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
There are two persons in need, yet I have only enough money to help one. What should I do?
问：我偶尔会参加一些公益活动，见到了许多需要帮助的孩子。Question: I have occasionally participated in charitable activities where I’ve met many needy children.
如果有两个孩子同时需要救助，一个治愈的希望大，一个希望小，而一笔资金只能帮助一个孩子时，许多人就会选希望大的孩子。In a scenario when a donation can help only one of two sick children, many people choose to help the one with a better chance to recover.
I feel it’s unfair to the other child, as every life is equally precious.
请问，如果从佛教的慈悲观出发，您会作怎样的选择？为什么？May I ask: what would you do in this situation, and why?
Khenpo: This indeed is a very tough situation!
I’ve encountered such a scenario not too long ago.
有一次，我遇到两个病人，一个说是癌症晚期，没办法救了；一个还有活下去的希望。Once there were two patients: One had terminal, incurable cancer; the other had a better chance to live.
当时，施主只能资助一个人的治疗费，他们就问我怎么办。At that time the benefactor’s money was sufficient to treat only one patient, and they asked me what to do.In essence, every life is equal.
但当时医生已下“病危通知书”了，说那个人病入膏肓、无药可救了，把钱花在他身上也是杯水车薪；But by then the doctors had already declared that the first patient was critically ill and to spend money on him wouldn’t accomplish much.
而另一个人，医生说还有一分希望。后来，我们经过共同商量，决定把钱用在另一个人身上。The other patient, however, still had some hope, so we decided to donate toward his care.从个人的角度讲，我们跟这两个病人非亲非故，对他们完全是平等的。Personally, we were completely impartial, as we are neither relatives nor friends of these two patients.
可是若以医生的语言为依据，为了把钱花在刀刃上，不辜负施主的一番托付，我们只好作出了取舍。We could only rely on the doctor’s words and apply the money entrusted to us in the most efficient way.
的确，没过两天，癌症晚期的病人就去世了，万一钱用在了他身上，希望也不是很大。Indeed, the patient with terminal cancer died in two days. Had the money been used for him, it would have made little difference.在我们的人生旅途中，常常会遇到这种情况，此时，一定要跟大家共同商量。We’ll often encounter such dilemmas in our life’s journey and in this situation, it’s best to discuss the matter with others.
Democracy also has a place in Buddhism.
世间人“少数服从多数”的原则，跟佛教的羯磨仪轨比较吻合。The worldly principle of “the minority yielding to the majority” agrees well with the Buddhist code of conduct that stipulates monastics should come together as a group to discuss issues and make decisions.
In the case above, had I been forced to make a decision alone, I am afraid that the karmic burden incurred would have been too much for me to bear.
所以，在这些问题上，大家还是要有民主意识，跟相关人员来商量决定。Therefore, it’s better to think in a democratic way on these issues and seek consensus among the people involved.
What do we do if we chance upon a person needing help while we’re on the way to somewhere else?
问：我是哲学系的老师，搞西方哲学的，但对佛教特别感兴趣。Question: I am a teacher in the Department of Philosophy. My major is Western Philosophy, yet I am quite attracted to Buddhism.
我有一个困惑：比如我走在路上时，遇到一个人需要帮助，但我又有特别紧急的事要去做。This is what puzzles me. Suppose I am in a hurry to handle something extremely urgent. On my way there I come across a person who needs help.
如果我帮他，就会耽误非常重要的事情；如果不耽误事情，就没法救他，这该怎么办？If I pause to assist, I’ll jeopardize this other important matter, but if I don’t stop, I cannot save this person. What should I do?
The key to this issue is to check how strong your altruistic motivation is.
尤其当别人遇到生命危险时，假如你的利他心特别重，那么即使自己的事情耽误了，也会想方设法去救他。In a situation when another’s life is at stake and you have a strong sense of altruism, just go ahead and help the best you can, even if it means deferring your own important affairs.
反之，一个人利他心不重的话，就算没什么要紧的事，也会前前后后顾忌很多，不愿意伸出援手。On the other hand, a person with a weak sense of altruism will hesitate to help with anything, even if there are no other urgent matters waiting.所以，应该怎么去抉择，这个很难一概而论，要视每个人对他人的爱重程度来定。Therefore, it’s difficult to generalize how to respond. What counts is the magnitude of each person’s altruism.Khenpo Sodargye《Achieve by Doing》
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