Generosity is the willingness to give and be charitable. I express generosity when I give freely to others of my money, possessions, time and energy. The opposite is stinginess.§
Comparing the actions of one who is generous to one who is stingy§ |
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|---|---|---|
Situation§ |
Generosity§ |
Stinginess§ |
Seeing needy beggars sitting at a temple entrance, you…§ |
give 20 dollars, knowing it is more than they will receive all day.§ |
give one dollar and consider your duty done.§ |
In response to a clothing drive in the community, you…§ |
give up a favorite sweater and collect old clothing from other family members.§ |
donate an old shirt you never liked.§ |
When asked to help repaint a nearby temple, you…§ |
say “Yes!” and make yourself available each weekend.§ |
say that you are just too busy.§ |
Gurudeva explained: “Generous, selfless giving is among dharma’s central fulfillments. Hospitality, charity and support of God’s work on Earth arise from the belief that the underlying purpose of life is spiritual, not material.”§
“You have generosity; you give and you give and you give and you give. And according to the great law of karma, you can’t give anything away but that it will come back to you.”§
“The best way to keep the actinic force flowing through the physical body is practicing the art of giving, doing little things for others that you have not been asked to do. This keeps you creative, and being creative is actinic, superconscious and religious. Giving, doing without thought of return, affectionate detachment, creates an odic vacuum which your actinic, spiritual forces flow into and fill.”§
ASSIGNMENT: During these two weeks, identify two or three instances of being unexpectedly asked to help or give. Observe your initial reactions, overcome any resistance, and participate fully.§
Date you began this assignment ____________________§
MY THOUGHTS ON THE BENEFITS OF GENEROSITY: 
§
