Well there's also the alternative Karma argument of "this is you repaying your karmic debt for something you did in a previous life".

Imo a belief in Karma is like a belief in many (most) things - it can inspire you to either a constructive or a destructive response to the situation at hand.

So I say believe what you believe about Karma and the afterlife and at the same time do what is constructive for your own life now in a practical sense without spending too much time worrying about what's gonna happen after you die. Generally speaking, what's good for you now will also be good for you later according to the gurus. :)

So. a) if there's a way you can try to get the money back (and it's not going to become a swirling vortex that sucks your life into a cycle of revenge seeking) then take those recourse steps b) if in looking at the situation there are things you could have done to protect yourself (without becoming too neurotic or paranoid about it) then make a note to do those things in the future and c) do your best to move on and "forget about it" or "live it down" and focus instead on other more positive events and aspirations. :)

This is also a case for myself of learning to take my own advice here. :) I'm just recently learning how much better my habits could have been in the past and how much better they can be for me in the future. Much of it is found in a book called the Luck Factor by Richard Wiseman, which was research for my own book, Ike's Wager. Wiseman is a dyed in the wool skeptic who's done a lot of debunking of paranormal and superstition like broken mirrors and black cats. At the same time he spent a decade studying luck and in the end said that the reason 50% of people believe they're lucky (and don't know why) and 14% of people believe they're unlucky (and also don't know why) is because they've learned certain habits from their parents (note that's a 2/3rds majority of people who believed their luck was consistently good or bad -- people who believed their luck was inconsistent were in the minority). The reason the distribution is like that is because those lucky habits are an evolutionary advantage - people who have those lucky habits are more likely to succeed professionally as well as romantically and to raise kids. See also the parallel to political scientist Robert Axelrod's article and book the Evolution of Cooperation, possibly the most cited article in the Journal Science.

So if you totally subtract any thoughts of Karma from the situation, from a purely statistical perspective, the above advice is likely to produce the best possible result for you personally and I'm inclined to think that the best result for you will also be the best result for the people around you as well (since you can't change the person who stiffed you). Beyond that it's likely also to be the most satisfying for you in terms of headspace and let you forgive this person (which doesn't mean you'll let them do it again). Lastly of course in a metaphysical sense forgiveness is generally considered to produce positive results for yourself in the long-term (Karma, afterlife, etc.).

So there's my contribution. Fold, spindle and mutilate at your leisure. :)

p.s. Ike's Wager is waiting on me to get the cash to buy an ISBN, although in the meantime I've published some excerpts as a free ebook titled the Tao of Hope. If you're inclined to read it, I'd love to hear your thoughts on it. :) www.lulu.com/content/972834

As was said, belief in karma can be applied positively or negatively. I for one don;t take reincarnation seriously,
and this belief is used to supporess social action to help the poor.

Considerations are
(1) How much was taken, and how easily it would be to recover, e.g. small claims court?
(2) Letting bygones be bygones might not be helpful to the perpetrator of a crime.
Some folks' karma can be redirected for the better by a fine or prison term!
(3) It's inprofitable to worry or stew about it. It can even get in the way of effective action.
(I find this too true with the $30,000 per capita stolen by the criminal Bush Administration. Don't get mad. Get even.)

I don't think pain and anger are inappropriate reactions to being "screwed over for a lot of money". As for Karma, one can see it as simply cause and effect. Learning to live with the consequences of one's own behavior. In this case much depends on whether what was done was illegal or simply an investment loss. I've seen some long term friendships end over an investment opportunity that turned sour.

For those who do believe in a spiritual Karma, nothing you do would change the outcome for that person. Each person lives with the consequences of their own actions so by your not doing anything, you are not changing that person's "karma". How you handle it would only affect your own karma.

For those who don't believe in a spiritual Karma but simply in a "you sow what you reap" philosophy, the outcome ends up being pretty much the same.

So in choosing an appropriate response to what happened - the important question is; what outcome do you want for yourself? Long term angst with no resolution? Seek restitution? Press charges if appropriate? Let go of the anger and move on?

Whatever you decide to do will impact your life more than anyone else's, choose the path that will bring you the most peace of mind in the long run.

Forgiving is a purely selfish act. You do not forgive the person for their sake. It's for your own sake.
I feel that if I don't forgive someone the pain they inflicted upon me, that my heart is literally burning. It's as if there's poison inside my chest, eating away at my heart.

I cannot let that happen to myself. And so I forgive, with all my heart. For if I don't, there will be no heart left to feel anything ever again.

Now on the subject of trust.
Many people say: "I don't trust anyone too much."
I've even seen a big DUH right behind something like this, in this topic. I don't agree, not even slightly.

Not trusting someone to your fullest extend = big gigantic walls
Big gigantic walls = Blocking anything negative AND positive.

I know there are some people that deserve your full trust. Sure, we're all human and we make mistakes, we have 'negative' feelings towards eachother sometimes and thus we hurt the ones we love, but does this mean you should just not trust that person completely? I think not.
To me, all the positive, beautiful and meaningful experiences (not even mentioning the things you can LEARN from that other person) far outweigh the inevitable pain this person will inflict upon you.

It's my protocol to open up my heart time and time again. Always allow yourself to fully experience everything with that person. And, heck, that sure is difficult sometimes! But I always push myself to achieve that goal. And get hurt in the end. So what? I didn't die from past heartbreak. And I won't die this time. And maybe, just maybe, this is not going to end...maybe this will last until I die...
Time and time again.

Have faith! Halleluja!

I think I failed to make sense. If so, please FORGIVE me and TRUST me: I'll make sense next time ;)

It doesn't matter why you forgive as long as you in fact sincerely do.
Without it there is no grace, and without grace then suddenly everyone is in the position of having to be perfect and that's totally fucking impossible.

you don't have to be perfect, I am not really talking about that, though I am also not saying it isn't a worthy pursuit , what i am saying is that by realizing that (A) we are only effected by the imperfections in others because they resonate with those same imperfections in ourselves, and that (B) When we use the emotional resources we could expend being angry at others as drive to resolve the issues in ourselves we (C) eventually come to a place where there is very little left within us for the imperfections in others to resonate with, and suddenly everything becomes amazingly fucking easy. You wake up and you're bulletproof. Everything just sliiiiiides right off, and treating everyone around you with compassion increasingly converges toward becoming an effortless task.

I'm not suggesting anyone go hang on a cross, I'm suggesting instead that you help your neighbor off of theirs by resolving the issues inside yourself , which exist in everyone which put him on that cross to begin with.

It also doesn't matter two shits, if someone abuses another persons more well developed ethics, moralities or sense of honor. The Honorable don't care because honor is as much in the intent as it is in the practice and the honorable are such because it is right and it is their higher ethical obligation to mankind to set a bold fucking example that sheds light on the crap thats everywhere, because light has to be shed on it or it can never be cleaned up...thats why they do it, not because it's going to get them something, THAT is called "self interest", it's something different.

Demonstration is the purest form of communication, and I tell you this if you demonstrate a superior dedication to a high enough degree, only one thing happens, and that is this: Suddenly selfish, undeveloped, cave-people and manipulative, thieving, infantile egoists either

(A) don't want to be anywhere near you because it sucks when everyone can tell how much they suck in the light of the contrast you bring with you everywhere through contrast, or

(B)They take your example and you have made the world a better place.


Either way you are in the clear with every bit as much permanence as you have determination to be better, and if you can hack it or don't want to invest the effort in being that, well then...stop complaining.

Karma is the result of dropping a hammer above one's toe. Do not cling to Karma as a reliable system of balance, you will only endure the pain of attachment to such.

IMHO

ah.........this is just f'ing great.........now that song instant karma is stuck in my head......damnit!!

"Be the bigger person. Do nothing. Let Karma take care of it.">>>
The best recommedations I have seen on this thread is that :
1. You actively seek renumeration ("now is the time" is a Buddhist saying)
2. You seek a positive outcome solution.

Karma is fine... dukkah or suffering one imposes on one's self through ignorance is a parallel concept...
think about Dharma...
This person has violated "lawfulness" .... it would not see it as your problem if in the course of your seeking lawfulness... this person bears the fruits of their dukkha.

Don't be passive don't lay down and take it.
Take responsibility ... determine the content of your experience.