Q: Master, I often encounter beggars on the streets, and they ask for money. And I don’t know whether they want to use the money for food or for alcohol or drugs. What’s the spiritually noble thing to do in such cases?

M: Give it to him just on the chance that he might be honest. Why do you suspect a man who has nothing? He can’t lose any more than he already has, and if he wants to lose his dignity as well, that’s his problem.

Don’t worry. Just worry about whether you have compassion or not. Give to him with love. Give to a man who is in need and that’s it. Whatever he does or if he wants to cheat you, that’s his problem.

I once saw a very cool picture in the newspaper. There were two guys sitting together who had both lost a lot of teeth in the front, but they still smiled with their empty gums. They were smiling very innocently sitting next to each other.

The one on the left had a sign in front of him that read, “Why tell a lie? I need a pint.” And, “Make it 40 ounces.” He held it in front of him. And the other one next to him, also with no teeth and grinning very happily had a sign in front of him that read, “Me, too!” And people gave them money even.

We should do everything unconditionally. Some people might cheat us, but just on the chance that they won’t, give it to them. They look so downtrodden and so undignified already, there’s no need to hurt them more by thinking that they’re bad.