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The treasure of generosity
"And what is the
treasure of generosity? There is the case of a disciple of the noble
ones, his awareness cleansed of the stain of stinginess, living at home,
freely generous, open-handed, delighting in being magnanimous,
responsive to requests, delighting in the distribution of alms. This is
called the treasure of generosity."
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Anguttara Nikaya
Generosity is the quality of being generous. Generosity is the habit
of giving without expecting anything in return. In a human being, it
primarily signifies having the qualities worthy of noble or honourable
birth. A generous person is one who is free and abundant in giving,
giving freely, heartily, and unselfishly. Such people are free from
meanness or smallness of mind or character. In a generous person, the
act of giving is done in earnest and enthusiastically; with full of
affection or cordiality, and sincerity. A generous person need not
necessarily be a liberal giver. But a generous gift, big or small, is
commonly thought of as both ample and hearty. Generosity is not solely
based on one's economic status, but instead, includes the individual's
pure intentions of looking out for society's common good and giving from
the heart. Generosity should reflect the individual's passion to help
others. In Buddhism, generosity is one of the Ten Perfections and is the
antidote to the self-chosen poison called greed.
"Gentleness, self-sacrifice, and generosity are the exclusive
possession of no one race or religion," said Mahatma Gandhi. All humans
are possessed of this trait. In fact, generosity might actually be one
of our most important genetic traits. Like a tiger's teeth or a bird's
wings, Homo sapiens' generosity and nurturing behaviour are part of our
biology. Our brain formulates good just as much as a flower formulates
nectar. Thus, generosity may therefore be part of the human repertoire
that sustains cooperative relationships.
Trait
It might be a genetic trait; but as is the norm with most gene
functions; it is the environment of ones birth and upbringing, which
will finally determine the qualities exhibited by a person and shape his
personality. That is the reason why some acquire the trait of generosity
while others do not possess it; why some give more than they can,
whereas for some others it is only the vanity of giving, exercised
because they adore the vanity more than of the thing given.
In many people, what seems to be generosity is often no more than
disguised ambition, which overlooks a small interest in order to secure
a great one. That is why a person who gives a gift of a certain sort
does not bear great fruit or great benefit, whereas another person
giving a gift of the same sort bears great fruit and great benefit.
Generosity is not giving someone that which he needs more than you do,
but giving someone that which you need more than he does.
He who gives what he would as readily throw away, gives without
generosity; for the essence of generosity is in self-sacrifice. Too many
have dispensed with generosity in order to practice charity.
We live in a world where candour and generosity, unless tempered by
due moderation, leads to ruin. It has always seemed strange to me that
the things we admire most: kindness and generosity; openness and
honesty; understanding and feeling; are the concomitants of failure in
our system. And, those traits we detest, such as: cunning, greed,
acquisitiveness, meanness, egotism, and self-interest, are the traits of
success. While we admire the quality of the first, we love the produce
of the second. This is because, because of the tempered vanity of
humans, mortal man in his foolishness equates material success with
indestructibility. He measures his glorification and greatness by the
produce of the latter: affluence and assets; capital and cash; resources
and riches. In the process, he forgets the truly immortal words of St.
Francis of Assisi: "For it is in giving that we receive."
Only when affliction and demise stares us in the face do we turn to
generosity - that too in the form of charity than generosity. It is when
near death that we realise what we do for ourselves dies with us; what
we do for others and the world remains and that is where true
immortality is achieved. Thus, generosity during one's entire life is a
very different thing from generosity in the hour of death; one proceeds
from genuine liberality and benevolence of character, the other from
fear and trepidation of demise and its consequence.
Passage
There is a very interesting passage in The Wisdom of Patanjali's Yoga
Sutras: A New Translation and Guide by Ravi Ravindra that is worth
quoting: "As spiritual searchers we need to become freer and freer of
the attachment to our own smallness in which we get occupied with me -
me - me. Pondering on large ideas or standing in front of things which
remind us of a vast scale, can free us from acquisitiveness and
competitiveness and from our likes and dislikes.
If we sit with an increasing stillness of the body, and attune our
mind to the sky or to the ocean or to the myriad stars at night, or any
other indicators of vastness, the mind gradually stills and the heart is
filled with quiet joy. Also recalling our own experiences in which we
acted generously or with compassion for the simple delight of it without
expectation of any gain can give us more confidence in the existence of
a deeper goodness from which we may deviate."
To be rich in admiration and free from envy; to rejoice greatly in
the good of others; to love with such generosity of heart that your love
is still a dear possession, even in absence or unkindness; these are the
gifts which money cannot buy. Yes. We may make a living by the money we
get, but we make a life by what we generously give.
Generosity is not about money. One could be generous with love, time,
word, or possessions. Generosity is a way of life - the path of creative
light - unlike the darkness of destructive selfishness.
See you this day next week. Until then, keep thinking; keep laughing.
Life is mostly about these two activities.
For views, reviews, encomiums, and brickbats:
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