Sharing our part

I got many good comments on my post on charity. Here is the one from Puneet.

You wrote: “Why do we happily give away all for one’s sake? The only answer is Love.” Sadly today it is usually not "LOVE" but prospects of future returns (widespread popularity, favors from other person etc...) that catalyze a person in "daan" of any kind. I guess the number of people who do "gupt daan" isn’t appreciable. So in other words, the basic nature you talk about is perishing faster than you know.

Everyone is driven by one’s nature. We all have basically three vrittis ( Satva, Rajas, Tamas) with varying degree. Depending on the principle vritti, our execution and expression of Karma happens. There are some slokas about charity in bhagvad Gita. Let us ponder on them.

Thus charity should be given to a person who is engaged in God consciousness. (10.5)

According to Vedic literature, it is said that charity should be given to the brahmanas and, the sannyasi - who renounces life. As they are always engaged in higher spiritual service, they have no time to earn their livelihood. The sannyasis beg from door to door, not for money but for missionary purposes. The system is that they go from door to door to awaken the householders from the slumber of ignorance. Because the householders are engaged in family affairs and might forger their actual purpose in life-- awakening their God consciousness--it is the work of the sannyasis to go to the householders and encourage them to be God conscious.

A highly thoughtful system!

The Bhagavan said, "According to the modes of nature acquired by the embodied soul, one's faith can be of three kinds - goodness, passion or ignorance. Now hear about these. (17.2)

According to one's existence under the various modes of nature, one evolves a particular kind of faith. The living being is said to be of a particular faith according to the modes he has acquired. (17.3)

Even food of which all partake is of three kinds, according to the three modes of material nature. The same is true of sacrifices, austerities and charity. Listen and I will tell you of the distinctions of these. (17.7)

That gift, which is given out of duty, at the proper time and place, to a worthy person, and without expectation of return, is considered to be charity in the mode of goodness. (17.20)

In the Vedic literature, charity , given to a person engaged in spiritual activities is recommended. Spiritual perfection of self is always a consideration. Such charities should be given without any longing of return. Charity to the poor should be given out of compassion.

Charity is for the purification of the heart. If charity is given with proper Bhaav, as described, it leads one to advanced spiritual life.

Charity performed with the expectation of some return, or with a desire for results, or in a grudging mood, is said to be charity in the mode of passion. (17.21)

The persons who had Rajas as the principle mode does charity for popularity or some return. Here, the very idea of spiritual gaining by giving charity is lost. The person might gain some material things. It is all one’s choice due to one’s innate tendency and sanskara.

Charity performed at an improper place and time and given to unworthy persons without respect and with contempt is charity in the mode of ignorance. (17.22)

If a person gives charity to a suitable person without respect and without attention, that sort of charity is also said to be in the mode of darkness. Here, you may lighten someone’s (taker’s) life but you may still not gain anything worth.

Though it is always recommended to be in the mode of goodness, people will be in all three modes. And it is still good on the part that needy is getting help. The only person who is not gaining is donor itself. So, something is still better than nothing and even if our initial mode lies in passion or ignorance, we are ultimately purified once the time comes.

Sharing deep insights is relatively easy because when you get deep insights, you also get wisdom to share it. Wealth sharing is expected in physical domain where people might not have such insights.

Sharing is an expression of the oneness of existence. All we can do is to allow it to shine through all the works we do… after all, we do everything to be purified…

Everything in life is a matter of sharing our souls...