Respecting a beggar's dignity

My friend, Dr. Huang Jin-Teh (黄金徳) over the Jau-Yang (朝陽) University sent me a power-point file telling a story in Mandarin about the moral responsibility of respecting a beggar's dignity I was so moved with the story that I decide to re-tell the story in English so that my American friends can also enjoy the story.

Over a busy district of Kyoto, there was once a fine eatery place which usually was a gathering place for the well-to-do Kyoto citizens. One day, a beggar appeared at the door step of the eatery. He was immediately stared by other customers in the eatery. Many customers turned away because the beggar smelled. Some of them were even uncounciously self-guarded because the beggar might begin to ask for money.

"Don't be worry", said the beggar. "Today, I am here to buy not to beg."

"I have heard the good reputation of this eatery", the beggar continued, "I therefore save every penny gathering enough money to buy the fine food in this eatery."

The owner went out to greet this "beggar customer" with a big bow. The owner served this beggar with the food the beggar ordered while his employees served other well-to-do customers.

When the beggar finished eating, he gave the owner the money; and the owner accepted with a thank you, a-li-ga-to.

"Why did the beggar received with such 'red-carpet' treatment from you?" the owner was asked by his son.

" Of course, we treat every customer with respect." the owner said, "It is easy for other well-to-do customers to buy food here and enjoyed the meal. For the beggar, it is a different story. He needs to save every penny to buy the food here. It means that our food quality is so good that it worth his efforts to save the money and to buy the food here. The beggar is really a treasured customer. He deserves a special treatment from me."

"Then why did you accept his payment? Why didn't you give him the food free?" asked the owner's son.

"He came here to buy not to beg. That is his dignity. If I did not receive his payment, I showed my disrespect to his dignity. That is exactly something I want to avoid."

The owner's son later became one of the most successful business man in Japan because he always remembered this story about how his father was respecting other people, including a beggar's dignity.