May everyone’s wishes come true ——
索达吉堪布精彩开示录
Highlights of questions and answers in Khenpo Sodargye’s teachings
Should we give money to beggars?
问：我有个困惑：现在骗子特别特别多，假如在路上遇到乞丐要钱，我是给他还是不给呢？Question: Here is my conundrum. These days swindling is very common. Suppose a beggar approaches me for money, should I or should I not give him some?
堪布答：佛教中并没有要求作布施时，连是不是骗子都不必观察，就一定要把财物都给他们。Khenpo: In practicing generosity, Buddhists are not required to give outright without checking to see if the beggar is an imposter.
一般而言，布施的时候，需要用智慧来抉择被施者是否真的贫困。In general, we need to discern if the receiver of our offering is really in need.If you find out that someone is a swindler, you can choose not to give.
但有些人，因为自己比较吝啬，便把所有的可怜人都看成骗子，这不太合理。On the other hand, some people through their own stinginess regard all pitiful people as phony. This is not right either.
Generally, you should be able to distinguish if the beggar is real or fake.
But if you just can’t tell, then make a decision based on your compassion at that moment.
If you have no brothers or sisters, would you still choose to become a monk?
Question: May I ask, do you have any siblings?
Question: Now suppose you had none. Would you still choose to become a monk?
问：为什么呢？因为中国文化强调“不孝有三，无后为大”，Question: Why is that? Traditional Chinese culture emphasizes, “There are three forms of unfilial conduct to parents, the worst of which is to bear no descendants.”Suppose you were an only child, wouldn’t your decision be deemed unfilial?”
堪布答：以前我出家时，家里还有一个弟弟、三个妹妹，Khenpo: When I decided to become a monk, there were one younger brother and three younger sisters in my family.
However, it was not because they were there that I had no qualms about relinquishing my responsibility to my parents.
You see, the cultural background of Tibet is somewhat different from that of Han China.
一般在我们藏地，家里出一个出家人，是无比光荣的事情。In Tibet, to have a family member enter the monastic order is considered a great honor for that family.
即使父母没有人养，他们晚年也可以到寺院附近，过安详的生活，不会有任何怨言。Even if parents have no one to look after them, in their old age they can move to the neighborhood near the monastery and live in peace. There is never a complaint.
其实，按照莲池大师的说法，真正的大孝，不一定是给父母房子、财物，而是应该对他们的生生世世负责。In fact, according to the Venerable Lian Chi, genuine filial piety is not necessarily to provide a house or material goods for one’s parents; rather, it is to take responsibility for their future lives.
From a superficial aspect, entering the monastic life seems to hamper the children’s ability to care for their parents at home,
但实际上，子女出家修行的功德，对父母绝对是有利的。but in truth, its merit will definitely benefit their parents.
在我们佛学院，有些汉族人出家，刚开始时父母也很不理解。At our academy, many Han parents initially refused to grant blessings to their newly ordained sons or daughters.但到了后来，这些父母接触了佛教后，慢慢开始学习，甚至自己也出家了。But later, these parents became interested in Buddhism and started to study it on a regular basis. In the end, some of them even took ordination themselves.
所以，我的回答很简单：无论我是独生子，还是有其他兄弟姊妹，由于明白了佛教可以给众生带来什么，所以都会选择这一条路。Thus, my answer is quite simple: Whether I am the only child or I have other siblings, I would still make the same choice to become a monk, because I know what Buddhism has to offer to sentient beings.
And this act is the ultimate way to repay my parents’ kindness.
Khenpo Sodargye《Achieve by Doing》
