The 128 most classic philosophical essays in the world

Chapter 45
[China] Bi Shumin

Since then, I can walk past beggars calmly.No longer admire those who give generously, and no longer look sideways at those who walk away.

One of the reasons I like Zhang Ailing is that she said she doesn't like beggars.Ordinary people dare not say that they hate beggars, especially women, how unkind it seems.

Beggars are a phenomenon that superficially embodies poverty and weakness.It expresses people's distress and help nakedly, and makes others feel the desire to help and the joy of reaping and giving after sympathizing with others.

So beggars have become a frequently talked about and new topic. Beggars in famous books are often wise and honest, and ordinary people also have many stories related to beggars.I heard a woman tell that she finally decided to marry her husband because the man always paid for the beggar affectionately when he saw a beggar. Take a walk along the river on an empty stomach (the girl's money is only enough for the two of them to go home).The girl decided that the man was trustworthy and soon married him.The disheveled beggar unwittingly became a matchmaker.When I was admiring the girl's subtle intelligence, her face darkened, and she said that she found her husband narrow-minded and hypocritical shortly after marriage, and soon parted ways.So the beggar became a sinner again without realizing it.

I was at a loss and didn't know how to treat the tumor on the eyebrows of this big city.One day, I walked the subway with friends from overseas religious circles.The filthy old beggar was wrapped in a filthy felt, half-kneeling and half-bowed to block the steps, and in the worn-out straw hat, scattered small coins gleamed dimly.Half of the legs stick out from under the felt like gun barrels, and where there should be feet is a mass of brown carrion.The miserable scene and the smell made people have to leave some money far away and run away as if to escape.

I took a few steps back knowingly and distanced myself from my friend.According to her compassion and fraternity, no matter how much she donates, it is her heart and privacy, so I respectfully step aside.She walked over dignifiedly, leaned over and said to the disabled old man, please give way, don't block the passage, don't you see that people are bypassing you?How inconvenient this is for everyone.The old man lifted half of his face from the ground, and didn't answer her words. He went his own way, and please do me a favor, madam, give me a few coins...

The friend walked over quietly without putting down a penny.Enter the subway, find the staff in the station, she said, there is a beggar in the passage, obstructing the traffic, please urge him to go away.

I watched all this silently, thinking that it would be understandable not to give money. For example, when I was in a bad mood and had no energy to take care of others, was it too strict to ask the police to drive away the old beggar?I couldn't help but find an excuse for her, saying, I saw in the newspaper that some beggars cheated on food and drink, begging on the street during the day, wearing ragged clothes, and going out to restaurants in suits and shoes after work.Some simply make a living out of this, and after a few years, they build houses in the countryside and become the richest man in the area.Want you to see at a glance that the beggar is exactly this passer-by?

My friend laughed and said how could I have such magical skills.I have also seen the cases you mentioned in the newspapers.As for this old man, there is no evidence, so we can't doubt it casually.I wondered, since you don't think he is a bad person, why don't you give him alms?The friend said, but I can't judge whether he is really poor and sick, and it is difficult to support himself.I said it was difficult.Before everyone pays for alms, is it necessary to hire a private detective to check the income of beggars one by one?
The friend sternly said, this is the embarrassment of modern society.In the farming society, who is poor and who is really helpless, people from all over the world know it well.We have entered the information society, and there is a large flow of people. We know when and how many days Mars will rush, but ordinary people cannot grasp the real background of beggars.

I said, what should I do?There are beggars who stand in your way, displaying their handicap and being horrible enough that you have to throw your money away.If you walk with a few people, if you pass by, you will appear petty and unkind, and the pressure will be quite high.

My friend said, I never give alms by the side of the road.That's not kindness, it's stupidity.Of course, I dare not say that everyone on the side of the road should not be rescued, but rescue must have modern awareness.You give a little money, and he kowtows. He gets money by selling his dignity, and you get cheap desire satisfaction.You don't deserve such a reward for your little money.He easily bumps his head to the ground because he no longer thinks highly of himself.It is a potential threat and persecution to squeeze people's senses by showing physical diseases.Using ugliness to win money has been called "evil begging" since ancient times and is despised by others.If your hard-earned money encourages bad trends, isn’t it going against your good wishes?

I nodded and asked again, how do we give money?Friends say there needs to be a formal charity that takes care of these things.It needs to be supervised by all parties, and it has its origins and its whereabouts. Only when it is clear can the good steel be used on the blade, and it saves the difficulty of screening for ordinary people.

Since then, I can walk past beggars calmly.No longer admire those who give generously, and no longer look sideways at those who walk away.Of course, I also actively donate to formal institutions and look forward to their integrity.

Heart mark notes
A beggar is like a mirror of society, which can reflect many deep-seated things. Your love, your kindness, your indifference, and your hypocrisy seem to be clearly visible in front of this mirror.Therefore, when many people pass beggars, they are always uneasy, conflicting and hesitating about whether to take out their wallets.

In fact, this mirror has slowly been covered with a thick layer of dirt. It has become a tool for some people who do not want to support themselves by selling their dignity to survive, and it has become a stage for some passers-by to flaunt themselves.Therefore, when passing beggars, those who give generously may not be merciful, and those who walk away may not be steel-hearted.

As long as you have been and are still full of love, have done good deeds and will continue to do so, then you can choose to walk past beggars calmly.

(End of this chapter)