<p>Imagine a monkey came to your house and grabbed something of value and climbed a tree. You tell the monkey "please give it back to me! Be a good monkey!". But it doesn't respond. What would your plan of action be? Start cursing and hating the monkey? No! You would try to lure the monkey with a banana or something. If that's not successful, you might call a wild life officer. You have to use your wisdom instead of getting all emotional. And if you still can't get it back, you don't wish for the universe to resolve it. ex: Wishing for the monkey to be struck by lightning. :) You just let it go and credit it towards experience or a lesson learnt and see what you can do to prevent the same from happening in the future. </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-10-24T10:08:12.537Z
Good points @Sankha. Keep it practical and remove the emotional aspect. While I do realistically need to get the money back, I need to focus on the practicalities of doing so, and not let myself get sucked into the angst of the process.
Suibhne
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2015-10-24T11:43:53.710Z
Wisdom is what gets things moving in your favor. Not unwholesome emotions
Sankha Kulathantille
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-10-23T16:14:31.137Z
2015-10-26T14:38:48.913Z
2015-10-26T14:38:48.913Z
Sankha Kulathantille
<p>I'm trying to adhere to buddhist principles in my life wherever I can. I understand that it's really the best approach in just about every situation you can find yourself in.</p>

<p>However, right now I'm owed a not insubstantial amount of money from one of my clients who is refusing to take my phone calls, or answer emails to discuss the matter.</p>

<p>Honestly, it burns me up inside and when I think about having to deal with it I feel angry and resentful which I know is not a good way to live.</p>

<p>From my understanding I should really just let go of the matter completely, and calmly wait for the universe to resolve this for me, one way or another. If I receive the money, then all is well, and if I don't receive the money, all is still well.</p>

<p>From a Buddhist perspective, at what point should I give up and move on?</p>

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2015-10-23T14:24:33.540Z
Thanks @UrsulRosu. That makes sense, and helps. Accept the anger for what it is, watch it (hopefully) pass, and have no expectation one way or the other for the outcome. All the while continuing to pursue them in a reasonable, and non-agressive, yet persistent, manner.
Suibhne
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-10-23T22:25:22.540Z
@Suibhne: see http://buddhism.stackexchange.com/a/12025/43
Andriy Volkov
<personal-practice><mindfulness>
Should detachment, and letting go, be an appropriate response when you are owed money?
# Should detachment, and letting go, be an appropriate response when you are owed money?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2015-10-23)

I'm trying to adhere to buddhist principles in my life wherever I can. I understand that it's really the best approach in just about every situation you can find yourself in.

However, right now I'm owed a not insubstantial amount of money from one of my clients who is refusing to take my phone calls, or answer emails to discuss the matter.

Honestly, it burns me up inside and when I think about having to deal with it I feel angry and resentful which I know is not a good way to live.

From my understanding I should really just let go of the matter completely, and calmly wait for the universe to resolve this for me, one way or another. If I receive the money, then all is well, and if I don't receive the money, all is still well.

From a Buddhist perspective, at what point should I give up and move on?

**Tags:** personal-practice, mindfulness

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Thanks @UrsulRosu. That makes sense, and helps. Accept the anger for what it is, watch it (hopefully) pass, and have no expectation one way or the other for the outcome. All the while continuing to pursue them in a reasonable, and non-agressive, yet persistent, manner.  
> **username_1**: @username_0: see http://buddhism.stackexchange.com/a/12025/43  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2015-10-23. Score: 4

Imagine a monkey came to your house and grabbed something of value and climbed a tree. You tell the monkey "please give it back to me! Be a good monkey!". But it doesn't respond. What would your plan of action be? Start cursing and hating the monkey? No! You would try to lure the monkey with a banana or something. If that's not successful, you might call a wild life officer. You have to use your wisdom instead of getting all emotional. And if you still can't get it back, you don't wish for the universe to resolve it. ex: Wishing for the monkey to be struck by lightning. :) You just let it go and credit it towards experience or a lesson learnt and see what you can do to prevent the same from happening in the future.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Good points @Sankha. Keep it practical and remove the emotional aspect. While I do realistically need to get the money back, I need to focus on the practicalities of doing so, and not let myself get sucked into the angst of the process.  
> **username_2**: Wisdom is what gets things moving in your favor. Not unwholesome emotions  

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