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A Good Deed(?)
Today, as I walked back to work from lunch, I passed a metermaid, who mumbled to herself as she walked down a line of parked cars.
She noticed me, and for some reason decided to let me (a total stranger) into her internal monologue: "I'm just trying to figure out which car to tag. Probably this one, it only has five minutes on it."
This focused my attention on the parking meter (which I definitely would not have noticed otherwise), and as I gazed at it, the thought occurred to me: "I should put money in it."
So, when the metermaid was a "safe distance away," I slipped a quarter into the meter, and then walked away, smiling and patting myself on the back for "outsmarting" the metermaid, "doing a good deed," "saving" the driver, and other such mental concepts.
But then I got to examining my action from a "bigger picture" outlook. True, I may (or may not) have saved that driver money...but did I also take money away from the city? Maybe the town is in need of that $25 (or whatever) revenue--did I just take revenue away from the town?
What do you think? Am I just over-analyzing it? Or am I trying to look at it a little more deeply, see it from different sides? Is there a "right way" to view this, or is it a case of every issue having more than one side, with no "right answer"?
Maybe the point is less about "doing the right thing," and more about learning to see beyond the surface, I don't know.
What do you think?
She noticed me, and for some reason decided to let me (a total stranger) into her internal monologue: "I'm just trying to figure out which car to tag. Probably this one, it only has five minutes on it."
This focused my attention on the parking meter (which I definitely would not have noticed otherwise), and as I gazed at it, the thought occurred to me: "I should put money in it."
So, when the metermaid was a "safe distance away," I slipped a quarter into the meter, and then walked away, smiling and patting myself on the back for "outsmarting" the metermaid, "doing a good deed," "saving" the driver, and other such mental concepts.
But then I got to examining my action from a "bigger picture" outlook. True, I may (or may not) have saved that driver money...but did I also take money away from the city? Maybe the town is in need of that $25 (or whatever) revenue--did I just take revenue away from the town?
What do you think? Am I just over-analyzing it? Or am I trying to look at it a little more deeply, see it from different sides? Is there a "right way" to view this, or is it a case of every issue having more than one side, with no "right answer"?
Maybe the point is less about "doing the right thing," and more about learning to see beyond the surface, I don't know.
What do you think?
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Comments
Don't you realise that every positive action you carry out, has a negative effect or consequence, elsewhere? Every time.
You do your best, in that situation, with right Intention.
Then, as has been said, move on, let it go, and live mindfully.
So I would say, you did something nice, don't dwell on it, pat yourself or feel bad about it, just be glad you did it and move on.
In the past 2 days I have made it a point to be very pleasant to everyone I deal with and I think\feel that it has made an positive effect not just on me but on them. People seem to take a quick breath when I wish them a nice day with sincerity etc and seem to be the happier for it.
Does it make me feel good, yes but in the end I just want to do it because it's a good thing to do... or should I say it's the right thing to do?
so with that in mind, I hope you have a wonderful day!
ivan
Maybe the person wouldn't have paid the fine anyway, and the city would have then possibly spent more than $25 in pursuing that fine.
Especially with the help of fellow practitioners--thanks for your input!
Is this really true? What about petting a kitten? Does that have a negative effect somewhere?
I agree this is sound Buddhist counsel, and a reminder of the importance of sticking to the Eightfold Path.
Thanks federica!
I have often pondered that question myself, and so far I have come out in agreement with you. It would be interesting to know what the Buddha said about this, if anything.
That's great, Ivan! What inspired you to do that?
Or the converse question - is a bad consequence performed with a good intention still a bad deed which will produce bad fruit?
I guess maybe I'm over-thinking it, but it has yielded some useful insights. Thanks for your input, everyone.
If we could determine the answers to both these questions, we might gain some valuable wisdom.
I will reflect on it--thanks, Karma.
With the bank, you're preventing a bunch of greedy fat cats from getting your friend's property--an easy choice to make. In the present case, for the sake of a stranger, I'm preventing the town from collecting revenue--revenue which has been projected for the town, based on things like collecting various fines, and used for the upkeep and maintenance of the town. This is different from your cut-and-dried bank example, the answer is not quite as clear.
I'm not sure there's a "rule" for things like this. I remember awhile back, there was a story about a woman who kept putting money in everyone's meter, and it became a problem; but to her, that was a good deed, I guess.
The broader question--when should we give money to other people in general?--has also plagued me for a long time. I have gone back and forth, and I still don't have a "rule" for handling it.
Whoa! You been readin' them New Age books again? Where did you come up with that one?
Palzang