Stephen Levine is a celebrated author. Excerpt above from his book, Gradual Awakening.
SEED QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION: How do you relate to the three kinds of giving? Can you share an experience of kingly giving from your life? What do you understand by using giving as a practice in itself?
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I used to feed birds by throwing grains on the ground. Behind this act was fear that the birds may hurt me. Then I decided to offer grains from an open palm. Gradually the birds started to sit on my hand to feed. Their touch and their trust banished even traces of fear and love took its place.
Giving and taking are actions. All actions connect people. In the absence of a human connection the action becomes exploitative and degrading. Giving becomes throwing and taking becomes snatching.
When there is a human touch the action is bound to raise the consciousness of the people involvved to a higher plane.
Thank you. SHRADDHA: I don’t know the correct word in English. However it means “intention to learn with mindful awareness”. Further to my reflection earlier, I wish to add the following: “Giving need not be material or is it about the cost; it can even be mentally a sincere thought. One can mentally pray for a person or send him blessings. As per scriptures, even these are acts of giving.” Thanks.
Great comment.The difference between Apatra and Gupta danam is very significant. Overprotective parents can do a lot of damage to their children when their giving is from attachment. This is commonly overlooked. I would like to know the meaning of Shraddha?
What need is there to categorise? Don't we know instantly when we give reluctantly and with some afterthought, and when we give in a limited way but with a clear intention? As for 'kingly' giving, has anyone given that kingly who did not first answer for himself the question: what would I give my life to? I feel this is the one important question that conditions all the rest if one can answer it whole-heartedly, without reserve. For all I know, those who have answered it do not think of theirs as a giving. They are happy to serve. Life is feeding them back their very generosity without any need for them to measure up their commitment to some sort of scale.
My father used to say, "Any fool can give away what he does not want. If you give what you want, that is something but the sublime gift is that which you need." I don't know if this is kingly or not but it still makes sense to me.
As a healer, I have learned through my experience to give from an overflow and not from an empty cup.
Thank you for the opportunity to respond. Intellectually, I hold that giving is far superior to receiving. I also hold that when I give I simultaneously receive since, intellectually, I hold that I am one with everyone and everything. As a matter of practice, I do not often live this way and I'm not sure why. It would be an easy explanation if I said it was because of my habits,but it is more than that in a mysterious way. I formerly thought that when I give I will be rewarded in heaven. Now when I give, I notice that I experience a bit of heaven at the present moment (during the giving).. I work in his soup kitchen several hours a week and when I give food to the poor I experience that I get more out of it than those who receive the food do. Warm and kind regards to everyone.
This passage, particularly the end, offers a nice way to practice giving. I never realized that it can be cultivated through meditation. Giving more of ourselves to ourselves...what an inspiring and simple place to start! I will be more mindful of being kingly rather than being beggarly the next time that I sit. Thank you for sharing this reading. :)