The Changes

A new granddaughter was recently born to me and my husband. Births strike me as renewed motivation to do all we can to make the world a kinder, saner, safer, healthier place.  We saw a poster recently that read Justice, not Just Us.   

Along these lines, here is a quotation from a spiritual teacher I have found provocative and exhortative:

 “When we wake up in the morning, so often our first thought is some variation of “What about me?’  If this thought drives our lives, fear and self-absorption rule us.  We are so fixated on our own happiness that our mind begins to shrink, and with it, the possibility of happiness.

What would real happiness be?  It would be egolessness, the lack of struggle, and a fundamental joy and sense of celebration, not only in our own happiness but also in the happiness of others.

Considering others is the basis of any spiritual and worldly success, if we define success as having a fulfilled, meaningful, and permanently happy mind.  If we help others, we will all find the happiness we want.”

                                    Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche

So... yesterday I was at Starbucks getting my usual coffee before starting work and I see this homeless person pick up some food and stand in line behind me.  Unfortunately, he decides to steal it by leaving when no one is looking.

I don't know why, but I ended up following him out and grabbing a hold of the food and telling him politely thats bad karma.  So we end up in a pushing match and grabbing each other out front of Starbucks.  For some reason, I didn't feel threatened by this guy.  I don't know why.  I just remember trying to calmly talk to him and tell him that stealing is not cool and it is bad for karma.  I told him that its about being honest.  He was yelling of course.  Screaming at me and yelling that why am I trying to be a good samaritan and mind my own business.  This is all happening while we are holding and pushing each other in a kind of stalemate in front of the store...

However, the funny thing is there are so many people around and they are just standing there watching this all happen.  It surprised me that no one came to help or break up the confrontation.  hatever happened to society?  Are people worried about getting hurt?  Are they so oblivious nowadays?  Do they not want to get involved because they consider it a hastle?

Eventually one of the Starbucks employees came out to help and the police ended up arresting the guy but then they let him go.  It made me think that no wonder no one helps anymore.

I wonder how our society has gotten to this point...