money in a secure bank. By stealing our money and things, this thief (scammer) has made some of that karma ripen so that now we are free of it. Unbelievable as it may sound, but based on the law of compensation, how kind they are to have robbed us of some of our bad karma! Obviously, this is very counter-intuitive!
Ideally, we should not see this person as an enemy, but as a good friend who helps to free us from suffering. In this way, we can practice patience and develop compassion.
(Source: Based on Geshe Jampa Tegchok, Transforming Adversity into Joy and Courage: An Explanation of the Thirty-Seven Practices of Bodhisattvas. Ithaca, NY: Snow Lion Publications, 2013.)
Alexander and Eva Peck