(Photo source: Pexels)
In life, what some people need may just be a cup of water, a smile, or a little help. If we are able to promptly help people, we will feel happy, and the other party will feel very grateful, too. If we are too stingy to give or are only willing to give only when we are loaded, more often than not, we will miss the right timing to provide the urgent help required.
There is a story in the book, “Chuang Tzu”:
Zhuang Zhou lived a life of poverty and he often ran out of grains at home. One day, he requested to borrow “三升” (est. 2.25kg) of millet from his friend, Jian He Hou. But Jian said to him, "Of course you can! But I don't have that much millet in my house right now. Please wait for me to collect some taxes from the people. Then, I will lend you 300 pieces of gold."
After hearing what Jian said, Zhuang Zhou felt rather down and said, "When I was on the way to your home, I heard a fish crying for help. I looked back and saw a hole in the ground with water that was fast drying up. The fish in it wanted me to pour a few cups of water into it. But I told the fish that I would go to the southern region to negotiate with the King of Wu and the King of Yue and ask them to lend me some water. And then I would channel water from the river in the south to the hole to save it and allow it to return to the East Sea.”
The fish angrily said, “I cannot live a normal life in the water now. I was only asking for a little water to survive, but you gave me such a reply. You can go to the fish shop tomorrow and have a look there. My body would have probably turned into dried fish meat by then!”
After saying those words to his friend, Zhuang Zhou turned around and left.
Zhuang Zhou led a very poor life. Hunger was his most urgent problem and all that he needed was some millet to fill his stomach. He did not need anything more than that, and he was not able to wait for the 300 pieces of gold, which seemed far-fetched to him.
A good old saying goes, “To save a life, we need to provide urgent help”. Zhuang used the story of the fish as an allegory to put forth this message: The fish was already dying. If he delayed in giving the fish water, no matter how much water he gave it, it would be useless as he would not be able to save it.
Ordinary people often feel that they have too little and are never satisfied with what they have, and they are usually too stingy to give to others. However, the needy may not be asking for much. What they need may only be a small amount. If we are not willing to promptly help people who encounter hardship or difficulties, we may end up in great regret.
In short, help should be given in a timely manner, as the saying goes, "A few drops of water are like sweet dew to someone thirsty". Some people are unable to seize the opportunity to render help at all times or are unwilling to do a good deed that appears minor or insignificant. They only wish to do good deeds that seem major or significant, and they keep delaying giving help or refusing to give help to others.
Such a mindset is erroneous as not only would these people mislead and harm themselves and others, and even hold things up, but they would also cause harm and damage to individuals, families and the society at large.
“Do not do an evil deed no matter how insignificant it may seem. Do not pass up doing a good deed even though it may seem trivial”.
Only when we are able to give love, show care and provide help to others promptly can we have a happy and wonderful life.
Source: Tzu Chi Taiwan website
Translated by the Tzu Chi Singapore translation team
Share 
