- The beggar covers her face with her left hand and holds her cup aloft for hours. The tall Parisian couple walk past without a glance. Right or wrong?
The social work approach adopted by many Christians in the West is that we should give to agencies that help the poor, and not encourage street begging. The typical Buddhist approach in Thailand is to be grateful to the beggar for providing an opportunity for tam boon -- making merit. That's why when the monks beg for their food every morning, they never say thanks but are thanked.