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[lucinate]

Since visiting extremely poverty stricken places like India and Bangladesh, a fair few people have asked how I've coped with the beggars and what I do. Do you give them money, buy them food or clothes or ignore them?

Alot of travel advisory information tells us not to give anything to beggars. In some countries, there is alot of organised begging with 'pimps' bussing in children and mothers with babies to beg from unsuspecting tourists then pocketing the earnings and giving very little back to the 'beggars'.

In Siem Reap, Cambodia, kids beg at the food stalls along the streets. We watched a tourist couple buy dinner for a little boy who promptly had it take away, ran over to his parents who were holding shopping and they all rode off on a motorbike.

In Myanmar we saw tourists practically mauled when they tried to give children pens or biscuits.

What's right and what's wrong?

How do you cope and what do you do?

[fourloves]

Carm, thanks so much for sharing that post - it's that very one that I read a year ago while working in an oil refinery that made me decide to give up my life for this 'on the road life'. Your posts are always filled with a kind of faithful first-hand wisdom.

Paul, thanks for showing your compassion, and for reassuring me that it is indeed a very difficult task to discern how to act in each situation.

I don't think I could stoop so low as to try and regurgitate the words of my favortie poet, Gibran, into something here, so I would like to share his passage 'on giving', a little bit different than what we're talking about, but bear with me, it's worth it's length!
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Then said a rich man, "Speak to us of Giving."

And he answered:

You give but little when you give of your possessions.

It is when you give of yourself that you truly give.

For what are your possessions but things you keep and guard for fear you may need them tomorrow?

And tomorrow, what shall tomorrow bring to the overprudent dog burying bones in the trackless sand as he follows the pilgrims to the holy city?

And what is fear of need but need itself?

Is not dread of thirst when your well is full, thirst that is unquenchable?

There are those who give little of the much which they have - and they give it for recognition and their hidden desire makes their gifts unwholesome.

And there are those who have little and give it all.

These are the believers in life and the bounty of life, and their coffer is never empty.

There are those who give with joy, and that joy is their reward.

And there are those who give with pain, and that pain is their baptism.

And there are those who give and know not pain in giving, nor do they seek joy, nor give with mindfulness of virtue;

They give as in yonder valley the myrtle breathes its fragrance into space.

Though the hands of such as these God speaks, and from behind their eyes He smiles upon the earth.

It is well to give when asked, but it is better to give unasked, through understanding;

And to the open-handed the search for one who shall receive is joy greater than giving

And is there aught you would withhold?

All you have shall some day be given;

Therefore give now, that the season of giving may be yours and not your inheritors'.

You often say, "I would give, but only to the deserving."

The trees in your orchard say not so, nor the flocks in your pasture.

They give that they may live, for to withhold is to perish.

Surely he who is worthy to receive his days and his nights is worthy of all else from you.

And he who has deserved to drink from the ocean of life deserves to fill his cup from your little stream.

And what desert greater shall there be than that which lies in the courage and the confidence, nay the charity, of receiving?

And who are you that men should rend their bosom and unveil their pride, that you may see their worth naked and their pride unabashed?

See first that you yourself deserve to be a giver, and an instrument of giving.

For in truth it is life that gives unto life - while you, who deem yourself a giver, are but a witness.

And you receivers - and you are all receivers - assume no weight of gratitude, lest you lay a yoke upon yourself and upon him who gives.

Rather rise together with the giver on his gifts as on wings;

For to be overmindful of your debt, is to doubt his generosity who has the free-hearted earth for mother, and God for father.

[whereshegoes]

Carm, thanks so much for sharing that post - it's that very one that I read a year ago while working in an oil refinery that made me decide to give up my life for this 'on the road life'. Your posts are always filled with a kind of faithful first-hand wisdom.

Aww! MacKenzie, it's comments like this that make me realize how important sharing from your heart is, without worrying what anyone will think. That seems to be precisely when one affects what people think the most and in a positive way. Thank you...your appreciation just made my day!

Gibrans word's are gold!! Where is that excerpt from? I would like to read more. This part really resonated with me:

"It is well to give when asked, but it is better to give unasked, through understanding;

And to the open-handed the search for one who shall receive is joy greater than giving"

Wow.