There are times when people aproach me asking for a donation, and I have no wish to give and then I would feel bad, or else I would give it to them and I would still feel bad, like still unwilling. What should I do?
Sometimes I can give willingly, but at other times I cannot and i'm not sure why.
it's ok... i see old aunties selling tissues but I also didn't buy from them
why? Affinity lor.
there are many stories regarding these.
last time when Buddha and his disciples went to collect alms. and there's this old lady(?), no matter how, don't like to give to Buddha. later Buddha asked Ananda or was it Mahakasyapa, to go and when the lady saw Ananda, the lady was delighted to gave to him. this was because in the past, Ananda helped buried her (an animal body then) while Buddha just walk passed.
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Once, Shakyamuni Buddha went to a certain country to collect
alms, accompanied by all of his disciples except Mahamaudgalyayana
only to find that no one there would give them offerings.
Neither the king, nor his government officials, nor the citizens
made offerings to the Buddha or his disciples. Later, however,
when Mahamaudgalyayana arrived in that country, there was a
complete change of heart. The king, the officials, and all the
citizens very respectfully gathered around to welcome Mahamaudgalyayana
and to bow to him. They beseeched him to let them know
what he needed so they could make offerings to him. The Buddha’s
disciples did not understand why the Buddha, one of such great
virtue, received no offerings from the people of this country, while
when the Buddha’s disciple arrived, the whole town turned out to
greet him and everyone made offerings to him. “What’s the
meaning of this?” the disciples asked the Buddha.
The Buddha told his disciples: “The great officials and the
citizens made no offerings to me because in a past life I failed to set
up conditions with them and consequently we have no affinity with
one another. Once long, long ago, ages prior to this one, Mahamaudgalyayana
was a firewood gatherer. One day while picking up
firewood he bumped against a nest of bees, and they swarmed out
to attack him. Mahamaudgalyayana simply recited the Buddha’s
name and made a vow saying, ‘Namo Buddha. You bees, don’t
sting me! In the future when I have realized the Way, you will be
the first ones I take across to Buddhahood. Renounce your evil
thoughts and stop harming people.’ As a result of this vow, the bees
did not sting him. Eventually the queen bee became the king of this
country and the drones and workers became the officials and
citizens. When Mahamaudgalyayana, now a Bhikshu, came to this
city, the former bees whom he had to take across all bowed and
welcomed him. Such is the power of his former vow.”
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Originally posted by Beautiful951:
Sometimes I can give willingly, but at other times I cannot and i'm not sure why.
Due to the discriminating mind, we judge the situation and people. Actually in true compassion as taught by Buddha, there is total impartiality. We try to help all sentient beings without differentiating, even between animals, spirits, humans and other realms... there shouldn't be differentiation. Of course, we must also do it with wisdom. For eg. if you know someone is going to do something negative with the money, then it is not right to support him/her.
It is not so easy to drop our judgements. But i think we should train in the direction that Buddha indicated.
Thanks for the replies =)
If I have limited fund for charity for the month, I'll give to those who has urgent need. I'm careful in giving to charity organisation. I prefer to give to reliable charity organisations like 慈济, Buddhist Free Clinic etc. I don't really feel bad when I'm not giving because we can't be giving whenever we are approached for donations, everyone has limited fund for charity. I feel bad only when I know the organisation or individual are in urgent need and I know once the opportunity of giving to them is gone, there will not be another opportunity to give to them.
to dawnfirstlight, try yr best la.. no need to reproach yrself also.. there a reason that u cannot help at that point in time..
It might be good to contemplate on the benefits that other needy people will receive from donating. Then feel gladness and willingness to give arising from that.