Over the last while it seems I've been taken advantage in a few ways, usually something to do with money.

So far I've taken it pretty well. I find that by not getting overly crazy about it and following the law of surrender I've been able to minimize losses, I find that somehow the universe takes care of me for not trying to 'get even'

We all know what Jesus and Buddha taught, were they really onto something?

or by turning the other cheek are you just setting yourself up for failure? we all know the saying 'nice guys finish last'

what are you experiences with turning the other cheek or trying to get even?

I think that turning the other cheek isnt supposed to be a "one-size-fits-all" solution. In some cases it may be great and set an example, in others it may just encourage further negative actions from someone else. But this doesnt mean that the other option is to hit back agressively, there certainly are non-violent actions that do not involve passivity.

If you feel someone has acted wrong with you, I think its important try to communicate why you think is wrong with the best arguments possible. In the situation you are talking about, can you talk with who you feel is treating you wrong and explain why?

"An eye for an eye leaves the whole world blind."
-Ghandi

When it is over money and material items, I tend to disregard it. Like you said the Universe has a way of working everything out.

But at the same time, I don't let people walk all over me. There is a line between not worrying about trivial things and being a pushover.

Emotions don't change reality. What helps in ALL situations is LEARNING. It requires effort to learn to navigate the world adroitly, and the best place for effort is in learning from one's mistakes.

Think about this: If you learn to sidestep the kinds of problems you mention, by best use of your perceptions and thinking abilities, you will end up benefiting YOURSELF (in an obvious manner), the person attempting to USE YOU (by preventing them from committing the "sin" of using you, and by perhaps "embarrassing" them by allowing them to know that they are being seen for what they are), and others (if your attempted user "moves on" and changes his ways).

"The best revenge is living well"

I have found Karma is, if anything; swift, effective, and just.

I trust in the universe to provide and it has not failed me yet.

well one example I can give you thats happened to me recently is not getting paid for a job I did. The guy I was working for took too many jobs on, couldn't manage it all and lost everything.

Its his fault I didn't get paid, not mine. A friend told me I should go take his snowmobile but I didn't want to go there so I just left it alone... 3 months later the guy that took over the jobs he was doing actually went out of his way to pay me even though he had nothing to do with it.

This guy wronged me as far as I'm concerned but at the same time hes bankrupt himself. I just couldn't bring myself to kicking a guy when hes down.

I think its a good idea to try and protect yourself from being in the situation in the first place however in my line of work I suppose there will always be a risk unless I can get paid everything up front.

yeah I really do try to follow this as best I can