【Description】

Have you ever lent a helping hand because someone is good-looking or because they have influential family members? According to Grandmaster JinBodhi, we should not be motivated by any potential gain for ourselves.

What kind of mentality should we have when helping others?

Using the story of a kindhearted hotel receptionist, Grandmaster JinBodhi shares how best to lend a genuine helping hand.

【Content】

Treat the world with kindness. When you see people who need help, help them; your actions should cause you to feel moved.

Make a Habit of Helping Others (2)

I have told this story about a hotel receptionist many times. It was snowing heavily; the roads were all covered in snow. At midnight, the hotel was full. Many people were waiting for a vacant room. People stayed in the hotel because they couldn’t drive home. At midnight, an old couple came in.

They came in with a burst of extremely cold air. “Can we get a room? We are freezing to death!” “Sorry, sir, they are all taken.” “Then what should we do? Can we sleep on the lobby bench?”

The receptionist pitied the old couple; they looked older than his parents. The receptionist wanted to help. “Do you mind spending the night at my room? Unless you dislike it because it is a little dirty. It is a bit messy and dirty, and the bed’s a single.” The old man really wanted his wife to have a place to rest. He said, “Yes, all we want is a room.” So the old couple slept a night at the staff room.

A couple months later, a luxurious car appeared at the hotel. An elegantly dressed man stepped out of it. He was a messenger of a wealthy man in the town. He was there to invite the receptionist to his boss’s place.

“Me? Did I cause a problem?” “Don’t worry, it’s a friendly meeting.” “I must be lucky today! Lady Luck’s been watching me! Can you believe this? Is this a prank or what?” He was surprised to find the beautiful mansion was owned by the old couple whom he had served during the snowy night.

The old couple offered him a position. He had become the general manager of the hotel owned by the couple. The old couple thought he mightlack management skills, but he had the kindness to look after every guest. He was the best candidate for the position. Many hotels failed because they lacked thoughtfulness. They could have the best interior design and hire many employees, but they couldn’t survive because their services lacked thoughtfulness. Like I said, he became the general manager of a hotel owned by the couple. His net worth grew to about a hundred million.

An small deed of kindness can bring a massive return of merits. If you sow kindness, you receive kindness in return. This is a great and moving story. Treat the world with kindness. When you see people who need help, help them; your actions should cause you to feel moved. When learning to be more compassionate, we often think, “What will I get if I help him?” Or we
think: “Why should I lend him my money?” When you see a homeless person, you would think, “That is not my problem.”

Before we try to help somebody, we start calculating. We calculate our loss and gain before helping others. What are my benefits? This is very common. We weigh up what we get. Some help only because the person they are helping is good-looking. Some only help people who are rich. Some only help people who have a rich father or influential family members. Then after helping others, you think that they owe you, so you ask them to return your favor later. We often think: Why help someone? “Should I help? If yes, then how much?”

We often think this whenever we provide financial help. Is this right or wrong? It is neither right nor wrong. Critical and logical thinking make us human. It shows that you are actually smart. However, being smart doesn’t mean you are wise; being wise doesn’t mean you are compassionate. Remember that. Being smart doesn’t mean you are wise, and being wise doesn’t mean you are compassionate. We never thought about this, did we?

We thought wisdom makes us compassionate, and with wisdom, we can do anything because we are so smart. No, these 3 things aren’t equal. When you help others, don’t help because they look good, or because they are influential. You might be disappointed in the end. You helped a beautiful woman because of her beauty; how will you feel when you find out she looked good because of heavy makeup? So, never help because someone is pretty or their family is influential. You will feel cheated and disappointed if the outcome isn’t what you expect.

So do you still help? Yes. We help out of kindness and compassion. We still need to judge whether we should help someone. If I saw a drug addict, I wouldn’t help. If you help them by giving them money, they would spend it on drugs. Under normal circumstances, just lend a helping hand. If you have only $1,000, and you give all your $1,000 to a beggar on the roadside, this is overdoing it, and not wise. You are going to become a beggar yourself. This is not compassion but foolishness. We help within our capability; remember that.

You can help however you want. You can offer money, knowledge, skills or guidance. When we have helped more people, we will have the wisdom to use more ways to help people. Compassion is the reason we help others. With our experience, we select the best way to help. This is what experts do. Still, compassion is why we help others. Don’t think too much about how
much we should help. As long as you have lent a helping hand, it is good enough.