Good Deed/Bad Deed

[rhythmaning]

Walking along George Street on a gloriously sunny day, I noticed a beggar sitting beneath a blanket by a bus stop. As usual, I shook my head when he asked if I had any change, and I walked on. (I can’t even remember if the beggar was male or female. I said he; perhaps I should have said she?)

A few steps on, I saw a handful of scrunched-up £20 notes lying at the feet of a well-dressed girl in dark glasses; she was searching her purse – whether for the money or not, I don’t know, but the notes, perhaps £100-worth, had clearly fallen from her purse.

I said as I passed, Is that your money? She was very grateful, she stooped to pick it up, and I walked on.

And then I thought, had the beggar seen the money? What could he have done with it – what difference would it have made to his life?

So, where is the kharma balance for that? Was that a good deed, or a bad deed?

(On another tack, though, this is probably the fourth time this year that I have spotted money – or a wallet – in the street. That is probably four more times than it has happened in the last five years.)

Comments

[unblinkered.livejournal.com]

Oh, tough one. It's definitely not a bad deed, but the bit of me that always roots for the underdog is half-wishing that the beggar had spotted the money and been in a position to make a decision on whether to tell the girl or bag it. But I think I'm a bit warped for thinking that.... ;) But then again, who drops several £20 notes without noticing????