An Initiative By A Local Aberdeen Resident
I am sure there are some of you that have become as infuriated as I have about beggars coming to the door asking for work, bread and money. There is a great anger that arises when we feel helpless. This anger arises within us not because we are bad people, but because we see no way to address simple predicaments like beggars continually banging on our door. We know that giving bread or money makes no difference. We know they will just be back the next day, showing up sometimes disrespectfully at any hour and even shouting at the door when ignored. We know that free hand-outs are like pouring our energy into a bottomless pit. These are the people politicians always promise to help when they campaign – but whom they usually ignore once they take power. Then we have to deal with the fallout.
Political parties do not address this issue – and never will – because there are no points or profits to be made from helping those that have fallen through the cracks. We also know, because of the current state of our world, that this problem is only going to grow. It’s much like the problem we have with litter – with the paper, plastic bottles, and plastic bags blowing around our Karoo towns. Spiritually disconnected people do not care about keeping the world clean, even when they have all the power and funds to run it.
For months now I prayed hard about this issue. Not a day goes by when I am not faced with it at my front door. Since I moved to Aberdeen, I have felt there is an opportunity here that I simply cannot see – most likely because of my own anger and sense of helplessness in the face of this plight. So I prayed about it. Then, one night, I was shown what I am to do. Let me share with you what I now do as a response – not a reaction – to this predicament.
I have purchased a few rolls of strong black garbage bags. I also have a stapler and two different color pieces of cardboard. Now, when someone comes to my door asking for work, food or money, I say the following:
“Do you really want work, money and food? If you do, I have it for you. But you must listen very carefully to what I say, because if you do not do this correctly, I will not pay you one cent for what you do. Here are two black bags. You see I have marked them differently. [I show them that each has a different color piece of cardboard stapled to the bottom corner.] In this one you put paper only. If you put anything else in it, I won’t pay you for it. In this other one you put plastic bags and plastic bottles only. If you put anything else in it, I won’t pay you. You are now to walk around the town and fill these bags with the paper and plastic that is lying around. When the bags are full, bring them back to me, and I will check them. If the bags are torn or broken in any way, I will not pay you – so make sure you do not catch them on a thorn bush or on a fence. If you have done as you are asked, and bring the bags back full, I will give you R10 for each. So you can earn R20 today. This will buy you food. Also, while you are walking around picking up the paper and plastic, I want you to try and answer a question I have for you. If you answer it correctly, I will give you R20 more. The question is: “What am I?” Not who am I, but what am I?"
The first thing that happens is this instantly sorts out those who actually want work from those who are simply looking for free handouts. Those simply seeking free handouts will leave and not return to your door. Secondly, it provides activity for those who are standing around all day festering hopelessly in their own thoughts and emotions. Thirdly, it provides enough income for a meal. Fourthly, it removes the sense of frustration at not being able to respond to those sincerely seeking help. Fifthly, it addresses the pollution in the immediate environment. But, it also sets something else in motion…
This is because of the question: “What am I?” This is the most fundamentally empowering question that can be placed within the mind and heart of a human being. This is a question no government, religious, educational, or economic organization ever places in the minds and hearts of its people. By answering it, an individual is automatically freed from any level of spiritual disconnection and suffering, and so no longer requires reliance upon any organization or system set up by the greedy and power-hungry.
The reality is the correct answer to the question “What am I?” cannot be answered with words. There is no mental concept or verbalized understanding that answers it correctly. For this reason that extra R20 will never have to be paid out – because any verbalized answer is always incorrect. Therefore, whenever the person provides you with an answer, you simply inform them their answer is incorrect, and that they can try to answer it again the next time they come to fill the bags. You do not tell them ‘there is no correct verbal answer’ – you simply inform them they are incorrect. They therefore always leave with the question still alive and moving within them.
The intent of asking this question is to get the individual to ask it of themselves. If there is R20 to be earned in answering it, you can bet the hungry will ask it in a deeper way than the fed can ever imagine. Whenever this question is asked deeply enough, it leads not to some mental understanding, but to a personal realization – to a powerful inner experience – to a direct encounter with what God is.
Once anyone has generated the inner experience which authentically answers this question, they are truly liberated as human beings and will never again behave as helpless beggars. You will know the moment anyone answers this question authentically because they will radiate the answer within their eyes and hearts and will not ask for the extra R20, but instead thank you gratefully for being instrumental to their personal liberation. They will be transformed in an irreversible way. Such transformation is only given to us by God and is not available through our governments, priests, or economic enterprises. But it does require asking the correct question. And the reality is that a beggar has more chance of answering this question authentically than the well-fed. The well-fed are only interested in who they are, not what they are.
This approach to responding to the beggars at our front door is not for everyone. It is only for those who sincerely seek to assist our human family. It is not for those who simply pay lip-service to our suffering brothers and sisters, but who actually couldn’t care less. There is no money to be made from this – only to be given freely toward it. For those who cannot afford to pay out R10 per filled garbage bag – you may rather opt for R5 per bag. But if you can afford R10, I promise you the rewards within your own heart will be priceless. For starters, you will experience a sense of peace at not feeling so helpless. You will also no longer feel so angry about these intrusions. Just 10 people in the town doing this would be transformational for the town.
However, it is highly recommended that if you are kind enough to set this program in motion from your front door, that you make sure you also offer to pay R20 for the answer to the question – “What am I?” If just one person who comes to your door is eventually able to answer this authentically – you will have been instrumental in forever liberating a human Soul from suffering. And, one liberated human Soul liberates many others who are ready for it. We may even consider sincerely asking this question of ourselves.
Think of it as “The Black Bag Enlightenment Program”. It sorts out the freeloaders from those genuinely seeking help. It also addresses the pollution in our neighborhoods. It feeds those who sincerely seek to help themselves. And, it may even set a few lost Souls upon the inner road to spiritual enlightenment.
Someone might even offer up their telephone number and volunteer to come and collect these bags from us for recycling. Recycling! Imagine that: Taking what appears upon the surface as wasted rubbish and transforming it. Not just a good idea, surely a God idea.
Article By: Michael Brown
Edited by the Webmaster
