To Do or Not To Do, That is the Question

I was very fortunate to see and hear the Dalai Lama speak two days ago. He talked of compassion and its centrality to creating happiness through our actions. Intentions and devotion alone are not enough, he said. It is in doing that we affect real shifts.

The question was posed, "What should I do when I see a homeless person who asks for money? I see them often and know that I can't possibly help them all, and sometimes just walk past and do nothing. Yet I still feel compassion and know I should do something. What should I do?"

His Holiness answered with the following example from his own experience [paraphrased]. "While traveling in India recently, I had some time -- although not alot -- before a teaching engagement so I went out and walked the streets of the city I was visiting. I came upon hundreds of the poorest people, thin and hungry, with thin and hungry children and thin and hungry dogs. I knew that in the time that I had, I could not possibly help them. Yet I spent my limited time among them. I had to choose to do what could be perceived as nothing for each of them directly. I am doing many other things that have long term effects and my energy this day would be spent continuing on that path. If you can do something to help just one person, do it! If you cannot, it is okay. You are also doing many other things that have long term effects."

This answer provides me with both relief and uncertainty as to whether I'm doing enough, a paradoxical lesson I suppose I would expect from this wise and holy man! Okay, so I have to choose. I can feel good when I make a direct impact on one person and get the direct benefit of knowing my altruism made a difference. ...and the homeless person gains a little cash for their discretionary use. Perhaps this makes them feel good, too. This is certainly a good thing. Then there are the times, that I have no cash, or feel unsafe, or see more homeless faces than I can impact personally. Then what? Well, then I have to turn inside, feel impacted by the compassion I feel and use this feeling to fuel my other, broader, longer term projects. I might choose one to dedicate more focus and energy toward or have something that I'm already immersed in with big impacts already underway. I will then choose to give myself over to that project and know that I am doing what I can. The uncertainty I feel continues as I don't always, if ever, get to see the direct effect my doing has on those whom I serve. I must trust that my compassionate efforts of right action are enough, despite knowing that I may never get to see the happiness I bring.

Helen Keller summed it up well when she wrote, "When we do the best we can, we never know what miracle is wrought in our life, or in the life of another." Just look at the impact her life and her words have had on the world!

Although I don't know the specifics, I do sense that "miracle" in each new day. So, I'm choosing to do something each day, keeping an open heart and accessing my own wisdom, continuing to believe, without a doubt, that I am making a difference. ...and the difference we're all making together is profound! Look at the company we keep!