We have become so conditioned to collecting, that we don’t realise a simple but powerful principle of life – Giving. To give is healthy. A tree would perish if it kept all the oxygen to itself. The sun would self-destruct if it had no way to shine its light and warmth on everyone. Hoarding without sharing, is not only unhealthy, it can harm us in more ways than one.
It’s not just the act of giving that matters. The attitude with which we give matters more.
If we give with a sense of expectation, then it’s not giving. We are calculating what we will get in future, making it a transaction.
If we give with a sense of superiority, then we aren’t serving the world. We are serving our own ego and pride. And we live in a delusion that just because we have something others don’t, we are superior. Giving with pride, is no giving.
Sometimes we don’t realise it, but we make the other feel obligated. And we forget, it’s not easy to be a receiver and feel the debt of obligation. Giving without grace is no real giving.
And sometimes we use our resources to give in a manner for the world to think well of us. But true giving is done with humility. Knowing we are not owners but Trustees of our wealth. And sometimes we do talk about our giving, not with a sense of ego but with a mission to inspire others to think and live differently.
Often we are confused as to how much should we give. Saint Teresa beautifully put it when she said – “Give till it hurts”. Throwing ourselves out of our comfort zone tests our compassion and care. When we drop the limited understanding of ourselves and live with the faith that every time we are stretched, we will discover more, we learn to give more than we thought we could.
And giving is not just about money. Khalil Gibran has said – “We give but little, when we give of our possessions. It’s when we give of ourselves, we truly give.” Making ourselves available to give as much as we can, to many as we can for as long as we can, becomes our way of life.
Of course we must be mindful that taking care of ourselves is equally important. And each one will have to decide, where does need end and where has our greed started. Giving is not becoming judgmental about someone else. It is holding ourselves to a standard we wish to live by.
And in giving we grow. A closed bud can never express the beauty and fragrance of a rose. Our closed hearts, minds and wallets will never allow us to discover the beauty we truly are.
Over the years the adjective “greedy” has developed a negative connotation. I have a contrary view.
They say that when one does things for ones own sense of happiness , one is Greedy.
However When I help someone , give something , do something for someone I feel good in the least.
Hence I say Give , Do , share something and feel good and hence Be Greedy.
And as you said : Give till it hurts and so Be Greedy 😊
What a lovely perspective Sanjiv. Yes we must take care of ourselves and be mindful of our own well-being.
It hurt.
Give in charity secretly, such that the left hand doesn’t know what the right hand gave!
So true & beautiful.
Beautiful
You write so well Vivek … thanks for giving us a daily dose of thoughts for introspection !
Enjoyed it.
Particularly the thought … we are trustees of our wealth not owners !
… and of course Khalil Gibran, “…It’s when we give off ourselves, we truly give”.
Perfectly put Viv. The world would be a much nicer place if everyone thought like this wouldn’t it?
It absolutely would Tush !
Its is when we give of ourselves that we truly give. The highlight of the piece for me Vivek. Thanks.
However, most of us feel we dont have enough to give of ourselves. And this is the big fallacy and tragedy. Cheers
Tush’s old friend: ramesh jude thomas