Is Giving A Homeless Person $ For Drugs STO?

[john11:11]

Seriously. Not being facetious. I give homeless people money all the time, thinking I may be "polarizing" positively. Am I wrong?

[Diana]

I give money to the homeless all the time as well. I have no concern whether it is polarizing either way. I do it because I can. I don't care at all what they spend it on. If I give the money, it is s gift, and once it's left my hands and put into someone else's, it is theirs to do with as they wish. I have no judgments about that.

Even if that person I just gave money to goes into the closest Circle K and buys a bottle of whiskey, or buys a hit of speed, or whatever, I have no idea of that person's situation. For all I know that drink or that hit might be what that person needs just to get through the night. It isn't mine to control. 

For my part, I see a person in need. I help that person with a little money. That's all. I see why this is a question because of the idea of enabling. But the way to remove the "enabling" part is to not be attached to outcome, which is why I give money without wanting to control what is done with it.

[Glow]

Hi John,

I agree with Diana it's a call for aid and either you answer or don't.

I live in an area with a lot of panhandlers and it is an interesting catalyst to work with.

Illistrates ones biases, and who one finds easiest to love generously.

Myself I find really sweet, or obviously handicapped people loosen my wallet further than some who perhaps activate my own biases. Lots of meth users in the area and I admit they get a $5 which I know is a me problem where the kind and more visibly in need get more. Who am I to determine another's suffering or needs for relief. More work to do for me.

I have been reading a great book by Gabor Mate "In the realm of hungry ghosts" and its about his years working as an addiction specialist in the most drug addicted population in vancouver.  He talks about lots of cases and how they got there.

Saying not why the addiction but why the pain, so those who seek relief in such self destructive ways really come from trauma they could not surmount.
It is a great book and if you are finding this to be catalyst for you it may help you work with the energy to read it. He has lots of Youtube videos this one is on topic

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vMstO3U4...rMat%C3%A9

Is a long one.

Beautiful service - the center he worked at houses and feeds street living addicts, gives them medical care and do not even have expectations for them to get clean. They accept them as they are and offer what help the can to heal them in whatever ways they can.

[Dtris]

The giving of money by itself is not a polarizing act. I believe your intent is what matters, and outcome as well. If you lose a hundred, and someone picks it up and it helps save a sick family member, did you polarize from losing something? Similarly if you are giving as a means of manipulating others around you to believe you are a kind and philanthropic individual was it a positive act?

It seems from the material, like this quote from Ra about Lincoln,

This entity did not gain or lose karma by these activities due to its detachment from any outcome. Its attitude throughout was one of service to others, more especially to the downtrodden or enslaved. The polarity of the individual was somewhat, but not severely, lessened by the cumulative feelings and thought-forms which were created due to large numbers of entities leaving the physical plane due to trauma of battle.

From this we can see that outcome also matters to some extent. What is directly linked to the outcome is the Cumulative Feeling and Thought-Forms. The act of giving to the homeless is unlikely to create any negative feelings or thought forms that would negate the desire to be of service in regards to polarization.

[J.W.]

Dtris, right.. "detachment from any outcome."

Anything that brings "power" to an individual will create an outcome. To be negligence of this fact is the same as when Ra decided to "help" the Egyptian back then, now regret doing so and trying their best to take responsibility for the "help" they gave mankind back then.

Every action has consequences, there is no such thing is "fire-and-forget" like a rocket, or used condom.

If the logic is so, then there wouldn't be "L/L" research, or "bring4th." Ra would have just said "welp, that's on them," and left.

"Great power, comes with great responsibility." -Spiderboy's uncle.

Many times in my life, the "hard" and "uncomfortable" lessons are the one that benefited me the most, in compare with the one that grant "temporary" reliefs. I hated those that were hard on me back then, but looking back, they did me a huge favor for not showing mercy.

Of course there is a balance to it. The main take away is be responsible, you can be "detached" but if that was your family member or children, would you say the same thing as "I don't judge or care of the outcome?" I don't think so. Then again, aren't we all connected as in the "self" and "other-selves?"

Their outcome is not as "detached" as it may seem.

Now back to 3D philosophy and logic....

Ask the person what they need, and if it is food or clothing, go buy it for them, don't be lazy. If you are going to help, help all the way.

Someone once told me, "handing out money is a charitable act of a lazy person."

But hey, to each their own, if it makes you feel like a "kind and generous" person, by all means.

[Glow]

The giving of money by itself is not a polarizing act. I believe your intent is what matters, and outcome as well. If you lose a hundred, and someone picks it up and it helps save a sick family member, did you polarize from losing something? Similarly if you are giving as a means of manipulating others around you to believe you are a kind and philanthropic individual was it a positive act?

It seems from the material, like this quote from Ra about Lincoln,

This entity did not gain or lose karma by these activities due to its detachment from any outcome. Its attitude throughout was one of service to others, more especially to the downtrodden or enslaved. The polarity of the individual was somewhat, but not severely, lessened by the cumulative feelings and thought-forms which were created due to large numbers of entities leaving the physical plane due to trauma of battle.

From this we can see that outcome also matters to some extent. What is directly linked to the outcome is the Cumulative Feeling and Thought-Forms. The act of giving to the homeless is unlikely to create any negative feelings or thought forms that would negate the desire to be of service in regards to polarization.

That is an interesting point about motivation for giving. I wonder what the polarization effect of that would be, maybe the STS and STO aspect could in some part cancel each other out. Interesting points.

[Glow]

Dtris, right.. "detachment from any outcome."

Anything that brings "power" to an individual will create an outcome. To be negligence of this fact is the same as when Ra decided to "help" the Egyptian back then, now regret doing so and trying their best to take responsibility for the "help" they gave mankind back then.

I believe their regret had more to do with infringement and their alien technology making others believe them to be gods, there by creating a power distortion in egypt.

I am not sure that relates to offering aid when requested by an other self.

Ask the person what they need, and if it is food or clothing, go buy it for them, don't be lazy. If you are going to help, help all the way.

Someone once told me, "handing out money is a charitable act of a lazy person."  

But hey, to each their own, if it makes you feel like a "kind and generous" person, by all means.

I am not sure it is ever a one size fits all type of thing. For instance in my city the panhandlers stand at street lights on center medians of busy intersections. Generally that means a driver is on their way somewhere and has only a few seconds to respond or not.

I would personally doubt seriously many give so they can ''think themselves kind and generous".

For me for instance it has brought up many of my own personal blockages that need facing.

* the man who from a distance had a sign that read missing fingers and as I approached he was missing an entire hand and had 3 fingers on the other hand. I only saw the reality of his difficult situation as the light changed and he tried and thankfully succeeded in firmly but with difficulty grabbing the bills and I had to make my left turn. I thought about him for months and never saw him again, wishing I had taken more out of my wallet.

*the fellow who I gave money to for months till one day he tried to manipulate me at a red light into letting him move in with me.
When I talked with him further about UBI I discovered he made more than I do with his panhandling, and my life is in danger on a daily basis while I work. I am still shaking my head on that one. He is homeless because he unfortunately has no money management skills, potentially some unaddressed mental illness as he got rather offended when I mentioned we made the similar monthly but I share expenses and suggested a room mate might be a solution to his homelessness. It taught me money alone isn't really the answer, it's a much bigger issue. And I felt so stupid and overly trusting for months I actually avoided panhandlers for a while I was felt I couldn't trust my discernment. Catalyst.

*the young functional looking young woman mentioned above that I gave less than I normally do to because of her healthy minus the meth teeth appearance. I honestly had a running dialogue facing my inner shadow as I went from "well she looks healthy, she could work, to ah her teeth, she could still work, to me experiencing another part of myself step in and firmly say If she is traumatized enough to be doing meth, she is traumatized and needs love not further scrutiny and traumatization I had to process shame at that shadow that instead wanted to judge.

Instead of feel good experience - giving for me is facing catalyst. One part of me feels if I were truly expressing god at the deepest I know GOD I would take them in to live with me and care for them. We are one after all.

The wiser part realizes I would not be functional to work myself, and couldn't house any of us if I did that as I am still quite sensitive to other people experiencing volatile unsettled emotions. So I inner cringe when I come across a new panhandler person, wondering what the experience is going to expose within me.

On the other side there has been great gifts of their or the universes service.

2 come to mind

1 there is this man obviously drunk with spirit, like he ooozes love, ooozes it as I don't even have a red light to stop and stick money out the window. The love still hits as I drive by. He is in service to others just radiating gods love. I don't know how people don't just circle there over and over. He couldn't work. Like the guru on the mountain he is not really virbrating in 3D just grounding light here.

2. It was an unbearably hot day, deadly, disgusting, I work outside and had heat stroke so was picking up something to settle my stomach between stops. The place I wanted to go was closed so I detoured to a healthy drive through nearby. As I was driving in a fellow in the median to the parking area with a sign. Drenched in sweat, no shade, clearly no change of clothes or electrolytes.

I went through the drive through, ordered 2 meals, one for him, and while I waited I started packing up a bag of what I could spare, water electrolyte packages, protein bars. I cant remember but I evidently was at it a while so here is the gift. The act of GOD.

As I pulled up to the window they apologized for taking so long,(5 minutes max) handed me my meals, and gave two separate vouchers for a free meal. Not buy one, get one, Two separate gifts of free meals. I gave one. The universe gave him 2 more meals he could put in his pocket for later. That experience broke my heart.

I have been going to that place for 30 years, waited A LOT never saw a voucher before or since. Those were gifts of a hug from the universe for me, and packable healthy food for an other self provided directly by god.

It's a mixed bag some blessings some presenting catalyst. We learn and refine ourselves in relation to one another and this is a potent opportunity for catalyst for me.

My experience anyways.

Diana is obviously WAY ahead of me on this. I am slogging my way through it though. I come from poverty so it's possible that is why it hurts me so much to see. I am not detached but I do my best to face what is presented.

[Sacred Fool]

Seriously.  Not being facetious.  I give homeless people money all the time, thinking I may be "polarizing" positively.  Am I wrong?

I suppose there might be some polarization going on there.  So far as I am aware, though, polarization is not about money, it's about love.  I'm guessing the better polarization indicator is feeling to what degree you are offering true love.
  

[Black Dragon]

If I absolutely knew the person was going to spend it on a hard drug like heroine, meth, etc. that would continue to facilitate their self destruction(but how can you really know unless their obviously messed up at the time, right?), I wouldn't give them money-I'd send them love and/or talk to them, try to help them in a practical way if that was possible or they were receptive. If not, at least pray for them and send them love.

Barring that, I'd give them money. I always give money to the homeless when I can and the opportunity presents itself. Even if they are just going to go gamble or buy beer or weed or something, whatever. If it makes them happy for one more night of relief in which maybe they can be inspired to progress in life, or if not that at least be comfortable-I'm all for it. If I just have no clue what they will use it for and there's always that off-chance it's something not good for them, I'll still give them money with the best of intentions on my part and leave it to their free will what they do with it.

[unity100]

Totally depends on the situation.

If the person is going to die from lack of that drug or if the person has no immediate way out of the situation, then giving money for drug or providing that drug (like SF or Portugal does) is a good approach.

What is needed is to temporarily fix the situation, and then get the person help for long term in the manner of social programs, psychologists and the like.

[J.W.]

Totally depends on the situation.

If the person is going to die from lack of that drug, no. If the person has no way out, no.

What is needed in such situations is to temporarily fix the situation, and get person help for long term in the manner of social programs, psychologists and the like.

This response made the most sense,

As an EMT and someone that worked in the medical field, the general population doesn't understand that "temporary relief" will send a homeless person to the ER table gagging and convulsing from their addiction. (This is just one example.) Eventually they will die from their addiction, so if what most of you meant is that "hey at least they die happy and get to do what they wanted." Then you need to take one day off of your precious life and watch the horror that addicts has to go through in front of your eyes before you can understand what that world is like.

Freewill is one thing, but when it is shackled to the "devil" and it's "addiction" ... that is not freewill of that individual. I love the "hero" mentality and "charity" mindset from most of you guys on here about helping homeless folks, but from a professional viewpoint, providing them with basic necessity like food and warmth is enough.

Again, money is powerful and can make or destroy a person. For someone that's an "addict," the outcome will always be destruction. Please be mindful of your action and read about public health, or some sort of academic research literature on how to "help" the homeless folks.

God, blind faith, and respecting "free will" is commendable, but "common sense" needs to start coming in at some point.

Ever heard of those cruel jokes (some aren't jokes, but actual real stories.) about Christians missionaries doing "god's work" in middle of Africa? and ended up being butchered and sold into the underworld?
I bet you in their mind at the time was all about "helping" too.

There is a fine line between "helping" and "ignorance."

Food, Shelter, and someone to listen to, if you are not a professional. Then direct them to resources that are available to help them for the long haul.

This is the real help, not "oh s***, the light is turning green, here's some money dude, have fun!"

Turn your effing car around, park, get some food for the person, cross the street and hand it to them.

[unity100]

I think i was misunderstood.

I said that if the person is going to die from lack of the drug, or overdose of the drug if s/he was not given a drug, i meant that the drug should be given.

Temporary relief, addressing the immediate situation, then addressing the actual, underlying problem behind the need for drug usage -> thats the route. The 'Portugal method', if you will.

Not at all leaving people be to 'avoid enabling addiction'. The addiction rarely exists for addiction's sake - in majority of cases, it is an escape from something intolerable and unbearable.

[J.W.]

Glow,

The "regret" from Ra isn't just because they were made into "gods" and disrupted the "power distortion."

I don't know how you twist this up into that statement.

Let me simplify, Ra came, Ra tried to teach the "Law of One" and gave human the "tech."  

Humans started grossly abusing the "tech" and used the teaching for bad intentions.

So yes, Ra came, Ra did something that was "charitable" and the receiver of this charitable act... which was us.. humans, used and abused it for the wrong reasons.  

Ra even said that they don't come around and pass out the tech like free candies anymore because of this. Because they realized that we don't use it for the greater good.

Now we put this next to the above statement that I made. "Be responsible with power, which could be money, knowledge, etc. etc." Because you don't know if your charitable act can cause more harm than good.

Hope that was cut clear and dry.

[J.W.]

I think i was misunderstood.

I said that if the person is going to die from lack of the drug, or overdose of the drug if s/he was not given a drug, i meant that the drug should be given.

Temporary relief, addressing the immediate situation, then addressing the actual, underlying problem behind the need for drug usage -> thats the route. The 'Portugal method', if you will.

Not at all leaving people be to 'avoid enabling addiction'. The addiction rarely exists for addiction's sake - in majority of cases, it is an escape from something intolerable and unbearable.

No, I understood you

and I am aware that other nations (outside of NA and US) has facilities that helps addicts by "controlled" dosage and slowly get them off of their vices. Therefore giving them a "temporary relief" may help them, because quitting cold turkey or not having the drug all of a sudden can also cause death by sudden withdrawal.

What I meant in my response to you was that, this is something that professionals should handle, giving a junkie cash to get his/her next hit is usually fatal in some cases. That part of my response wasn't directed at your statement. I should have separated my response to you and the general. My apology.

Also, of course, under every pain, addiction, and suffering, there is a "cause" or "trauma"

[J.W.]

Last but not least, staying back on track with OP and the topic

john11:11

The questions itself.... If I may be blunt... and rephrase what seems to be the true query. And it seems to be in 2 parts, one is asking specifically about giving someone money for drugs... and the other is about earning STO "points."

The 1st question: giving homeless person money for drug? ..... this is too obvious.. it is a no.... would you give your kids or your loved ones money for drugs?

The 2nd question: basically you are asking do you earn STO "points" for giving money to the homeless..... I don't see "facetious" being in this query at all...
But I do think that the way you see "STO path" may be somewhat misunderstood.

"helping" other-self is tricky. But if you can place yourself in their 3D vessel/path, this might help.

I.E.: Let's say your good friend is overweight, and because you care and love him/her, you want to help.

A: you can give them a chocolate cake knowing they'd be happy. You spend 12 bucks for the cake and one day to hang out with them.
B: you motivate them to work out and take care of their health, but you need to sacrifice your time and money to do this.

Both choices has STO path ingrained in them, but it is the level of "understanding" of the "self" and "other-self" that would yield the better outcome.

If you were in your friend's 3D body, I bet that you know damn well you don't need another chocolate cake, and you need to get your act together. Therefore, understanding this may help you lean towards option B and realizing that "if I was in their shoe, this would help me in the long run." type of deal.

How to translate this understanding and to produce a genuine "service" is the struggle most STO paths must traverse.


NOW, if you start going around doing good deeds because you want to go to a positive 4th density.... well... lol.... That's another story.

After you "ding" out of this life, Genghis Khan may greet you and ask if you want a "shipping clerk" position at the new density. Just a .. joke.

Anyways.. I find it a bit ironic that 11:11 is a verse in the bible that says "In this verse, Jeremiah grimly tells the people that something terrible is headed their way as a result of sinning against God, and they won't be able to escape it no matter what they do."

I know you chose 11:11 as an angel number, but don't get caught up in the vicious cycle john...

help others because you genuinely want to, without expectation of return, and sometime even willing to sacrifice some 3D illusions. The beauty of this is that there are many ways to go about it. But remember, "feeling" good about it is the tertiary effect of such action.

The primary is truly being in the position of the person you are "helping" and ask yourself, would this be best for me.. him... her.. they... us...

With much light, john...

[Aion]

*Edited for further clarity*

I'm going to chime in here because where I live is currently going through an "Opioid Epidemic" as it is being called by the province, being especially fueled by the pandemic.

I have numerous family and friends who are community support workers and actively engaging this situation on the 'front lines'.
We have a very challenging homelessness and addict problem that is very much 'taking over' the downtown core. Very common to see people openly using needles on the sidewalks.
From my homeless friends I have learned that things on the street have only become more vicious and difficult, more competition and more violence.
There is a major gang presence in our city, it is certainly part of what fuels this situation. Many individuals turn to thievery to survive or in order to pay their debts to gangs.
This is a very under discussed element to this topic.

To the notion that some food and warmth is enough to help most people on their way, I don't think it is really all that simple a lot of times.

Over a year ago there was a long period of time where there was a large tent encampment set up by homeless people to protest the lack of affordable housing.
Over time the gangs came in, drugs started to circulate more, it was learned there was an underaged girl being prostituted around. Eventually there was a fire or two.

The city set up a temporary modular housing in order to try and transition people off the street. Numerous people flat out rejected the offer, it wasn't what they wanted.
I have a couple friends who ended up working in those housings, and essentially, the lifestyle continued the exact same just inside rather than outside. I saw pictures of rooms full of stolen bikes, for example.

A lot of homeless people around here will actually refute you if you try to give them food and then demand money. If you give food to one and then not another, often arguments will ensue.
If you give them a small amount of money but they want more, they may not leave you alone. Mental health challenges are a huge part of many individuals' homelessness.

So why do I highlight all this?

To show that it is a little silly to place so much weight on the attempt of an individual to be generous in the face of a problem that can only be addressed on a large systematic scale.
(Also, to add, to illustrate the complexity of this issue, especially in my hometown.)

If we're talking about individual polarization, this notion that some action needs to be "perfectly correct" or in some way "100% selfless" I think is completely missing the mark.

Polarization is about how one uses catalyst.

46.9 ▶ Questioner: Certainly.

Ra: The entity polarizing positively perceives the anger. This entity, if using this catalyst mentally, blesses and loves this anger in itself. It then intensifies this anger consciously in mind alone until the folly of this red-ray energy is perceived not as folly in itself but as energy subject to spiritual entropy due to the randomness of energy being used.

Positive orientation then provides the will and faith to continue this mentally intense experience of letting the anger be understood, accepted, and integrated with the mind/body/spirit complex. The other-self which is the object of anger is thus transformed into an object of acceptance, understanding, and accommodation, all being reintegrated using the great energy which anger began.

The negatively oriented mind/body/spirit complex will use this anger in a similarly conscious fashion, refusing to accept the undirected or random energy of anger and instead, through will and faith, funneling this energy into a practical means of venting the negative aspect of this emotion so as to obtain control over other-self, or otherwise control the situation causing anger.

Control is the key to negatively polarized use of catalyst. Acceptance is the key to positively polarized use of catalyst. Between these polarities lies the potential for this random and undirected energy creating a bodily complex analog of what you call the cancerous growth of tissue.

You only polarize when you use catalyst. EVERYTHING is catalyst.

93.11 ▶ Questioner: I would like, if possible, an example of the activity we call Catalyst of the Mind in a particular individual undergoing this process. Could Ra give an example of that?

Ra: I am Ra. All that assaults your senses is catalyst. We, in speaking to this support group through this instrument, offer catalyst. The configurations of each in the group of body offer catalyst through comfort/discomfort. In fact all that is unprocessed that has come before the notice of a mind/body/spirit complex is catalyst.

Ergo, absolutely every experience no matter how minute can be used towards positive polarization.

Furthermore, the service that each offers is totally unique, so getting in to a "dick measuring contest" (to use scientific nomenclature *note the sarcasm*) of "real" generosity vs "ego" generosity seems to me to completely miss this point as it inevitably leads to endless projection.

Speaking to the intention of your question, the best way for each seeker in third density to be of service to others is unique to that mind/body/spirit complex. This means that the mind/body/spirit complex must then seek within itself the intelligence of its own discernment as to the way it may best serve other-selves. This will be different for each. There is no best. There is no generalization. Nothing is known.

So if you are in alignment with yourself, feel you are acting in your highest self and are offering a service you feel genuine about, then yes, I believe you are polarizing in that moment. Significantly so? That I'm not sure of.
I don't think it has anything to do with the way anybody else interprets your actions. That is THEIR catalyst to use positively or negatively.

The caveat is that nobody is polarizing in one direction at all times. We are in constant fluctuation so yes, what goes up may come down at some point. I don't think the idea is to be perfectly polarizing positively all the time but to net try and gain more than you lose. So, would giving someone money for drugs polarize you positively? Maybe slightly, but it could also lead to a loss of polarity. The tricky factor is that you only have the choice of whether or not to give the money, after that you have no control over what the person will do with it. Maybe they actually end up using the money for something beneficial to their bodies/minds, they may not. Maybe nobody gives them any money so they get desperate and decide to break in to a house. You don't really know.

Net sum, I think there isn't a lot of polarity to be gained or lost in this situation as there are so many complicating factors. Ultimately, I don't think it is an effective way to go about polarization one way or the other.
You are probably better off volunteering at a soup kitchen or something along those lines.

Truth is, I am not sure exactly who or what gets to define "service" when it comes to polarization, I think everybody is merely speculating on that.

There was actually a study done here in BC which gave out money for free to homeless people (mind you it was 'recently' homeless people, not those already entrenched) and is an ongoing project.

https://forsocialchange.org/new-leaf-project-overview

I think ultimately though there needs to be much more support available and quite simply the scale of the measure doesn't match the need. I think individual effort can best be put towards aiding a collective effort.

So yeah, just my two-bits there.

[Ray711]

I agree with Diana, and I would just like to add that an important part in giving money to the homeless, I think, is to communicate to them the notion that somebody cares enough to at least do this small act for them. I would imagine that it's easy to fall into despair under such circumstances, and to be heavily tempted by negative thoughts in the line of "no one cares". I feel that lessening this load is a big help already, even if that money ends up being spent on drugs.

[Patrick]

That money being a gift can be used however they like. For instance, I pay my taxes and very often I do not agree how it is spent. Yet I do not feel responsible for how my taxes are misused.

[Dtris]

"helping" other-self is tricky. But if you can place yourself in their 3D vessel/path, this might help.

I.E.: Let's say your good friend is overweight, and because you care and love him/her, you want to help.

A: you can give them a chocolate cake knowing they'd be happy. You spend 12 bucks for the cake and one day to hang out with them.
B: you motivate them to work out and take care of their health, but you need to sacrifice your time and money to do this.

Both choices has STO path ingrained in them, but it is the level of "understanding" of the "self" and "other-self" that would yield the better outcome.

If you were in your friend's 3D body, I bet that you know damn well you don't need another chocolate cake, and you need to get your act together. Therefore, understanding this may help you lean towards option B and realizing that "if I was in their shoe, this would help me in the long run." type of deal.

How to translate this understanding and to produce a genuine "service" is the struggle most STO paths must traverse.

I am going to comment here as this is something important. Your fat friends, know they are fat. Your alcoholic friends, usually know they are an alcoholic, same for smokers and drug users. Drug users can be the most difficult to be self aware of since often the drug is prescribed or used to self medicate.

You may call your friend or relative fat, fatty, pig, tub o' lovin, fire truck when wearing red, or any other number of names to try to help them with "tough love". It does not work, trust me.

You may help your fat friend by supplying food, always appreciated in the short term, still not helpful.

You may offer dieting tips, weight loss advice, work out tips, etc. Also not helpful.

The overweight person, same as the addict of any substance, will only make the positive changes when they are ready. NOTHING you do will "change" them. Once a person makes the sincere decision to change themselves, and give up a part of the ego which they use for protection and succor, only then will they change, and it will be inevitable.

If you truly want to help someone who has any of these problems, the only thing you can do is Love them, make sure they know they are loved, and that you deeply care for their well-being. That alone is the only way you can help someone change themselves for the better. When they do change they will usually need support, acknowledging their change and being positive is enough for most people.

[Glow]

Dtris I really loved that post. It resonated beautifully as wisdom informed love.

You basically just summarized a lot of the book I was talking about. He includes busyness, and shopping and all types of addictions but it all leads back to what you said.

[Aion]

I feel I should mention that it's actually not in my personal habit to give homeless people around here money because I know a lot of it ends up going back in to fueling the 'underworld' even if not spent directly on drugs, so there has to be discernment regarding the local environment. I usually offer food if I am able to or most often I just try to nod, smile and acknowledge. As Dtris said, a little bit of love can go a long way. However, that can also be tricky, because sometimes there are people who will see someone who looks generous and try to take advantage. This has happened with my fiance who is by nature a very compassionate person.

While I don't think it is fruitful to spend time comparing "good deeds", it's important to be aware of the environment you are acting in.

There are a lot of groups of homeless people here rather than solitary so there is something of a homeless 'culture' here. Where I live is a very popular place for transients and travelers, we see a big influx during the summers. I don't judge these people, lots of them are great people, a lot of them are suffering and deserve compassion and care. There are definitely a lot of variables to the situation and every person and their situation is unique so if you're going to be generous I would do it without thinking of polarization and to be wise about it if you can.

I should also mention I just live in a medium size port city, and while this is a difficult issue, where I live is beautiful and there are lots of great people, so it's still home to me and unlike some of the people who live here I don't look down on people who are desperate, suffering or just trying to survive whether that be physically, mentally or emotionally.

[Jade]

I've straight up given homeless people drugs plenty of times before. Marijuana, if that counts. Honestly I've had people get more excited to get a bud or a joint, or hot food, than cash. I give cash most often as I'm more likely to be driving around with it but a small amount of marijuana has always brought the warmest and most gracious/excited smiles.

It's important to realize that most street drugs are just stronger forms of pharmaceuticals. Most of the time these people are self medicating either psychological or physical injuries and don't have access to real doctors. Alcohol is the most available "medication" but it also has terrible side effects. I feel like giving someone weed will give them at least an evening where they might not have to drink as much to get rid of their pain.

[Aion]

I wish I could afford to hand out weed, I'd happily do that and I'm sure plenty would be stoked for that. Unfortunately, I usually am only able to get enough for my own chronic pain management.

It's also true that a lot of people end up on street drugs after being given opioid prescriptions, developing an addiction and then being taken off of them.

[Jade]

I'm lucky to live in Colorado. Plenty of cheap weed, and totally legal to give it away to other adults.

[Aion]

I live in BC so I definitely share a lot of weed, but unfortunately it's not exactly "cheap" (or at least, if it is, the quality is usually lacking).
I actually typically use concentrates because I find smoking a lot worse on my lungs than vaporizing, so most bud doesn't really cut it for me.
I guess on that note, I pretty much save bud for sharing with others!

[Plenum]

Posts have been split into a new thread.

Relevant discussion can continue there.

Thanks!

Vaping, and health concerns
https://www.bring4th.org/forums/showthre...?tid=18732

[Ohr Ein Sof]

Totally depends on the situation.

If the person is going to die from lack of that drug, no. If the person has no way out, no.

What is needed in such situations is to temporarily fix the situation, and get person help for long term in the manner of social programs, psychologists and the like.

This response made the most sense,

As an EMT and someone that worked in the medical field, the general population doesn't understand that "temporary relief" will send a homeless person to the ER table gagging and convulsing from their addiction. (This is just one example.) Eventually they will die from their addiction, so if what most of you meant is that "hey at least they die happy and get to do what they wanted." Then you need to take one day off of your precious life and watch the horror that addicts has to go through in front of your eyes before you can understand what that world is like.

Freewill is one thing, but when it is shackled to the "devil" and it's "addiction" ... that is not freewill of that individual. I love the "hero" mentality and "charity" mindset from most of you guys on here about helping homeless folks, but from a professional viewpoint, providing them with basic necessity like food and warmth is enough.

Again, money is powerful and can make or destroy a person. For someone that's an "addict," the outcome will always be destruction. Please be mindful of your action and read about public health, or some sort of academic research literature on how to "help" the homeless folks.

God, blind faith, and respecting "free will" is commendable, but "common sense" needs to start coming in at some point.

Ever heard of those cruel jokes (some aren't jokes, but actual real stories.) about Christians missionaries doing "god's work" in middle of Africa? and ended up being butchered and sold into the underworld?
I bet you in their mind at the time was all about "helping" too.

There is a fine line between "helping" and "ignorance."

Food, Shelter, and someone to listen to, if you are not a professional. Then direct them to resources that are available to help them for the long haul.

This is the real help, not "oh s***, the light is turning green, here's some money dude, have fun!"

Turn your effing car around, park, get some food for the person, cross the street and hand it to them.

Well then, it is all experience and some of us will do such things as hand a drug addict a $20.00 bill knowing they may take the money to get high; we may be unaware of the true nature of addiction and its consequences.
I saw a homeless man drink from a cup that he dug out of the trash once. It broke my heart. I didn't know his backstory and to be honest, I didn't care. I took the last $15.00 from my wallet and told him to get a meal. He may have been an alcoholic or a drug addict, I didn't care. I still don't care. It is none of my business how he lives his life or what he did with my gift of love is my take on it. I saw hunger. I saw a human suffer. So, I did what I thought at the time was best. People make mistakes, people enable one another and as far as I am concerned, there are no real mistakes although, there will be delusions and half-truths. But, that is exactly why we are here is to work these things out for ourselves and hopefully gain some understanding about who we truly are as well.
There will be some of us that have already experienced this with a loved one or a stranger. If we knew better, we would do better.

[David_1]

   Is giving cash for drugs to a homeless person service to others?
   Is giving a young child to a pedophile service to others?
   I have had the blessing of having known people who worked extensively with homeless people, and they told me that you never never ever ever give cash to a homeless person, because cash is not what they need.
   If a homeless person is hungry, you can buy them a sandwich and a bottle of water, or give them an apple and a bottle of water, or a box of crackers and a bottle of water.
   If a homeless person needs socks, you can give them socks.
   If a homeless person needs a jacket, you can give them a jacket.
   Sometimes it helps them to just sit with them and listen to their story.
   The use of drugs provides a gateway for demonic attachment.  One of the reasons why people who do not need marijuana for medical survival want to smoke it, is because the beginnings of demonic attachment feel delightful.

[Patrick]

...The use of drugs provides a gateway for demonic attachment...

You can also choose to see it from a positive point of view.  Doing so actually makes it so.  The same as choosing to see it negatively, it actually makes it so...

[Jade]

   Is giving cash for drugs to a homeless person service to others?
   Is giving a young child to a pedophile service to others?
   I have had the blessing of having known people who worked extensively with homeless people, and they told me that you never never ever ever give cash to a homeless person, because cash is not what they need.
   If a homeless person is hungry, you can buy them a sandwich and a bottle of water, or give them an apple and a bottle of water, or a box of crackers and a bottle of water.
   If a homeless person needs socks, you can give them socks.
   If a homeless person needs a jacket, you can give them a jacket.
   Sometimes it helps them to just sit with them and listen to their story.
   The use of drugs provides a gateway for demonic attachment.  One of the reasons why people who do not need marijuana for medical survival want to smoke it, is because the beginnings of demonic attachment feel delightful.

I hope this is a joke. Being homeless or being an addict is not a moral failing like someone who abuses children. To compare the two is absolutely heinous. In fact most people are addicted to something, be it food, caffeine, prescription drugs, television, internet outrage, etc etc. Is giving an overweight person a piece of cake the same as giving a child to a pedophile? Is it a demon that makes them overeat? 

I've smoked marijuana for 14 years, am I someone who seems to have a demonic attachment? Does Aion appear to be someone who has a demonic attachment? Heck, even Carla smoked marijuana, do you think she had a demonic attachment? I would argue that absolutely every homeless person needs medical help for either physical or mental ailments. Do you think giving someone Xanax for anxiety or depression is automatically better than marijuana because a doctor has written a prescription? Because I've experienced both and let me tell you, one of these things causes actual brain damage and the other is a plant that has been used by positively oriented people for thousands of years. Or are you the judge on whether someone "needs" medicine or not and therefore the judge of who gets demonic attachment from smoking an herb? 

Homeless people need compassion and there is nothing wrong with giving them cash. Pretending like giving cash is a problem is just an excuse to be stingy and without compassion for their constant, daily suffering. Plus, a homeless person can still trade socks or a sandwich for drugs if that's what they feel they need the most in the moment. Places where drugs have been decriminalized and even offered for free to addicts have a higher rate of healing addiction than places that perpetuate the shame and stigma of having an addiction. Just because you know people who have worked with homeless people doesn't mean you are an expert by any means, in fact you sound extremely ignorant about this issue.