Helping, but getting stung - Buddhist perspective

[Guest guest]

Below is from a Buddhist email list... as I read it, I thought of the

recent discussion of our trying to " help " the patients get through the

hassles of specialist care, etc. The question is always how much do we

" help " and how much do we " feel abused " in the situation.

As with anything Buddhist this will not present a " firm answer " . Rather,

it reflects the complexities of life and may help you see the " firm

question " each of us needs to consider.

I think the summary line of, " True wisdom is knowing how to be

compassionate effectively, and true compassion is to be wise effectively, "

points to the recent discussion.

Finally, understand that the referred to " bodhisatva " is a person who most

completely reflects/acts the buddhist concepts in real life. They would be

something like a " living saint " and are most revered. But any person, at

any moment, has the potential (opportunity?) to be a bodhisatva by being

purely compassionate and selfless (and without baggage of

anger/frustration... very, very hard for us regular folks to do, don't you

think?)

I hope it helps someone in some way.

Tim

One who greatly helps another despite being greatly harmed is a great fool

or a great Bodhisattva. - stonepeace

Here is a wonderful Zen story to share... Two monks were washing their

bowls by a river, when they spotted a scorpion about to drown. Without

hesitation, one scooped it up with his hand and laid it on the land,

getting stung while doing so. When he resumed washing his bowl, the

scorpion fell in again. The same monk again saved the scorpion, and was

again stung. The other monk asked in great surprise, " Why continue saving

it when its nature is to sting? " The first monk replied, " Because it's my

nature to save. " Whenever this story is told, listeners are usually either

touched by the first monk's relentless and unconditional compassion, or

baffled by his " unrepentant stupidity " . How does it affect you?

Is the first monk with great compassion but lacking in wisdom? Well, to

prevent being bitten, he could have used his bowl to scoop the scorpion?

And he could have placed the scorpion further away from the river? That

would be utilising appropriate skilful means to " better save " the

scorpion. When one means is proven faulty, another means should be used.

Is the second monk with some wisdom but lacking in compassion? Perhaps he

was considering his safety too selfishly to think of risking a small

selfless act? Thus should compassion and wisdom go hand in hand on the

Bodhisattva path of helping other beings. True wisdom is knowing how to be

compassionate effectively, and true compassion is to be wise effectively.

Though a suddenly 'provoked' scorpion might sting, it does not always

sting, doing so only when it thinks it is being harmed instead of helped.

Thus, its nature to sting is actually impermanent, as the scorpion is

" empty " of any fixed traits. The scorpion also refers to the unthankful

people we help. Mindful that no one is permanently of the nature to

'sting', why not carry on helping? It is undying compassion that cannot

bear to see others in pain, that never gives up lending a hand, that

eventually touches and transforms the ungrateful. Even if it fails to, the

joy from being kind is a reward! When we practise compassion despite it

often being a thankless " job " , without expecting any gratitude, while even

open to the possibility of being harmed, then surely, this is true

compassion in action. But remember to apply true wisdom too! - Shen Shi'an