Sunday, May 29, 2016

gift and theft

Idly, then....

Every gift is a theft.
Every theft is a gift.
Theftgivery.
Givethievery.
Is this true or false or just another piece of warming bellybutton lint?

5 comments:

  1. Well, anything that starts with "every" is suspicious to me. Generalities might be a convenience of conversation, but after that what good are they? Just, "every" damned time.

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  2. I do not know for sure. However, I do read somewhere today several verses from the Bible that is less of a zen koan. It ironically is more important than all the mahayana scriptures I may remember as of late, because apart from suggesting karmic retribution, it answers indirectly or beyond a recent alternative politician that wants capital punishment abolished on this island.

    Matthew 5:38
    You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye and tooth for tooth.'

    Exodus 21:23
    "But if there is any further injury, then you shall appoint as a penalty life for life,

    Exodus 21:24
    eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot,

    Leviticus 24:20
    fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth; just as he has injured a man, so it shall be inflicted on him.

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  3. The verse's sentiment failed to resonate personally,
    but I appreciate the attempt.

    In my family gifts could express a couple of sentiments but mostly they were meant to be an expression of gratitude.

    My father gave gifts to associates as both gratitude for what seemed to him to be very good service and hopes for continued good relations.

    I think small thoughtful gifts are meaningful and encouraging.

    Large gifts should be carefully considered.

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  4. Nothing belongs to anyone, so there is no giving and receiving

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  5. We can give our time and attention. We can receive it gratefully or grumblingly.

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