Dear Xinping,
You are right, of course about begging being a lucrative profession to many beggars. I'm glad your government is working to address the situation. We have a much milder, but quite similar problem in Canada, and our various levels of governments are working to address the problem, too.
In my post I addressed the situation of this old man who didn't seem to be a real beggar. To give to professional beggars is not a good thing to do. It encourages them to continue, to the detriment of a society, and spoils akindly attitude toward those in need as it causes cynicism. So that cynicismand hard-heartedness grows and influences our decisions towards all obviously needy people, even the innocent needy.
Before we give material help it is necessary to know the true circumstances of the person to whom we give. We should give only to those we know are in
genuine trouble. I gained this insight through the teachings and life example of 'Abdu'l-Baha, (his name means "servant of the glory of God",) whom I take as
my own mentor and exemplar in life.
In fact 'Abdu'l-Baha pointed out that it would be best that begging is forbidden
and it is should also be prohibited to give to a beggar. By this is meant that
*mendicancy* is forbidden and that giving charity to people who take up begging
*as their profession* is also prohibited. The object is to wipe out mendicancy
altogether, all over the world.
However, if a person is disabled, stricken by dire poverty or becomes helpless,
then it is absolutely necessary that the rich, or the representatives of the people provide him or her with a monthly allowance for subsistence, and eventually
homes need to be set up for those who are incapacitated. In this way no one will be obliged to beg. The spiritual law is that it is enjoined upon everyone to
earn his livelihood. However, for disabled people adequate provision needs to be made, world-wide.
From the mid-1800's until he was freed by the Young Turk revolution in the early1900's, 'Abdu'l-Baha was imprisoned in the international crusader prison city of
Acca, Palestine, together with his father Baha'u'llah, and their families. This was because some powerful eastern rulers were trying to erase the Baha'i Faith
by banishing and imprisoning its Founder and his family and main followers in a
place where it was expected that they would surely die. And many of them did die of disease because there was no potable water and no tide to wash away the filth, and it was the worst prison in the world.
It was such a cess-pit of disease and filth, and so far away from civilization that those rulers thought they would hear no more of Baha'u'llah and his newly revealed faith. After some years, a very few visitors were allowed into Acca by the governor of the city who had come to love and respect 'Abdu'l-Baha and his Father. Two from the west who at various times had lived in his house as visitorsat different times wrote:
"It is the custom of 'Abdul-Baha each week, on Friday morning, to
distribute alms to the poor. From his own scanty store he gives
a little to each one of the needy who come to ask assistance.
This morning about one hundred were ranged in line, seated and
crouching upon the ground in the open street of the courts where
'Abdu'l-Baha's house stands. And such a nondescript collection
of humanity they were. All kinds of men, women and children --
poor, wretched, hopeless in aspect, half-clothed, many of them
crippled and blind beggars indeed, poor beyond expression --
waiting expectant -- until from the doorway came 'Abdu'l-Baha.
... Quickly moving from one to another, stopping sometimes to
leave a word of sympathy and encouragement, dropping small coins
into each eager outstretched palm, touching the face of a child,
taking the hand of an old woman who held fast to the hem of his
garment as he passed along, speaking words of light to old men
with sightless eyes, inquiring after those too feeble and wretched
to come for their pittance of help, and sending them their portion
with a message of love and uplift.
'Abdu'l-Baha's personal wants were few. He worked late and early.
Two simple meals a day sufficed him. His wardrobe consisted of a
very few garments of inexpensive material. He could not bear to
live in luxury while others were in want. He had a great love for
children, for flowers, and for the beauties of nature. Every
morning about six or seven, the family party used to gather to
partake of the morning tea together...."
It was from this prison that Baha'u'llah wrote His book of laws which included about doing away with mendicancy and taking care of the disabled by giving them dignity and sustenance as a right. And that people should all work at something
if they were at all capable of it.
I hope you find this useful in your thinking about beggars, begging,
and what your government might do about it. It seems to be excellent,
well-balanced advice to me. Of course it will take various developmentsof society for it to succeed. That's what I hope to see begin to happen in the
world, and what I try to encourage as a part of my contribution to life.
In no way am I up to the standard of behaviour and words of my mentor,
'Abdu'l-Baha, but as I am able, I try to take his life as my guideline.
Warmly, Mary
