If we say the homeless are responsible for their situation, then we can pity them from a distance, ignore them, and smugly walk away because they made their own mess, right? If we say they are not responsible, then we can blame the government, Wall Street, drugs, or some deity. Either way, it gives a convenient excuse to ignore their suffering.
If you honestly view the situation of the homeless, you are aware they are suffering. What is your response, your motivation, in dealing with the homeless? Is it judgment or is it compassion? In Buddhism, there is a teaching on the three levels of human motivation. The first level is the selfish "what's in it for me" approach where immediate reward and personal benefit is primary. The second level is the realization of truly living a spiritual life, but the focus is on spiritual rewards. The third is the highest and best use of motivation, which is to ease the suffering of others and the causes of suffering.
There is an old story of three travelers who came across a suffering person. The first one said, "Poor man" and walked on. The second said, "Someone should do something" and also walked on. The third didn't say anything. He simply aided the suffering person to the best of his ability. We should do the same.
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