Is it wrong to punish yourself deliberately?

Question

When I do something wrong, I first think up a plan to avoid making the mistake in the future and then I get to "work". I usually flagellate myself with razorwire and for really big boo-boos I electrocute myself. The particular punishment, of course, depends on the mistake.

I do this because the human creature that I am does not belong to me even though I control it. Therefore, it's like a master-slave relationship.

The rules I impose on this body are very strict. The biggest rule is the protection of other lives other than this one. If I break this rule, I inflinct the worst punishment: a self-imposed death penalty. This obviously has never happened but it involves lighting myself on fire after performing a Samurai style Sepuku ritual.

Does this sound logical?

That is a very good point William. I sometimes wonder if the searing pain is evidence of anything. Sometimes the pain turns into pleasure (in which case I usually change tortures). I don't know.

Answer 1

Everything your body tells you is an illusion, just electrons firing in your brain (assuming that there really are electrons in your brain, or that you have a brain at all).

So the question is not whether you should punish yourself, but whether you are doing something wrong in the first place, and whether by punishing yourself you are actually changing reality. If all reality is an illusion, then the incorrect acts you do cause no harm, and so there is no reason to punish yourself. Of course, the punishment does no harm either, since reality is all an illusion anyway.

If, however, you think that the world is real, and not an illusion, then in punishing yourself severely you would not be benefitting anyone. By making a plan to avoid making the same mistake again, you have avoided the future bad consequences of your future act. Punishing yourself in such an extreme manner is likely to damage or even destroy the body you inhabit, and since the body will not make the same mistake again, it is pointless.
On the contrary, by inflicting severe pain on your body, you could limit its function. If you consider that death is a bad thing, which most human theologies do, then you are making a mistake by punishing yourself so severely.

This all assumes that reality is not illusion, which is false, and so, do whatever you want.

Answer 2

Over many years of having cats, I've found that a new cat can cause problems. But in the end, the new cat is accepted or at least tolerated by the established cats. What they're doing now is working out the pecking order. This, too, will be resolved with time. About disciplining your cat: Please remember that you're many times bigger than these creatures. It is not an option to hit or otherwise do violence to the cat. Even yelling at cats can produce no better results than having a cat that is frightened and timid. That can lead to more problems, especially for the cat. A little imagination is all you need. For now, you should cover the furniture so the cat can't get at it. Then, shake up the scratching post arrangement a little. If you don't have a large sisal rope pedestal (a scratching post with a top to jump onto), you should consider adding one or two. Put one near the furniture being scratched. Put another in some place where your cats come to be with you. I assume that your older cats still seek out your company, like when you're sitting and reading or watching TV. I'll link you to a method to attract them to the post. Catnip isn't the answer. Playing with your cat is a much better way to redirect them to the scratching posts. Follow this recommended method as closely as you can, and you might get your cats scratching in the right places again. I've been recommending a product called Feliway, which is a pheromone spray. It's supposed to settle the stressed cats in a natural way. I've had some reasonable results with it lately. Check on the bottle for how to apply it. This is a common problem which is often handled poorly. But, like I said, If you can be gentle with your critters and creative with your solution, it'll get better.

Answer 3

Just another material disease thinking yourself to be the body. We are not these bodies, IE Race, color, nationality, intellect, mind, senses, job, etc. We are eternal spirit souls, part and parcel of the Supreme Soul, also known as Krishna, Allah, Jehovah, Vishnu, etc. We have to reconnect with our maker to understand who is the actual master. Your self infliction is just another way of trying to be the controller. It is bogus and unnecessary. It is said in the Vedas that one who inflicts pain upon their own body are demoniac in nature. So don't be a demon though you think you are being a saint by this foolish self made illusion. go to harekrishnatemple.c for understand of true self and Read Bhagavad Gita as it is By Bhaktivedanta Prabhupada- for the purpose of the human body, mind and spirit.

Answer 4

whether or not it,s logical it,s as logical as some other questions i have read on this site