Responsibility Toward Strangers

The teaching concerns our interconnected responsibility toward all sentient beings, extending from relatives to strangers on the street. It urges us to prevent evil through genuine care and concern.

In the late afternoon, on a crowded road, car horns blared amidst heated arguments. Two men stopped their vehicles in the middle of the street, faces flushed red, hands gripping weapons. A crowd gathered around them, but most people merely watched or hurried away, fearing involvement. Among them was Tuan, a young man on his way home. He paused, observing the chaotic scene, feeling an unsettling anxiety rise within him.

Beside him, a colleague pulled at his arm, whispering with evident worry: "Let’s go, don’t get involved. If they fight, let them be. Cause and effect (karmic law) dictates that each person bears their own consequences; we have no connection to this. What if we get caught in the crossfire?"

Tuan hesitated, looking at his friend and then back at the crowd. Images flashed through his mind: the lonely elderly mother living in the nearby boarding house, the orphaned child often bullied, and the dharma talks about "responsibility toward sentient beings." He recalled his teacher’s words: "Living in this world, we always bear responsibility for one another, even toward the most distant strangers."

Tuan took out his phone. His fingers trembled slightly, yet his actions were decisive. He immediately called traffic police and relevant authorities, describing the location and situation in detail. Then, he stepped forward—not to intervene directly in the brawl, but to move curious bystanders to safety. Simultaneously, he loudly informed the two fighting men that authorities were en route, urging them to remain calm.

Tuan’s small action created a ripple effect. Seeing his courage, several others began to assist, calling for more help. Within minutes, the police arrived, successfully preventing a tragic murder. His colleague looked at Tuan, his expression shifting from surprise to admiration: "How did you think of doing that? I just assumed..."

Tuan smiled gently and replied, "Because I understand that if I turn my back, I am indirectly complicit in evil. Responsibility is not only about saving lives but also about ensuring that badness does not prevail. Even though they are strangers, they are still sentient beings, and we share a portion of responsibility for them."

The story does not end there. It opens a new perspective on social ethics. Many people justify indifference by citing the theory that "each person bears their own cause and effect (karmic law)." In reality, this stems from a selfish mind seeking mere comfort. Those possessing wisdom and compassion always perceive the invisible thread connecting themselves to all things. While we cannot solve every problem, holding the intention that "we have responsibility" prompts us to act—even if it is just a phone call, a piece of advice, or a look of empathy. This forms the foundation for building a civilized society and a pure heart.

### The Meaning of the Story

This narrative emphasizes the lesson of interconnected responsibility in Buddhism. We must not use the argument that "each person bears their own cause and effect (karmic law)" to justify indifference or selfishness. Living in this world, we hold responsibility toward all sentient beings, from those close to us to complete strangers. Although this responsibility may seem light or distant, maintaining the thought "I have responsibility" encourages wholesome actions, prevents evil, and accumulates great merit. This is the attitude of a bodhisattva, who transcends the limits of the individual ego to embrace and shoulder the burdens of life.

Compiled from the dharma talk by Venerable Thich Chan Quang