Are you eligible to be charitable?

[Guest guest]

“I am the lone survivor. Instead of allowing my

property to be squandered after my death, it would be

better if I created a Trust. It is a good way of helping

poor people” – thought that rich man. He was, however,

cautious enough not to let anybody know about his intent.

He disclosed his intent to his Guru.<br><br>The Guru

looked at the millionaire compassionately and said, “A

very good idea indeed. It will be helpful for a

handful of people, and you will be remembered for

generations to come. But why are you telling me all this?”

asked the Guru innocently. <br><br><br>“In today’s

world, how can anybody trust the trustees? I thought it

would be better if I make the Trust as a part of your

institution….” the millionaire had not finished his sentence

yet.<br><br><br>“Your intentions are indeed very lofty. Do you really

think that I have the eligibility to undertake such

charitable activities?” the Guru sighed.

<br><br><br>“Guruji, I am prepared to surrender all my wealth at your

feet,” said the millionaire.<br><br><br>“I am referring

to eligibility. Anyway, I have to go to the temple

now. Do you want to go with me?” asked the Guru,

getting up. “Whatever you say, Guruji” said the

millionaire and followed the Guru to the temple. The Guru

looked at the beggars sitting on the pavement and said,

“poor things!”. Immediately, the millionaire took out

his wallet and pulled out a twenty-rupee bill and put

it into the beggars bowl, and looked at his Guru to

see if there was any sign of appreciation in His

face. Guruji was not even looking at him. He was

walking towards the temple. The millionaire hastened his

steps and continued following the Guru.

<br><br><br>Guru: You gave a twenty-rupee bill, but you didn’t

prostrate before him. Why?<br><br><br>Millionaire:

Prostration! To whom, Guruji?<br><br><br>Guru: Whom did you

give that money to?<br><br><br>Millionaire: To that

blind beggar.<br><br><br>Guru: What do you get by

giving money to a blind beggar?<br><br><br>Millionaire:

They say that one will earn merit by giving away alms

to beggars….?<br><br><br>Guru: Oh! I see! So you are

buying merit (punya) by giving twenty rupees! Does he

have a storehouse of merit?<br><br><br>Millionaire:

They say that gods will be pleased if one gives alms

to poor people.<br><br><br>Guru: So it means that

you are giving alms to the God who resides in that

beggar! Very well. But don’t you think that you should

prostrate to that God?<br><br><br>Millionaire: He is after

all a blind person?<br><br><br>Guru: What about the

God who resides in that blind beggar? Is He blind

too? <br><br><br>Millionaire: It is not like that.

Even if we prostrate, the blind beggar will not

know.<br><br><br>Guru: How are you so sure that he is really blind? He

may just be pretending as though he is blind.

<br><br><br>Millionaire: Do you say then, Guruji that I should prostrate

before an imposter even when I am

suspicious?<br><br><br>Guru: If you are suspicious, should you refrain from

giving alms? The suspicion may be may not be real. It

may be real also. Whatever it is, if you are unable

to see God in him, why should you give alms in the

first place? If you are able to see God, does it mean

that you need not give alms?<br><br><br>Millionaire:

Am I wrong in being charitable?<br><br><br>Guru:

Being charitable is neither right nor wrong. But,

before one does charity, one must first earn the

eligibility. One must be able to see God in the person to whom

one does charity. When one sees God, one will

certainly prostrate before that person. That itself is the

eligibility to being charitable. If this eligibility is not

there, it is one and the same whether you give alms to a

beggar or form a Charitable Trust!!!

[Guest guest]

>>But, before one does charity, one must

first earn the eligibility. One must be able to see God

in the person to whom one does

charity.>><br><br>Charity is extended for many reasons which are often far

removed from a perfected sense of Being. People who have

stolen or lived a life otherwise filled with negativity

during the work days may give charity during the weekend

pujas; or given Dana (charitable offerings) to get

brownie points from "God". Others wait for Dana

requirements as part of festivals or make offerings during or

after a period of intense trial as offerings. And of

course there are those who give large donations to

pamper their ego and display their wealth.<br><br>While

ideally all giving and receiving is to and from "God"

alone, I can't quite agree that one need wait to give

charity till we "first earn the eligibility". We are all

at various stages of growth since if we were already

perfected we would have little reason to be on planet

Earth, working out our Karma. Even though some

circumstances may appear to be hypocritical, I feel charity by

itself is a learning process, a process which becomes a

tool for spiritual growth. From a space of ego or self

aggrandizement, charity can lead one to compassion and caring for

fellow humans and onwards as they progress to seeing

"tat twam asi". Simply assuming the attitude often

leads to people learning the attitude

itself.<br><br>From energy perpectives, giving and receiving is the

circular causal flow of energy. Unless one allow it to

flow outwards, the flow inwards is restricted.

<br><br>The intention behind the act certainly determines the

benifit received as the parable beautifully demonstrates,

but if one can start "giving" for whatever one

reasons may be, ultimately they will surely reach the

ideal goal. <br><br>Any thoughts?<br><br>_/\_ Tat twam

asi<br><br>Uma

[Guest guest]

This is my interpretation of the story. if i am

wrong in my interpretation then please correct

me.<br><br>The conversation between the guru and his wealthy

disciple is not for discouraging charity until one becomes

eligible for charity. <br>The millionaire in the story was

full of ego. Hence the Guru wanted to teach him the

lesson<br>that in whatever service we do to others there should

be devotion to God and by thinking that we are

serving God by doing service to the people. <br><br>Doing

service for the welfare of others is by itself a great

punya. But it becomes more valuable when it is done

selflessly.<br><br>Om Shakti

[Guest guest]

There is a spiritual law that attends giving in

that whatever you give, of yourself - good or bad - of

your finances - much or little - it really doesnt

matter. What you give will be given back to you will good

measure. Gives one pause to think. It is most guaranteed

that if you give something bad, you will certainly

receive tons worse than you gave. Conversely, to give

something good, there too will you gain in return, more

than you gave.<br><br>I think that as important as

giving is, one need to learn how to receive

also.<br><br>vicki

[Guest guest]

Part of living a spiritual existance, in my

opinion is not to attach "reward" to giving. Do not give

so that you may receive, give out of your heart for

loves sake only. Attachment to the outcome should be

looked at as well in love, mirabai

[Guest guest]

mirabai,<br><br>I agree, we should not give out

of a selfish motive at all.....but the fact remains

that it is a spiritual principal and like a 2-edged

sword, it works both ways. Give that which is good and

you will receive accordingly. Give that which is bad

(ie trouble/grief) and again you will receive

accordingly. More often than not we receive more than we dish

out, no matter whether it is good or bad. And, it does

not matter if we give from or wallet or of ourself.

<br><br>When one has it as part of their practice to give, the

outcome ceases to be important. It is not what we give

(that is good) counts but that we give at

all.<br><br>vicki