Theos-Talk Archives (January 1998 Message tt00262)

At 03:12 PM 1/21/1998 +1100, b888 wrote:
>Lmhem 111 writes
>>This is always the dilemma. How much charity should be offered and when is
>>enough, enough.
>
>There is no limit to compassion.
>
>>Do the more affluent countries give them fish or
>>teach them how to fish?
>
>Just where are all these fish?
>
>>In case of dire famine, richer countries would have to intervene
>immediately
>>with food and medicine but the big picture solution would have to deal with
>>the causes of famine and destitution by helping people come up with their
>own
>>solutions.
>
>What's the solution to famine?
>
>>The same principle applies on a smaller scale when focusing on
>>impoverished neighborhoods. Although food kitchens provide temporary
>relief,
>>the long-run solution would embrace the notion of the poor alleviating
>their
>>karma by modifying that karma themselves through the principle of
>self-help.
>
>This is a fine sentiment while your sitting on top of the heap.
>Poverty will always be in the world, but when you look at the resources used
>by the top ten percent of people it is surely a dreadful imbalance.
>
>Fond Regards,
>Bruce

I agree with the sentiment. However, for a hungry and suffering person, any
help from whatever source is always welcome and the recipient. It is very
difficult to talk to a suffering person about Karma. What each one of us
who are fully aware of the situation can do is to try to do our best --
both short term and long term. Even if slightly improves the situation
however little is ok. As more and more react and take a helping attitude,
over a period of time much of the problems will be resolved.

As for consumption of resources, I suppose as each one of us get sensitized
to the fact we may simplify our own lives so as to economize on the
resources we use and that again in the long run put a downward pressure on
the use and waste of resources. All we can do is to make our little
contribution to the solution.

Regards

mkr