karma/spiritual consequences of stealing from bad guys

[Bluebell]

any thoughts? for example stealing from bankers who steal from masses...

[Karl]

I think the consequence is you now have tons of money

[Plenum]

any thoughts? for example stealing from bankers who steal from masses...

would you download a car?

[Phoenix]

I have to say when I did stop downloading years ago, I deleted everything and when I did I felt a LOT better. I realise though that this sort of perspective was partly influenced by inherited money, that allowed me to buy things whenever I liked.

[Sabou]

An eye for an eye? i guess it depends on your motives. Doing anything will perpetuate the act, so stealing just begets more stealing. There are so many possible outcomes that can come from a single act, so it would be impossible to say whether an act will be of benefit or detriment, whether or not it is a just cause would have to depend on your choice of the world you are creating in every action you take.

[Bluebell]

any thoughts? for example stealing from bankers who steal from masses...

would you download a car?

totes. but that is another kettle of mu shu pork... would u?

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An eye for an eye? i guess it depends on your motives. Doing anything will perpetuate the act, so stealing just begets more stealing. There are so many possible outcomes that can come from a single act, so it would be impossible to say whether an act will be of benefit or detriment, whether or not it is a just cause would have to depend on your choice of the world you are creating in every action you take.

well wut if u gave most to the poor/used it to better the world but kept enough to live on?

[Plenum]

any thoughts? for example stealing from bankers who steal from masses...

would you download a car?

totes. but that is another kettle of mu shu pork... would u?

hmm. I might not download a car, but I might download a scooter, if it was available

but back to the original question, I guess it goes to the nature of theft and taking without asking. Just because it's a banker (and supposed stolen goods), doesn't mean that taking in this case is 'justified'.

And I guess the deeper spiritual issue is that a positive entity by it's nature radiates (a more creative act - genesis), and a negative entity absorbs, and is like a sponge on other people's energies (parasitic, acccumulators, taking their 'cut' without contributing anything).

So a positive entity can always generate more, create more, make more of what they need.

A positive entity doesn't really need to steal or take anything from anyone. They can work in co-operation with others and the environment - consentual growth.

[Stranger]

Any act that violates any other violates the self - that is the Law of One. Therefore karmic consequences are incurred. There is no "justified" killing, stealing, revenge. The Service to Others path heals through unconditional acceptance, forgiveness and love for all other-selves.

[ScottK]

any thoughts? for example stealing from bankers who steal from masses...

Speaking for myself, I don't believe there are any "thou shalt not steal" rules in the creation, besides the one given to us in the Ten Commandments courtesy of the Orion Group.

As I would see it, all situations are unique. For example, if a banker stole from people you knew of and you stole the money back and returned it to the people, could that in any way have karma repercussions? If you did that, would your highest and best self feel anything other than good about it?

Wouldn't that be what it boils down to? If the conscience of your soul felt good about the act of stealing from another for some reason, in other words, you did the right thing according to the information you had and there was nothing you had to forgive yourself for, wouldn't it be okay?

[Stranger]

I believe the amount of suffering inflicted on another as a consequence of one's act also plays into the karmic equation, as does the benevolence or belligerence of your intentions toward another. So if you're gloating about having swindled the swindler, even if your conscience feels fantastic about it, that is not a spiritually positive action. That said, it is all a matter of gradations, of course. Some actions are neutral and don't help us polarize much in either direction.

[Unbound]

I would totally download a car if I could, that would be rad. I believe stealing is silly because everything is obtainable through honest means for the most part. I basically assume that if something isn't actually accessible to me then it has no real use in my life at that part of my life experience. So no I do not take from others, I use the agreed upon mechanisms of society to obtain that which I need for my Great Work.

[Spaced]

I suppose there are a lot of factors here, the sum stolen, the means by which you steal it (robbing the bank at gunpoint would likely not be a very positive act), what you do with the money, etc. I suppose we do look at the Robin Hood scenario of robbing from the rich and giving to the poor as a positive example, but I think that is an example of a different time with different social dynamics. Plus it's just a story

Also, think about the consequences of stealing from bankers, how do you think they would react? They'd likely be rather upset and that anger would be focused outwardly on the lower classes who they would blame for this, they would also want to recoup their losses possibly by implementing stricter regulations or enforcing more oppressive security measures. If they discover you are behind it you will be marked and spend the rest of your days in jail or avoiding the authorities. Also say you take a large enough sum to destabilize the institution, we've already seen that the government is willing to hand over huge amounts of tax dollars to failing banks. So what would the net result be?

Would stealing from them spread more negativity? I think so. There are more balanced ways of coming across money and helping those less fortunate, as Plenum mentioned a positive entity might do so by generating their own means and then sharing it.

[Diana]

You are only responsible for your own actions. If you steal, you steal. It's your own integrity at stake, no matter who or what you steal from.

If you steal from said bank, you become the judge. You also take from that bank what they took from others. At least Robin Hood gave it back to the poor.

But I still don't agree with it. Don't be part of something you don't agree with. Maintain a higher standard. Be the light you want to see in the world.

[AnthroHeart]

As I work for a bank I don't think about stealing from them. But I don't handle money either.