I guess Leogirl's main objection is the use of Amitabha's name in vain, and I can understand why.
None of us saw this beggar, or for that matter how well-dressed his two companions were. However, I guess Leogirl had her own gut feeling about these people who turned up at her door-step. It's true that I don't always give when people beg. In the past, I have turned away beggars who looked too well and healthy to be needing alms, or those whom I regularly see at the same old locations.
There's however nothing we can do to stop people from using Buddhas' names to cheat. We can only warn them not to do that, but there will always be people like that.
Over the past few weeks, I came across a beggar just outside the temple I went to for sutra recitations. He wished me "Amituofo" and extended his hand for alms. In the past, I had also often come across a mother and daughter duo outside a famous church in Singapore.
These people know that temples and churches are visited by the pious or by those who are seeking blessings. Under such circumstances, people would be more willing to extend charity, and that's just the mentality that beggars prey upon.
We can choose to give money or not, based on however we have chosen to measure their worthiness. Sometimes, it's also an on-the-spot decision.
If possible, we could alert the authorities about these people, who may genuinely be in need of help, but don't know where to get it.
I still feel LavenderWu's suggestion to get these people assistance from social welfare agencies is a sound one.
We can give them the benefit of the doubt like what Weychin is suggesting, but if we have time and wanted to take an extra step, then we may consider asking them if they know that help is available from other avenues. For example, tell them that they can obtain free meals at temples, teach them how to seek help from welfare service agencies, give them relevant hotline numbers they can call, etc.
On the spot, we can give some money, but then these people will always need to rely on begging to make ends meet. Sometimes, it is also the desperation of their circumstances that make them tell lies and resort to underhanded means... not saying it's right, but we're also not them... so it's better to help them get out of their desperate circumstances where possible.
(Of course, all this is subject to whether we have the time and whether the circumstances are conducive to engaging them there and then.)
Originally posted by An Eternal Now:It is good to warn him against that.
Abhasita Sutta
Monks, these two slander the Tathagata. Which two?
He who explains what was not said or spoken by the Tathagata
as said or spoken by the Tathagata. And he who explains what
was said or spoken by the Tathagata as not said or spoken by
the Tathagata. These are two who slander the Tathagata.
Now, as we all know, slandering the Buddha is a cause for rebirth in the lower realms.
then those cults are in deep deep trouble, cos they amend the teachings of the Buddha and spread it to their followers.
people will use the name of god, Buddha, Jesus, whatsoever to get money. look no further than the churches, who said give in the name of god. well all I can say is this, they are responsible for their own kamma. be prepared to face the consequences of their own actions when they die.
Originally posted by Leogirldreamer:realization, thanks for your understanding.
weychin, i think you are using the fear factor which is not the reason i want to chant Amitabha Buddha. I do not chant his name because i fear He will punish me.
Even if this man should be commanded by what he claims, the Amitabha Buddha to beg, i will not give in to this type of psychology threat. I will then ask him to wait till Amitabha Buddha gives me the command to give him money. Why should i be coerced to give because the man use the name of Buddha ? because i fear what ? re-tribution ? is this what you chant Amitabha Buddha name for ?
Originally posted by Leogirldreamer:i have helped out in social works before and i know i have to do a secret survey when i send food rations to any poor home.
Meaning i will mark what is in the house of the poor, what the person is wearing down on a survey to feedback to the organisation whether is this person really poor as he/she claims.
i have met a so called poor malay woman wearing all her gold earrings, gold necklace and gold ring in full to receive our food rations and we had to note that down. I have visited homes with a tank full of the most expensive rowana fishes in the sitting room.
I have even being whispered to by the so called poor home’s neighbour that the maid would come out of the house to sweep the floor daily.
It is much easier for me to stop thinking and just stuff a few dollars in the palm of that man at my door.
It is easy to tell the man Not to use the name of the Buddha to beg. Easy to tell the man where he can get free vegetarian meals. Easy to pass him the number to call for help.
BUT …...........it is difficult for any poor to get the social help without having to go through an interview, a referree (by hospital) , fill in forms to justify why he needs social welfare.
judging from the responses to my post, i really doubt someone knows how difficult for a poor in Singapore to get help fast.
Usually my main door is closed all th times.
So hardly had a chance to meet them at my doorstep.
But if really is, I will just give them $2 not more.
I ever encoutnered an indian knocking knocking on my door, happen that I did not close the door. He told me temple need renovation, asking me for donation. He do have receipt book. I just gave him $5.
You know what, I can smell strong alochol and crigattes smoke on his body. I felt being cheated.
best is not to open door if it is not a postman.
Originally posted by Rooney9:best is not to open door if it is not a postman.
Nowadays, many pple doesnt open the door.
Even they knock on the door and if I am in my bedroom, I usually cannot hear the knocking sound .
Originally posted by likeyou:I ever encoutnered an indian knocking knocking on my door, happen that I did not close the door. He told me temple need renovation, asking me for donation. He do have receipt book. I just gave him $5.
You know what, I can smell strong alochol and crigattes smoke on his body. I felt being cheated.
I do encountered that last week or so. I just politle reject it.
Originally posted by Leogirldreamer:i just had a strange encounter. A man came to my door and told me Amitabhva Buddha asked him to go around asking for alms for a period of time. There was a little boy with him about 3 years and another 9 – 10 years boy behind him.
I asked him how did Amitabhva Buddha ask you to go begging? did you dream of him?
He just showed me his half limp body and said he had a stroke and Amitahbha Buddha asked him to beg for a period of time.
I then asked do you know how to chant the Amitabha Sutra? He said he only know how to say Namo Amitabhva buddha.
I told him to use his conscience and do not insult buddhists.
I didn’t give him any money at all although i can tell his stroke is for real. But i was a bit angry at the way he used Amitabha Buddha name to ask for money. He left looking a bit sad and disappointed. I don’t know whether i have done the right thing but it is the first time someone come to my door to beg. It’s quite a shocker. Plus he use the name of buddha.
Will you give him money?
If you encounter such a case, it means that you have encountered the å› ç·£ for practising doing good. This is known in Buddhism as 佛緣. For me, I would donate some money to him and perhaps ask him to continue to do some chanting and repentence. Afterall, the stroke, sickness and difficulties he face is a result of bad karma that one has to go through in order for good karma to ripen. As Buddhist, we should not close our door to those who are suffering.
Chanting Namo Amitabha Buddha means 無�光 (Immeasurable Brightness)， 無�壽 (Immeasurable Longetivity).
A good way is to bring him to some places where he can get some free food such as 居士林.
Originally posted by Weychin:Without fully knowing,would we rather be on the side of generosity, or on the side of caution on being cheated?
On being made of aware of being cheated, are we going to be unhappy to being cheated, or the fact that someone is making an attempt to cheat you ,riles you.
Or should we be measuring the amount of unhappiness we should be in on how much money you’ve lost?
Begging in this manner may not be proper to encourage. You can maintain the courtesy of without fully knowing right or wrong , and channel them to those charity organisation and mp who are around to help needy. As they have the courage to knock door, there should not be any constraint in them looking for mp and charity organisation for their need.
Originally posted by yhjow:If you encounter such a case, it means that you have encountered the å› ç·£ for practising doing good. This is known in Buddhism as 佛緣. For me, I would donate some money to him and perhaps ask him to continue to do some chanting and repentence. Afterall, the stroke, sickness and difficulties he face is a result of bad karma that one has to go through in order for good karma to ripen. As Buddhist, we should not close our door to those who are suffering.
Chanting Namo Amitabha Buddha means 無�光 (Immeasurable Brightness)， 無�壽 (Immeasurable Longetivity).
A good way is to bring him to some places where he can get some free food such as 居士林.
Thanks for your information.
Amitabha....