Helping Others

[AnthroHeart]

Should I feel guilty for not helping those who beg for money on the side of the road? Who carry signs saying "homeless"?

What if they are angels? Should I just see everyone as an angel?

Should I feel bad because I want to help them because I think they might be an angel? What are the chances they really are an angel?

I told one person that they were an angel. I just felt guided within to tell them the news. I hope I didn't mislead them. But then it may have been what they needed to hear. We were both in jail at the time, and the news may have made them feel grateful.

How am I to know who to send money to? Though money is tight, it is getting better.

Are those poor feed the children charities worth it? How about save the animals, like Defenders of Wildlife?

[Jade]

I don't think you should feel guilty about anything. Guilt is living in the past and not in the moment.

Ra says we should see everyone as the Creator, which, if we're going to abide by hierarchy, is higher than the angel realm, it is the most high.

When I see someone on the side of the road HOLDING UP A SIGN, I succumb to the symbolism and give of myself in that moment if I am able.

My dad gave me the whole "Give to the homeless because you never know if it's one of God's helpers watching" sermon when I was young, and it was moving then but now I recognize that it comes from a desire for your good acts to be witnessed. We are all GOD. Every homeless person on the side of the road has a direct line above as does everyone else. If you need a witness, rest assured that the person you aided witnessed your good deed, especially if you are directly offering them money.

As far as giving to charities goes, I think it takes a bit of due diligence these days to find causes that give a high percentage of their income directly to the needy. The less people in between your giving act and the receiver the better IMO. If you want to feed the children, donate to a local food shelter. If you want to help animals, go volunteer at a shelter (that one costs nothing and you could directly invest in dogs that are probably about ready to leave this incarnation and move into another one... showing them they are the Creator and maybe bringing them closer to harvest, or at least a little comfort during a difficult time).

You will know who is right to serve by following your heart, just as you did with your friend in jail.

[Unbound]

Imo, it's the people who aren't necessarily angels that really need the help.

[Matt1]

Giving to the homeless is a noble cause, helping those who are in need is a good service to others coming from the heart it is that simply in my understanding. It might be wiser to donate to places like a foodbank or homeless shelter who will be able to direct the funds appropriately. If one is simply helping the others out of a desire to be seen as doing good i would say that it is still a good service but is lacking in true green ray activation and is coming more from a Yellow Ray perspective. This can be seen i believe in Government officials,celebrities and big business doing charity work which still helps others but also benefits them directly through good publicity.

Researching the background of charities is also worthwhile before handing out money, i believe its best to know where its really going. I also believe that everything happens for a reason in life that it is catalyst, this is also worth considering. This type of question is a great one to find the balance between compassion and wisdom.

[upensmoke]

To answer your question ONLY YOU can decide if you should feel guilty or not, no one but you can answer a question like that.
If they're were angels they would understand your decsion not to give and they would be thankful that they could play a role in your catalyst. thats my opinion

I rarely if ever give money to a begger. The truth is most of them will spend it on alcohol or drugs. But I have no problem handing them food or water. instead of giving them money buy some apples and bananas and give them some food. read this story of a man who made 60k a year begging
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/23...94577.html

Trust me the people on the streets Don't need money they need wisdom. They need to raise their level of awareness so they don't have the need to beg. give a man a fish feed him for a day, teach him to fish, feed him for life.I personally believe an over abundance of compassion leads to ENABLING the one your being compassionate too.

there is an infinitie number of ways to help... be more creative, instead of just handing them money, try and truly help em or meditate on what will truly help em
you never know you might give a homeless man a book that can change is life.
(I'm not refering to the Law of One but it could help)

TL;DR version

Homeless people don't need money, they need the awareness, and knowledge to overcome the struggles that put them in that place. they need to grow

[Sabou]

I agree with so much of what you said upensmoke, I just find that I don't think it should be up to me how they choose to spend the money I offer. I usually try, if I have the time, to ask if there is anything they specifically need. Sometimes they say food, then i can do that, or sometimes they say toothbrush and other times they say any change I have. When it comes to giving them money, I try to think if I was in there position and some have been homeless for so long that money just might be the easiest thing for them to ask for. Whether they spend it on alcohol/cigarettes/drugs etc. is up to them, I mean I drink and have done those things before as well, so who says they cannot also do those things? I imagine they would enjoy it more, especially that it is basically below freezing every day now here, a little whiskey to warm the blood isn't such a bad idea... of course i'm not oblivious to the fallacies in my logic as well, and of course it would be great to do more for them especially if the opportunity presented itself, and maybe i am to blame for not providing that opportunity enough, but I do what I believe to be at least somewhat helpful and try to offer a smile or conversation if it seems fit. In the end, like you said.. it is up to you how you choose to feel about the situation and I just want to at least notice them and try and help them in what they think is right, whether or not it is the ultimate right thing to do. Like you suggested, maybe I will carry a few books in my bag from now on and see if they would like any of them to read, thanks for the idea

and if a homeless person ends up making 60k a year from begging, then, sweet! lol maybe they could pay their tuition for going to school for marketing or psychology lmao, I know that is very very unlikely in my town though.

much love!

[AnthroHeart]

Why are they homeless if they make 60k in a year? They should have a place to live.

[Jade]

A lot of that money probably went to hotels. I didn't read the article though because I try not to put a lot of weight into news stories that are discouraging the general public from giving/being compassionate. There will always be people who exploit the system, but that doesn't matter as the giver. To give freely and without expectation is the idea. What someone does with our generosity is not for us to judge, it's just another step in their life as an equal co-Creator.

[AnthroHeart]

I don't think we'll look at ourselves more favorably in the end if we give or do not give. We probably won't judge ourselves in any different light depending on what we choose. Because there is so much confusion here. It's hard to know what is right.

[Sabou]

I don't think we'll look at ourselves more favorably in the end if we give or do not give. We probably won't judge ourselves in any different light depending on what we choose. Because there is so much confusion here. It's hard to know what is right.

If by chance you walk past a homeless person and you can see the love in the situation, whether or not you are physically giving anything, you have done great service. I think the more we can see everyone and everyone as the creator and act from the heart with that knowledge we can do no wrong. If we cast judgement on others forgetting that we are one, then we may or may not be critical of ourselves for that. Of course there is leeway due to confusion, but we are the most critical on ourselves and hold ourselves to the highest standards, forgive yourself for sometimes we forget, and sometimes we know not what we do in our ignorance, the more we can unify our hearts and minds the more decisions we can make towards the light, we have infinite time for we are infinite beings and our progress never ends. Be easy, be kind, love all as we are one and don't be too harsh on yourself about your decisions.

[Stranger]

In my experience, consistency across interactions with others matters far more than isolated acts of charity. Remember that we are constantly making choices, including choosing our attitude toward others moment by moment. It is often the people closest to us that create the most continuous catalyst. Being able to react to that with kindness even when we feel we're being treated unfairly, or we're right and the other person is wrong, is what helps us find inner peace and make spiritual progress. By the same token, a loving and compassionate thought towards the homeless person, or the person who appears superior to us and we might be jealous of, or the person who appears inferior to us and we might be tempted to look down on - these are the currency of spiritual growth.

As third density critters, we are by definition very strongly biased toward "external" actions because only they appear real. In truth, external actions are only internal actions, because "external" is an illusion. Cultivate within yourself kindness, in attitude, thought and action, toward all other parts of yourself that you encounter in the world - people, trees, rocks, animals, unseen beings, guides, foods you eat - everything. Make it your top priority, your main goal in life. When you lose it again and again, find it again and again. Fill yourself with kindness, and you will find joy.

[Jade]

Bumping this with a suggestion with what I've found to be my newest charity outlet...

If anyone uses Facebook (as I'm sure many of you do), search for Facebook groups in your area. I've joined a few, "Free Items Des Moines" and "Pay It Forward Des Moines" are two off the top of my head. People either post their free stuff to give away, or post looking for things they need but are unable to pay for - clothes, food, small appliances, baby stuff. As it's Christmas time there is an influx of people looking for items they can give as gifts to their children, or free Christmas decorations to make their space a little more festive. Your mileage may vary, as I've found our local ones to be extremely active with lots of asking/giving going on. I've found it to be an awesome place for people to answer calls asking for help in ways that they are able, and it's a way to give one-on-one that is more than likely not supporting any nefarious activity.

[Diana]

First, about guilt in general. I know all the new agers talk about guilt being something not to feel. I have a few thoughts on that:

1. Whatever you feel, you feel. I wouldn't repress it, stuff it down, rationalize it, or justify it. It just is. It would be the task of the individual to let the truth surface within themselves concerning the origin of, or honest reasons for, the guilt.

2. We feel guilt for a reason. Just as we feel fear for a reason. Fear saves us from getting killed by a predator. Fear can consume people today because of media brainwashing for example. But don't throw fear out just because there is too much of it applied in inappropriate ways. Same for guilt.

Regarding guilty feelings about not helping the homeless.

I don't make any judgments. I don't listen to, or give any credence to all the talk about homeless people making a lot of money. I frankly don't even care. I don't care what they spend any money they get on, even if it's drugs/alcohol. It's a pretty low way to live anyway, and honestly, what do you see when you come across homeless people? I see mostly misery. That's beside the point however, because I am not here to judge them or their situations.

I give money freely when I have it. I just give it away with no strings. I just "share." I also do this with people I know when I am able. I don't mean to intimate that I just give all my money away—I don't. But I share what I have when I can.

It's pretty crazy to me at this time of year particularly. For most of my adult life I have eschewed the Christmas gift-giving frenzy to family and friends who really need nothing, in favor of donating to hungry people and animal suffering instead.

So if one feels guilt about not helping the homeless (and this is not directed at anyone in particular), then I think one should look at the guilty feeling and not dismiss it. I am also not saying anyone should give money to the homeless. But isn't it a good thing pangs of guilt arise when we see those less fortunate? Can we not see this as a step in connecting more, in seeing that all is one? We are very attached to our lifestyles, our stuff—and that's fine by me. But I do think we tend to isolate ourselves in our little worlds and keep out the uncomfortable bits (I do this as much as anyone). Shining light on those uncomfortable bits—which may be the great boon of the unwanted feeling, guilt—can only, in my opinion, be a good thing.