Fare Evader

I recently gave a drug prevention talk at the Tzu Chi University of Science and Technology in Hualien, eastern Taiwan. On my train ride back home, I noticed a young man who exhibited an intriguing behavior. Each time our train pulled into a station, he would leave his seat, only to return to the carriage when the train resumed its journey, in search of an empty seat to occupy. I also saw him twice on my way to the restroom, squatting in the space between carriages and using his smartphone.

As it grew later, the number of passengers on board dwindled. Eventually, he moved closer to my seat. His behavior was extremely peculiar, and I began to wonder if he was attempting to avoid paying for his ticket. Soon after, I noticed the ticket inspector approaching from a distance. I unexpectedly began to feel anxious for the young man. Even if he tried to leave at that moment, it would be too late to avoid a confrontation. The ticket inspector kept getting closer, but he continued to calmly stare at his phone. Did he not notice?

When the inspector finally reached him, I saw him lift his head and fumble around, taking out a ticket from his pocket and handing it over. The inspector examined the ticket and said, “Carriage Four? This is Carriage 11.” In response, the young man pointed towards the front and explained, “My father is seated right there.”

Looking in the direction he pointed, I saw an elderly man. The ticket inspector nodded and left. That’s when my inner turmoil began. I felt truly remorseful. How could I have so easily suspected him of fare evasion? All he wanted was to be readily available should his father need him.

After this incident, I reminded myself to integrate the lesson learned into my daily life and to avoid hastily judging others. As Dharma Master Cheng Yen taught us: “Do not hold preconceived notions; everyone has admirable qualities from which we can learn.”