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Just for fun
Wisdom23
Veteran
I have heard his question many a time and many answers can be drawn from it. I thought i would put it to NB just to see what answers came up.
So....
Is it right for a man to steal a loaf of bread to feed his starving family?
So....
Is it right for a man to steal a loaf of bread to feed his starving family?
0
Comments
Should he do it? Yes.
Is it right for a man to have an extra loaf of bread when his neighbor's family is starving? Perhaps if everyone was aware of the plight of our less fortunate neighbors, there would be no need to steal - for any reason...
because food (and other necessities) would be SHARED.
Many people give money to or volunteer to work in homeless shelters and soup kitchens. My neighbor, one of my best friends, and half-a-dozen people I know volunteer to work in the main "soup kitchen" here in Colorado Springs. There is always sufficient food to feed those who come to partake of the services provided, with much food left over. Many (this is my route) give contributions through grocery stores. A number of churches in our area provide funds to other groups who provide such services, or provide services themselves. Etc. And many, many, many people down on their luck take advantage of these. Before retirement as a principal, our school regularly provided assistance to homeless shelters -- canned food drives, blanket drives, etc., and our students went to the shelters to help distribute materials so they learned first hand about the situation, so they learned about what was happening. And this latter effort was in an extremely affluent area where you would not even imagine there was a need. Little did most realize that in our school that there were homeless children or some who ate in soup kitchens. Additionally, I had limited funds for poor kids to assure they were not left out of regular school events due to lack of money.
Others people simply choose to steal.
Some beg, legitimately, and use the money for what they say it's for. Others beg, but lie about what they are using the funds for.
My point here is that there is a great deal of sharing by our society. Much food and clothing and other goods are available for those who are in need. There is not a need to steal.
If there's no food for a sick child, and someone else has a lot of food, take the food. Don't think. Take the food and don't you dare give yourself the luxury of ethical wrangling.
That's the problem with not thinking before acting. In Buddhism we seek wisdom, and it's best to act on wisdom...even when you're poor.
I think that perhaps this idea of 'ownership' can be taken too far, giving us 'rights' to take what cannot be given and to possess what cannot or should not be owned such as people or places.
Just look at the 'haves' and 'have-nots' in this world. You must not take from those with everything, because law is on their side. If you have nothing you have less rights.
OP the whole question posited is LOADED, In favour of the one holding the gun!
(historically speaking, of course)
Stealing is no good.
We all would and perhaps will anyway.
Forget stealing. I wouldn't blame them if they had killed me for my wallet.
That's not a moral dilemma, that's a war we're waging against them by pretending we aren't responsible for every being. We forfeited our extra bread a long time ago.
Our privilege only exists so we can learn and be of use in improving this world. There will come a time for us all when the debt is called in, not by others, but by our own consciences.
She approached us. Before she could speak, I asked her - "Who's that?" I pointed to the boy.
"It's my brother. Do you have some change?"
I looked into her astonishingly blue eyes, the unwashed hair, the unkempt appearance, the ingrained dirt in her dark face, neck and hands, and said to her, "Come with me."
I took her to the food booth, and asked her, "What do you and your brother want to eat?"
She looked at me and her face was hardened, her jaw set, and expressionless. Then she pointed to two rolls, and two 'Pain au Chocolat'. I bought them.
"And to drink?"
"Just water....." then she added, realising she was pushing her luck, "Maybe a hot chocolate. to share."
I looked at her brother. He stood, silently, his eyes releasing rolls of tears, but he wasn't making a sound.
I bought two bottles of water, and two hot chocolates. I took the bag of food, and the hot drinks.
The girl had already taken her roll and was eating it. She picked up the water. I turned and walked towards her brother.
I gave him his food, and a hot drink, and handed the other hot drink to the girl, with her pain au chocolat.
The boy looked up at me, as if he was about to shatter into pieces. The girl looked me in the eye, and merely said, "Thank you madame."
I nodded, and returned to my friends, and took my coffee from one of them.
I turned to look at the girl and her brother, but they had already disappeared.
her eyes haunt me to this day.
From http://psychology.wikia.com/wiki/Developed_countries
Interesting to correlate it with this map of self-reported happiness:
I truly understand everyone's opinion here.... but I have to say, forget about the World and it's unimaginable ills, hunger, poverty, and the crime (of stealing and such) that results in such inequity of wealth or even survival basics. It can be so overwhelming to view things that way.
So, I say -- Think smaller. Think county. Think town. Think neighborhood. Think block. Think neighbor.... Yes, Vinlyn, think "Simplistic."
My favorite quote is: Be The Change You Want To See In The World.
Forget the grand scale of the world's problems and how insurmountable they seem.
Look for that one kid from down the street - the one with brothers and sisters, who lives in the crappiest house on the street, who has only a mom who works all the time and doesn't seem to have enough time to care for her kids... Think small. Think personal.
Buy a few extra basics when you go food shopping - ask your other neighbors and friends to kick in a few items as well - and leave it all at their door when no one is looking.
Or, don't wait for them to go to the local food pantry or soup kitchen or assume they go on their own .... go FOR them, especially around the holidays when it would be nice to have some special meals and treats like 'everyone else' has.
If you know of a senior citizen who is living on the very tiniest of monthly budgets, tell them about Meals on Wheels and other senior programs available... they may not know about them. Help them make phone calls and set up interviews for getting on these programs. No programs available? Make a little extra when you cook your meals and bring it over to that senior. I bet they would very much appreciate it, even once a week.
Just think if everyone forgot about the BIG Picture and just did a little something, every week for someone within their small circle of acquaintances or neighbors.... Might not solve the Whole World's Problems, but it would be a better neighborhood for all. Isn't it worth a shot?
There will always be people who steal from others.... people who want
things they don't work for and earn. But the question being discussed here is
Stealing for Survival (i.e; stealing food), not stealing ipads or cars, or jewelry from some woman's bedroom. I think there is a difference.
If I ever meet a starving family and can't figure out any other way to feed them, I'll make the decision and let you know.
Can we do more to improve others situation?
Does right thinking involve practical means?
Bakery or sangha, which is the better bred and more noble?
Do Buddhist's use their loaf?
This and other questions stolen from the Dharma