How Many Years?

2004-2-4 05:15:00

The Question:

How many years would you have to be in prison before death would be preferable from the standpoint of your soul? That is when would you as an entity would move ahead faster through the door of death than prison and physical life.

5 years? 10 years? 20 years? 40 years 60 years 100 years? Never?

It is interesting that only two people answered this question. The rest of you gave your philosophy about how there are good and bad people in prison and that if one has a good attitude he can still make use of his time etc.

I want you to consider that this question has a specific answer and it matters not whether the prisoner is enlightened or a degenerate.

The fact is that anyone can get some advantage out of any situation, but that does not mean it is desirable to be in that situation.

A situation where there is loss of liberty, movement and expression is indeed a detriment that only the foolish desire.

Rick has a good argument that there are times in the life of the soul where it is desirable to live the life of the monk, but many of us have already been monks or nuns. And even here there is only a limited time frame where this solitude is useful and in prison you generally do not have gentle monks as your associates.

The soul always seeks to guide us in those paths that lead to greater freedom and a release from those things that imprison us.

It is true that we often make our own prisons, but these are our own choosing. Few choose to go to physical prison. When the prison of our own making becomes too powerful our own souls often lead us to death and then prepares a new incarnation for us with the memory wiped clean so we can have a new opportunity to advance toward freedom.

Now think about the question again. Even tough it is true you can do some good in prison I doubt if you want to go there or spend much time there. How long would someone have to force you there before you would choose death instead?

Joel and Susan mentioned the figure of 20 years. How about 100 or 1000? What sentence would you have to hear before you would chose the death penalty instead?

Do you think 20 years is a figure that would apply to you or would it have to be longer?

Bryan's point is well taken that the victim is often overlooked. Susan makes a good point that prisoners should work and get paid and reimburse the victim. I've often thought it silly that the criminal will often do damage to a victim and then the state fines the criminal and keeps the money giving none to the victim in many cases.

From the eyes of the soul though the interest is in the whole. We have all been victims as well as offenders and no matter what situation we are in the soul leads us to our next step on the path of freedom and liberation if we will just listen.

"Where motion ceases God begins." Yogananda