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Is it Bad Kamma to Be a Homeless Beggar?
We have a guy who has been staying with us. By listening to his story, he has been placed homeless by his own negligence; however, during his walk of poverty and living from place to place, he has received SOME new awareness from his new path.
On the other hand, my children view him as a scheming vagrant who means to mouche off of people. This is mildly saddening, to me, and somewhat disappointing, even if they might be correct.
With no proposed intent to gossip or complain about him; admittedly, he really does sustain his self identity to be that of a self proclaimed martial arts instructor, has made very little effort to seek work (Which is throughout the period of over a month since he has been here.), and is not monastic in anyway (But he does claim to be a witch who masters swords.).
He seems to be rather intelligent, and in no way mentally ill. He just seems to be a pretentious 33 year old to me. My mind says that he can be taught, but my feelings are uncertain about his mind in the future; however, in being, his walk is witnessed to be that towards great awareness very soon if he does not let his thoughts interfere.
So, my heart has decided that he has much to realize about his true being and there is no way he will be able to receive help from me. He is being released tonight, wherever he has to go, when he arrives.
Still, my question is, is it bad kamma to be a homeless beggar even if one seems to be pretentious?
On the other hand, my children view him as a scheming vagrant who means to mouche off of people. This is mildly saddening, to me, and somewhat disappointing, even if they might be correct.
With no proposed intent to gossip or complain about him; admittedly, he really does sustain his self identity to be that of a self proclaimed martial arts instructor, has made very little effort to seek work (Which is throughout the period of over a month since he has been here.), and is not monastic in anyway (But he does claim to be a witch who masters swords.).
He seems to be rather intelligent, and in no way mentally ill. He just seems to be a pretentious 33 year old to me. My mind says that he can be taught, but my feelings are uncertain about his mind in the future; however, in being, his walk is witnessed to be that towards great awareness very soon if he does not let his thoughts interfere.
So, my heart has decided that he has much to realize about his true being and there is no way he will be able to receive help from me. He is being released tonight, wherever he has to go, when he arrives.
Still, my question is, is it bad kamma to be a homeless beggar even if one seems to be pretentious?
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Comments
one thing i've learned from buddhism is that there are no inherently existing people out there. there is just my interpretation which then i project onto people.
just a thought.
He asked for a flashlight so he could leave after dark. Declined.
He asked for stuff and didn't seem to understand that the monks viewed him as a freeloading geezer.
Finally to get rid of him they gave him some food and escorted him out.
Unbelievably he returned the next morning and asked for a cup of tea, and filled his pockets with chocolate bars, before finally leaving.
AND he came back again 4 weeks later, and was met with the same answer.
This guy is definitely imposing on people, if not generating bad karma.
Consider simply recognizing that the dwelling where he resides (internally and externally) is a result of his choices and perceptions. Anything more in your mind may set up the conditions for applying labels to him. Said differently, be careful not to create a delusional perception of self in the man, as he has none.
From your side, trust your observations and intuition about helping him. Enabling is a burden to both sides, while compassion helps to set the conditions for liberation.
Do your kids support themselves?
Scheming vagrants know women tend to be kind-hearted pushovers, btw.
haha! Good with the comic relief, MG!
Sorry, SimpleWitness, for the error. I think you did your best with your guest.
One can visit temp agencies, post on craigslist every day looking for jobs. There are a lot of shitty jobs out there that are available. But they may be less shitty than being homeless on the street begging.
That is why I don't give beggars money anymore. Sometimes on a rare occasion I will, it depends on their circumstances, but I've learned from experience usually it's not helpful to give them free money by them begging for it. Because they get used to it. It ends up becoming habitual, that will be all they know.
Instead of making a sign begging for money. They should make a sign that says "Looking for work". That would be much more admirable.
As a martial artist of many years I am embarrassed that he calls himself a martial arts instructor. To call yourself an instructor means you must be black belt level. Black belts are not just a piece of clothing to show how potent you are at fighting. They're also supposed to be a state of mind. A real black belt will not go on the street begging for money. Instead they will go looking for leads and information on how they improve their situation. They will learn how to make money so they do not have to beg.
Adaptation to a unique situation is how to win a fight, he should know this if he is a martial arts instructor. Begging for money is the same as saying you cannot fight.
https://farm4.static.flickr.com/3228/2976746522_4b9c057043.jpg
On another note, I have to say it astounds me to see how many people here (on a Buddhist forum of all places!) are unwilling or unable (?) to put themselves in the shoes of people who live in very different circumstances. Being homeless is not as simple as people make it out to be. And once in that pit, looking for a job is not as simple as people make it out to be either. There are a whole host of factors that contribute to one individual's situation-- its not just down to someone "being lazy."
I have known homeless people in my time and who knows, I might end up that way myself. Some are homeless because of addictions and mental problems, some because they are so invested in selfpity and blaming others that they refuse to do what is necessary to earn money, and some simply had bad things happen to them, but they remained compassionate people who would share their only sandwitch with another hungry beggar.
Who and what a person is can be seen from their actions. Letting someone invested in taking without giving freeload off you is not doing them any good or you, for that matter. But neither is judging the poor to be unworthy or defective because they don't have a place to live. They are only poor.
And by unwisely helping someone, we can delay their 'rock bottom' (and you don't have to be an alcoholic to have a rock bottom; it's a mental position where you've suffered enough and seek change) and not do them any favours in the long term.
I also think you've been extremely kind and brave letting a homeless person into your home.
As for 'bad kamma' to be a homeless; then that's a 'no'. Kamma (or karma) is a complex subject (so complex it's said that only buddhas understand its full implications), but in essence karma comes into play when our feelings become involved and there is some volition or intention from our side. And since we're constantly 'feeling' (it's an always present mental factor), we are constantly producing karma while we are conscious.
So being homeless does not in itself produce 'bad karma'; karma is the cause of this guy being homeless; karma is a cause, not a result. I'm not even sure if karma can be called bad; I'm just looking through my course book now and can't see it described as such.
It says here:
"When we create an action of body, speech, or mind, the conscious of subconscious volition [intention] that causes that action also creates a potential that is deposited in the mental continuum, the stream of consciousness. When the appropriate conditions arise, this potential becomes manifest as a positive or negative result. Again, it is the mental action itself that is karma, and not the ripening result."
I hope that helps!
Most of what you said to me made sense and is totally understood.
But, what do you mean by the above statements in you previous comment?
Metta
In all honesty, my goal is to preclude judgment of good or bad in every view. My knowledge is limited to the doctrines of kamma; so, the term "bad kamma" was used because of the way it was presented to my understanding years ago by the wider religious world. Perhaps my usage of the term "bad kamma" is flawed. My apologies if it was.
Metta
Your thought is right. My thought was that of duality. His actions, or lack of, may have placed him there. My actions are burdening him and my family. This is all that can be witnessed. So, he has been released to flourish else where.
Metta
Well, he was inquired and he claimed that he did. Also, his back ground was checked. He has a clean record. In addition, he has no kids. Even upon having inquired about his character in the last place he stayed turns out that he was harmless with them, in terms of his demeanor. Moreover upon asking him to tell us his story, he told us and seems to own up to his negligence to certain things as to what made him homeless. He just seemed be getting too comfortable. He's out now, though.
My decision was to get him a job across the street at the department store and let him go.
Metta
Well my kids are all teenagers, now, and have a thing or two to learn about the conscious decisive actions of kindness and compassion, along with me. We all must learn about this here. We also have lessons to learn about hospitality. Taking him in did take a process. It was not arbitrarily done.
Metta
It is a blessing. Agreed.
Metta
Thank you for confirming that.
This is a touching and compassionate view to take. My sentiments exactly.
Metta
SimpleWitness, this has been a fascinating story, with a great ending. Do you think he'll keep the job? How did you convince the dept. store to hire him? Will his job earn him enough money for him to pay rent somewhere? Not your problem, I guess. You did your best.
The second is just another representation... there is no need for the mind to collapse observations into the delusion of permanent qualities. There is not a lasting, permanent quality of homelessness or home-ness, pretentiousness or humility.
To be seeing a "pretentious homeless man" means the mind observing has probably collapsed into dualism, ascribing static qualities where there is none. The appearance of a solid quality of pretentiousness, for instance, projects from the observer's side, rather than the "pretentious man", and causes the mind of the observer to feel distressed by the observation. Its skillful to be alert to these kinds of perceptions when we face situations that perplex and entangle us. http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/an/an04/an04.235.than.html
The painful feeling (such as difficulty in seeing a man caught up in a cycle of poverty and doing nothing to help himself) gives rise to further fabrications.
Again, it is possible to simply notice the momentum of the cycle. This sets the conditions for its evaporation, or cessation.
Stop worrying about his kamma and concern yourself with your own.
Do you mind if I ask where you live, SimpleWitness? Where did this story take place?
Yes! Got it. Understood. My discipline is made to strive towards simplicity as a source of being. My thoughts were of duality. This complicates things, doesn't it?
Though, this does not mean that it is mastered within me, yet. If at all, it is the lack of simplicity that is witnessed within me. However, it is beginning to be seen clearer now. Thank you for being another jewel with me on the path, aMatt.
Metta, buddy!
My thoughts will keep mindful to this. Well said.
Metta
Yes, Tosh. This helps greatly. In fact I copied and pasted it to my memo as a reminder.
Metta