Taking money from the Buddha. Literally.

[orangeapples]

Wow, taking from your own family. I don't care if you and your family believe in Buddhism or whatever your personal religious beliefs are or what-not, family is sacred. You do not do that to family. For you to cross that line and feel no personal remorse tells me that you have a gaming addiction. You could have waited a week and gotten the money legit. 7 days is not going to kill you; it isn't like 7 days form now the game will have ceased to exist. But you chose gaming over over family. Who cares if she isn't Buddhist? She still has her beliefs and for you to take that money tells her that her beliefs are crap and less valuable than a video game to you.

You crossed the line and if you're not addicted now you will be in the future if that is your way of thinking. You need to stop gaming and seriously think about this.

 

[Sinclair Solutions]

I wouldn't take it because it's not my money. Whether you believe in it or not, it was her money to decide what to do with.

Nailed it right on the noggin. 10 points for you.

 

[chuckey]

I think she would be mad at the fact that you stole from her rather than being mad at you for taking it from the statue. I'm sure she would have lent you the money if you really wanted it. A game is easy to get. Your parents trust is not.

 

[Sansha]

I'm not spiritual but I feel like fucking with a deity's avatar is asking for trouble.

Either way, it wasn't your money and you shouldn't have taken it.

 

[Vrach]

I wouldn't take it because it's not my money. Whether you believe in it or not, it was her money to decide what to do with.

She gave the money to Buddha. And the same way I might give money to the magical elf that lives on the street corner by dropping it on the ground and someone might walk along and pick it up because they don't believe in my magical elf that lives on the street corner, there's nothing morally wrong with taking it.

Are you serious? If so let me laugh harder than I already am. Because she didn't 'give it to Buddha', she just put it under her Buddha statue. It wasn't passing ownership. But hey, whatever stupid excuse makes you feel better about being a prick and being alright with stealing stuff...

She didn't put the money there for keeping or for laying around on a table (though seriously, does anyone keep their money anywhere that's not in their pocket, wallet, safe place or a bank?), she put it there for good fortune like one might throw a coin into a wishing well (and if you think people who take coins from the wishing wells are thieves, well, you have an... interesting point of view). She relinquished herself of the property of the money she put there (if she believes putting money there is good fortune, I don't see how she could see taking money from there to be the next logical step). So no, it's not stealing.

Also, it's the guy's mother, so I don't see how it would be stealing anyway, rudely taking is the worst you could put it and even that would depend on the family dynamics. Moreover, he's gonna put the money back. So yeah, there is absolutely nothing wrong with what he's doing.

 

[emeraldrafael]

I think you should have told her, and then just asked if you could have it before taking. Whether or not either of you believe it, it is still rude to take money from something without asking when you know the circumstances.

 

[similar.squirrel]

I wish I was rationalist maverick like you. Damn those Buddhaists.

 

[emeraldrafael]

... she put it there for good fortune like one might throw a coin into a wishing well (and if you think people who take coins from the wishing wells are thieves, well, you have an... interesting point of view). ...

Actually, some wishing wells directly support something, and usually if its on a specific property (like mall fountains, or little them park ones) it will be counted as revenue. Or sometimes as "goodwill donation" money (I know my mall does this 30/70 split where they keep 30% of all the money they collect in the fountains and send the other 70 to some charity/group). So it can be stealing (i've seen wishing wells with metal grates actually built into the stone the way you would put rods in concrete for support just because they dont want people stealing from them [and so people dont fall in trying to be a dick by taking money from it and get hurt]).

...

Also, it's the guy's mother, so I don't see how it would be stealing anyway, rudely taking is the worst you could put it and even that would depend on the family dynamics. Moreover, he's gonna put the money back. So yeah, there is absolutely nothing wrong with what he's doing.

Theft is defined as "an unlawful taking (as by embezzlement or burglary) of property" so unless he asked her if he could, it is stealing. She didnt relinquish money to a public place its still in her house and belongs to whoever owns that statue or whoever is the primary bill payer. But I guess according to you, when someone takes all the money out of a parent's bank account or takes their social security checks they're not stealing, they're just rudely taking (how that exactly is different than stealing I dont know, cause thats what it sounds like). Whether or not the OP is going to put it back is irrelevant really until they do, and any time inbetween the taking of X amount of money and returning it in full (if not with a little interest as a show of good faith) it is considered theft.

 

[Leole]

Oh yeah, I did told her in the end (by that, I mean exactly when I grabbed the money), she was like "Yeah, I noticed", and carried on.

Not that "Do whatever the fuck you want, I don't care", more like, "at least you got some use of the money"

Also,

Wow, taking from your own family. I don't care if you and your family believe in Buddhism or whatever your personal religious beliefs are or what-not, family is sacred. You do not do that to family. For you to cross that line and feel no personal remorse tells me that you have a gaming addiction. You could have waited a week and gotten the money legit. 7 days is not going to kill you; it isn't like 7 days form now the game will have ceased to exist. But you chose gaming over over family. Who cares if she isn't Buddhist? She still has her beliefs and for you to take that money tells her that her beliefs are crap and less valuable than a video game to you.

You crossed the line and if you're not addicted now you will be in the future if that is your way of thinking. You need to stop gaming and seriously think about this.

Well, since I don't think of gaming when I'm not, and I don't have sudden urges to game when I'm doing something else, I'm not addicted. And to say I will be addicted is incredibly self-righteous from your part. You just concluded that that exact moment in my life decided whether or not I'm obsessed about something, disregarding, you know, that time where I spent all my savings on my Best Friend's present (not even a holiday, I felt like it). I bought paint for her room, and painted it myself, instead of getting Skyrim for Christmas. I'm so addicted!

But then again, you wouldn't know, because all you know is what I told you, and that obviously wasn't enough information.

And the game wasn't there when I went to buy it, so, it did cease to exist for the time being.

Furthermore, my mom has taken money from the Buddha before. Money someone else put there, so, that's probably why I didn't feel bad.

And, To the people telling me I should feel bad and I'm evil incarnated, you could've said so in a more kind matter, like this guy:

You don't know the full consequence of your action even when you do intend to replace it a week later (you just pissed off a buddha)!

Ok seriously you shouldn't have done that regardless of your belief including your mother belief. She intended to place that money there, therefore it's her money you just took.
Couldn't you have just asked her for the money instead?

See? All nice and cool. Most of the other responses I read felt like they were written with loathe.

And I still think I did nothing wrong, I am going to pay Buddha back, and its not like he's going to miss it. And why would it be stealing from my mom, if she left the money there for the Buddha? She willingly dropped the money because she didn't want it anymore, or didn't felt like having it on her. Seriously, if I drop a coin into a fountain, and someone else grabs it, who the heck cares? At least he's gonna use it, and I obviously don't need it if I used it for such trivialities.

 

[silversnake4133]

Well, patience is a virtue. I really don't think it would have killed you to wait another week or so just to buy a game. If anything you have a strike against you in terms of Karma. I'd watch out because Karma payouts can really hurt sometimes, and the worst part about it is, you never know when it's coming.

I'm still relatively new to the teachings of the Buddha, but I do know that followers strongly believe in self-sacrifice and giving of oneself more than taking from others. Religious teachings or not, taking what does not belong to you with selfish intent is VERY bad karma, if anything you should put back twice the amount that was left. Either that, or you should have asked if you could put it toward funding your purchase of this game. At least then your mom would know where that money went otherwise.

As for others noting about whether or not the mother "gave" that money to Buddha, think of it more like this: she gave willingly of herself in order to receive good tidings from Buddha. It's similar to the notion that Christians put money into donations for their church, or offering up prayers. (Even though most of us know that that money mostly goes toward paying that church's bills...but that's best beside the point.) Symbolically speaking, she gave a piece of herself (in this case money) to Buddha as an offering, and in turn she gains a sense of happiness, which could affect how she goes about her day (and thus is referred to as "good fortune"). It's mostly a psychological pick-me-up if anything.

 

[Vrach]

Actually, some wishing wells directly support something, and usually if its on a specific property (like mall fountains, or little them park ones) it will be counted as revenue. Or sometimes as "goodwill donation" money (I know my mall does this 30/70 split where they keep 30% of all the money they collect in the fountains and send the other 70 to some charity/group). So it can be stealing (i've seen wishing wells with metal grates actually built into the stone the way you would put rods in concrete for support just because they dont want people stealing from them [and so people dont fall in trying to be a dick by taking money from it and get hurt]).

I like the part where you said "Actually, some wishing wells...". Shows it's not a constant scenario, more of a certain take on the idea. If you prefer, replace "wishing well" with fountain. I know tons of people who throw coins in fountains and I don't consider the people who take the money from there afterwards to be thieves. Again, I'd be surprised at anyone who would.

Theft is defined as "an unlawful taking (as by embezzlement or burglary) of property" so unless he asked her if he could, it is stealing. She didnt relinquish money to a public place its still in her house and belongs to whoever owns that statue or whoever is the primary bill payer. But I guess according to you, when someone takes all the money out of a parent's bank account or takes their social security checks they're not stealing, they're just rudely taking (how that exactly is different than stealing I dont know, cause thats what it sounds like). Whether or not the OP is going to put it back is irrelevant really until they do, and any time inbetween the taking of X amount of money and returning it in full (if not with a little interest as a show of good faith) it is considered theft.

Right. Emptying a bank account = taking a few bucks lying around. Totally the same thing, couldn't be more identical.

 

[emeraldrafael]

Actually, some wishing wells directly support something, and usually if its on a specific property (like mall fountains, or little them park ones) it will be counted as revenue. Or sometimes as "goodwill donation" money (I know my mall does this 30/70 split where they keep 30% of all the money they collect in the fountains and send the other 70 to some charity/group). So it can be stealing (i've seen wishing wells with metal grates actually built into the stone the way you would put rods in concrete for support just because they dont want people stealing from them [and so people dont fall in trying to be a dick by taking money from it and get hurt]).

I like the part where you said "Actually, some wishing wells...". Shows it's not a constant scenario, more of a certain take on the idea. If you prefer, replace "wishing well" with fountain. I know tons of people who throw coins in fountains and I don't consider the people who take the money from there afterwards to be thieves. Again, I'd be surprised at anyone who would.

Well I can only speak for the ones I've seen and of those the majority have some little sign saying any and all items in these whatever are property of whoever. Then again, these were in places that ran as businesses anyway so I wasnt too surprised. And ultimately, someone does come and collect the money thats thrown in (whether or not its a random passerby or whoever owns the property and the well its on I dont know).

And I've seen people take money out of a mall fountain. I did once too. I was promptly brought to face the mall security and explain why I was doing it (I was getting a coin I had just bought that a friend decided to be a dick about and throw it in the well, in case anyone wonders).

Though, if you take money from a fountain (or worse making change with the coin your threw in) then I've generally viewed the person to be rather pathetic.

Theft is defined as "an unlawful taking (as by embezzlement or burglary) of property" so unless he asked her if he could, it is stealing. She didnt relinquish money to a public place its still in her house and belongs to whoever owns that statue or whoever is the primary bill payer. But I guess according to you, when someone takes all the money out of a parent's bank account or takes their social security checks they're not stealing, they're just rudely taking (how that exactly is different than stealing I dont know, cause thats what it sounds like). Whether or not the OP is going to put it back is irrelevant really until they do, and any time inbetween the taking of X amount of money and returning it in full (if not with a little interest as a show of good faith) it is considered theft.

Right. Emptying a bank account = taking a few bucks lying around. Totally the same thing, couldn't be more identical.

Well, they're family right? It shouldnt matter if they steal their entire bank account or a few dollars as long as they're family.

And yeah, they are identical. The principle is still the same the amount is different. You're stealing. Just like murdering one person in cold blood is the same as murdering hundreds, its still murder. Someone just murdered more people.

 

[Gitty101]

Well, when you get X monies soon, how about replacing that which you took? Karma balance restored.

 

[Vrach]

Actually, that is a crime in some countries. Once it is property of the owner of the fountain. People have been criminally charged for taking coins from a fountain.

Once again, key word being some.

Though, if you take money from a fountain (or worse making change with the coin your threw in) then I've generally viewed the person to be rather pathetic.

Well note, I didn't say I did it myself (and the same goes for the Buddha statue thing), I'm just saying it's not wrong in itself. Yes, most of the people who take money out of the fountains here are homeless gypsies, but I don't consider them thieves for that action, so on the matter of principle, I don't deem the action wrong.

Well, they're family right? It shouldnt matter if they steal their entire bank account or a few dollars as long as they're family.

Well the difference is exactly in the term. Taking a few bucks can be borrowing, taking or rude taking. Emptying an account is stealing. Lemme add an additional analogy to make it clearer for you, let's take the WoW's guild bank system:
You have tabs that are open to people.
The tabs are open and the guildies are given "permission" to take as much as they want out of it.
Some guildies may take stuff from time to time and never put anything back. Others may take some stuff because the current AH price is too high and return it later. Others may take some stuff and return some other stuff.
None of those people are considered thieves.
However, a guy emptying out the entire bank and quitting the guild? That's a fucking thief.

Same principle works in some families. Again, yes, depends on the dynamic of the family, in some families it's unthinkable, but it doesn't make it universally wrong.

 

[2012 Wont Happen]

She leaves the money for "good fortune".
It was your good fortune to find it.

Pay her back and all is well. Pay her back extra and you have done a good deed.

 

[PinkiePyro]

if you think people who take coins from the wishing wells are thieves, well, you have an... interesting point of view

actally many fountans and wishing wells donate their coins to charity so if you steal from them you are an asshat

 

[emeraldrafael]

...

Though, if you take money from a fountain (or worse making change with the coin your threw in) then I've generally viewed the person to be rather pathetic.

Well note, I didn't say I did it myself (and the same goes for the Buddha statue thing), I'm just saying it's not wrong in itself. Yes, most of the people who take money out of the fountains here are homeless gypsies, but I don't consider them thieves for that action, so on the matter of principle, I don't deem the action wrong.

well, i didnt really mean you personally, just you more in the general second person verb kinda thing.

Well, they're family right? It shouldnt matter if they steal their entire bank account or a few dollars as long as they're family.

Well the difference is exactly in the term. Taking a few bucks can be borrowing, taking or rude taking. Emptying an account is stealing. Lemme add an additional analogy to make it clearer for you, let's take the WoW's guild bank system:
You have tabs that are open to people.
The tabs are open and the guildies are given "permission" to take as much as they want out of it.
Some guildies may take stuff from time to time and never put anything back. Others may take some stuff because the current AH price is too high and return it later. Others may take some stuff and return some other stuff.
None of those people are considered thieves.
However, a guy emptying out the entire bank and quitting the guild? That's a fucking thief.

Same principle works in some families. Again, yes, depends on the dynamic of the family, in some families it's unthinkable, but it doesn't make it universally wrong.

And I like how you used the word some.

and that example is a bad one. it says
However, a guy emptying out the entire bank and quitting the guild? That's a fucking thief.

That implies that they're not "family" any more. You said if its family, its not stealing, its at most rude taking. so as long as you're "family" it shouldnt matter how much money you take. in fact, you actually did prove my point by saying that the guild said someone can take from it and never put back. They didnt specify the amount until thy had said the person also left the guild. So somone could take everything out of the tab, not replace any, and it wouldnt be theft cause hey're still in the guild. so the amount doesnt matter.

 

[Nouw]

Speaking as a more-or-less Buddhist, I feel that you could have been a little more patient. You stole money from your own mother but with the intention of returning it. You should have asked her and I'm sure she would have said yes. This thread has reminded me that I should be less snarky. Thanks OP.

I'm not spiritual but I feel like fucking with a deity's avatar is asking for trouble.

Nah Buddha's cool with that. He's no Khorne or Slaanesh. Although if you OP, turn into a worm in the next life I hope you know why xD.