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From: amigo2@ihuxq.UUCP (John Hobson)
Newsgroups: net.religion
Subject: Re: Guilt - (nf)
Message-ID: <599@ihuxq.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 6-Feb-84 14:36:18 EST
Article-I.D.: ihuxq.599
Posted: Mon Feb  6 14:36:18 1984
Date-Received: Thu, 9-Feb-84 07:26:51 EST
References: <2439@fortune.UUCP>
Organization: AT&T Bell Labs, Naperville, IL
Lines: 44

Rob Warnock says:
>>	Hmmm... I remember once when someone asked Tai Situ Rinpoche
>>	(a Tibetan Buddhist meditation master) what they could do
>>	about feeling guilty about such-and-such a thing the person
>>	was wont to do. Situ Rinpoche's answer was (with a bit of
>>	incredulity on his face), "Well, don't DO it anymore!".
>>
>>	The point I took from that was that guilt is often a way of
>>	avoiding actually dealing with the consequences of our
>>	actions, because it is easier to feel guilty than to
>>	acknowledge our error and correct our future actions. From 
>>	that point of view, "guilt" is a sub-catagory of "pride"
>>	(also considered a sin in most religions), and not
>>	particularly useful.
>>
>>	(The full empathy of pain with someone you have hurt can be
>>	far worse than the guilt of having done it. Empathy deals
>>	with the other; guilt is a very private vice.)

In the Catholic prayer, "The Act of Contrition", we pray:

Oh my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended thee.  I detest
all of my sins not only because of thy just punishment, but also
because they offend thee, My God, who art all good and deserving of
all my love.  I firmly resolve, with the help of thy grace, to sin
no more and to avoid the near occasion of sin.

Catholics, who are accused (with some justice) of having over-emphasized
guilt, do acknowledge that the important thing is not to feel guilty
but to cease and desist.  After all, Jesus, when he came upon the
woman found in adultery who was about to be stoned and said "Let him
who is without sin amongst you cast the first stone."  The crowd
slinks away and Jesus asks "Is there any here to condemn you?" 
"No." "Well, neither do I condemn you, but in future, avoid this
sin."

Guilt really does not cure anything except that it may serve as a
deterrent to future occurances.

				John Hobson
				AT&T Bell Labs
				Naperville, IL
				(312) 979-0193
				ihnp4!ihuxq!amigo2