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Restoration or Retribution?

10/2/2012

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Picture
May those whose hell it is
To hate and hurt
Be turned into lovers
Bringing flowers.

Shantideva, Eighth-century Indian Buddhist teacher.

In his book The Five Things We Cannot Change ... and the Happiness We Find by Embracing Them, David Richo discusses the concepts of Retribution and Restoration.  He points out that restoration (vs. retaliation) leads to closeness between the wounded and wounding people.  He suggests using dialog instead of running from the conflict.  He states that as adults we should know that losses happen sometimes and that we can survive them.  A spiritually evolved adult, says Richo, "is not satisfied with the glee of retaliation but wants the joy of loving-kindness. ...  The healthy psyche is inherently geared to release compassion when it sees pain and defeat, just as it releases forgiveness when it sees repentance."  He defines repentance as contrition, amends, and a commitment to not repeat the offense. 

Richo lists the following attributes of Retribution and Restoration (pages 37-38):

Retribution aims at:

Punishing the evil doer as evil

Satisfying society's need for revenge
Making someone pay
Getting even

Getting rid of a distrubing and
    dangerous presence
Guaranteeing the safety of society 
    at the cost of causing the 
    aggressor to suffer, with no
    chance at rehabilitation
Preserving the historical style of 
    dealing with injustice (an eye for
    an eye)
Maintaining the either ... or belief
    in a hell (eternal) or heaven

Making sure the cycle of retalilation
    continues so that war can be
    justified
End of story      
Restoration moves toward:

Seeking to heal the ignorance of the
    "evildoer"
Harmony
Having someone make amends
Caring that a fallen brother or sister
    find redemtpion
Correcting and then reincluding

Guaranteeing the safety of society
    while being compassionate to the
    agressor's pain and helping the 
    person recover his or her humanity
Finding an exciting and more 
    humanitarian solution to injustice

Generating a belief only in purgatory
    or rebirth (temporary) and heaven
    or nirvana
Ending the cycle of retaliation so that
    war will no longer be an 
    acceptable solution
Beginning of a dialogue
    The world would be a much better place if we could practice restoration instead of retribution.  This is what mediators attempt to do. 
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    Debra
    Vaniman
    Crawford (Annis)

    Attorney and Mediator.
    Family Law/Divorce.
    Monterey, CA.

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    Debra Crawford Annis

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