Well there is a story in the Tibetan tradition of a Tibetan woman who was raped by robbers - and through skillful means she used that as a way to guide them to enlightenment.
However - that's not meant as a guideline for potential robbers! Or indeed for women generally either.
Rather - shows how it's possible to overcome even the worst of adversities in - as you say - it's like this zen like state - only focus is on the others and able to bring them to find a way through from the immense harm they are causing to themselves and others.
There is another story in the same tradition - but the robber wasn't so fortunate as to meet such an accomplished practitioner - or just - that the conditions weren't favourable for it to work, in one way or another - and so, the story goes, after raping a lady who lived a pure and good life - he "went straight to hell" - in the Buddhist teachings - this doesn't mean that he was permanently suffering for all future time - but - that he experienced a great deal of suffering for an immensely long period of time - and not inflicted on him by anyone else - but just as a direct result of his actions and their effects on how he perceived and related to things.
In the Buddhist teachings - what is most significant for the perpetuator is the effect on your own mind - distorts your vision and cuts you off from ability to see the true nature of things - and at some point in future will lead to great suffering for the perpetuator - not because anyone else punishes you - but because you get caught up in all those distortions and confusions and can't find your way out and experience it all as suffering - and at some point - turns you against the people who could help you etc etc..
So - if the victim is able in some way to rise above all that - then he or she may be able to help the perpetuator in subtle ways.
Or - may be able to prevent the action. If e.g. someone is about to murder someone else and a third party can step in and stop it - then you still have the intention to murder - but you don't have the completion of the act.
If victim is able to turn it around so it doesn't harm them - then - that's a bit like that also. If not so easy to see or so clear cut.
Most people won't be able to do that - and that's to be expected, it's a rather extra-ordinary situation if that does happen.
However - that's not meant as a guideline for potential robbers! Or indeed for women generally either.
Rather - shows how it's possible to overcome even the worst of adversities in - as you say - it's like this zen like state - only focus is on the others and able to bring them to find a way through from the immense harm they are causing to themselves and others.
There is another story in the same tradition - but the robber wasn't so fortunate as to meet such an accomplished practitioner - or just - that the conditions weren't favourable for it to work, in one way or another - and so, the story goes, after raping a lady who lived a pure and good life - he "went straight to hell" - in the Buddhist teachings - this doesn't mean that he was permanently suffering for all future time - but - that he experienced a great deal of suffering for an immensely long period of time - and not inflicted on him by anyone else - but just as a direct result of his actions and their effects on how he perceived and related to things.
In the Buddhist teachings - what is most significant for the perpetuator is the effect on your own mind - distorts your vision and cuts you off from ability to see the true nature of things - and at some point in future will lead to great suffering for the perpetuator - not because anyone else punishes you - but because you get caught up in all those distortions and confusions and can't find your way out and experience it all as suffering - and at some point - turns you against the people who could help you etc etc..
So - if the victim is able in some way to rise above all that - then he or she may be able to help the perpetuator in subtle ways.
Or - may be able to prevent the action. If e.g. someone is about to murder someone else and a third party can step in and stop it - then you still have the intention to murder - but you don't have the completion of the act.
If victim is able to turn it around so it doesn't harm them - then - that's a bit like that also. If not so easy to see or so clear cut.
Most people won't be able to do that - and that's to be expected, it's a rather extra-ordinary situation if that does happen.
About the Author
Robert Walker
Writer of articles on Mars and Space issues - Software Developer of Tune Smithy, Bounce Metronome etc.Studied at Wolfson College, Oxford
Lives in Isle of Mull
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