Quote:
Originally Posted by Michael Chui  Then let's go back to my original question:
If you know how to help, and you know how to do it right, such that there aren't any negative effects (assuming that's possible), shouldn't you help?
You would answer "yes", in this case? |
Depends on what perspective you are answering this question from. If you are thinking of yourself as a person with a finite life on this planet & you don't yet understand the bigger picture.. you think that you should help.
The "should" word for me indicates that it is an obligation. It is something I must do because.. in a way I believe that there isn't a higher reason for the pain or suffering another is going through. I now help through support though I work with many pained people everyday (pained through alzheimers & dementia & the general breakdown of old age).
My ego may tell me I must help in a particular way (say Angela's example of wheeling their wheelchair to a destination)..however many times I do this & they get angry because they wanted to left & I wheeled them right without asking.
Just because the outcome may look positive to us doesn't mean it was. There is a higher purpose I believe to all suffering yet I do not know what it is (heh.. I may know as I get more conscious).. & all things that occur.. occur because they occur. Yes you can help. Maybe it will alleviate some of the suffering.
But thinking you should or should not gets bogged down in a lot of guilt sometimes & I try to avoid that nowadays.
I recently came to an understanding that my ego/mind cannot possibly understand the larger consequences/implications of my actions hence I may think I must help but.. in reality I may not be helping. I hope this makes sense! I am attempting to explain this as best as I can.