A question popped my over-crowded mind: What do we give? When I retrospect, I see us giving
away things we needed the least. The change we’re trying to bring by ‘giving’
is counter-productive except a very few times. By giving the things needed the
least, we are confirming the societal biases and differences (remember us
creating it in the past?). Inside we want to eradicate that, but our actions aren't saying so. Actually, we should be giving (rather I would say sharing) what
we love the most, what we need the most.
Giving is to receive; the more you give, the more you get. Hah,
we all know that! Yet, we stuff ourselves with many things that we treasure and
use them rarely. The art of living more with less is what I want to talk and
learn more about, not the life less with more. I've been fortunate to be part
of a few groups who do unnoticed giving; they give in dark when no one sees
them. They give all that they have; they share. We need to replace the attitude
of giving with attitude of sharing.
Give away things you needed the most once, give away things
you need the most now; give away smiles, give away love, give away happiness, give
away your 100% in everything you do, give away all times not only during the
needy times. Give away things every now and then and it will show you that you
really didn't needed many of the things you were tempted to buy. (A different
POV: Replace all “give away” words with “share”).
What are the things you can live without? Give them away! I
will…until the moment I close my eyes!!
Well written and thought-provoking indeed!
ReplyDeleteDaan, or in other words, charity or generosity is explained well in our ancient holy books. It does not talk about giving away what you already have in excess, but rather, sharing what you have with the less-privileged. In the Mahabharat, an old man approaches Karna (who was known for his magnanimity and generosity) who is busy giving away food and clothes to the poor. He asks Karna for his golden armour of invincibility(kavacch). Karna knew that he would lose power by shedding the armour. He also realized that the old man was none other than Lord Indra who was ensuring Arjuna's indemnity (Indra was Arjuna's biological father). That didn't stop Karna from giving away his armour to the old man. This brave act earned him the title of Daan-Veer (the bravely generous)