…An object appears white when it doesn’t retain anything with itself and reflects all; likewise, when we tread the path of giving, our personality shines bright like white colour. With exclusive incidents from history, we learnt that the best time to give is ‘Now’. And that our service should not be constrained by the paranthesis of selfishness, pride or self-consideration. This issue will throw light on the important aspects in this context i.e. How to give, what to give, Why, when and how much to give so that we are able to extend service to society in the real sense.
There are several aspects associated with the question- ‘how to give’.
- Give unconditionally: … The act of giving or offering service should be done unconditionally and that too with love. Else, if there are expectations for returns for what one has done to help the other person, then, it no longer remains a service but becomes a barter system or a business deal. …
- Give quietly: … The foremost thing one is concerned about while offering some service is his fame, so that people can find out how kind-hearted and generous he is! However, remember real offering is …
- Give humbly: While offering help to someone, it is important that the person at the receiving end should not feel humiliated. …
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In mathematics, one comes across a concept of ‘necessary and sufficient’ condition. The necessary criteria are those which are, no doubt, important and play a crucial role, but they do not fulfill the objective completely or in toto. It is only when the ‘sufficient’ criterion joins the necessary ones that the objective achieves completeness. If we relate the concept of giving on similar lines, we can say that the help extended to people in the form of feeding food to the poor, giving clothes to the needy, etc. are the ‘necessary’ criteria to accomplish service for mankind. However, it is not the be all and end all of service. There is yet another crucial parameter, which constitutes the ‘sufficient’ element thus making the equation of service wholesome and complete. …
If we help a person in a way that his needs are satisfied for an hour, it is indeed good. However, if our help can serve him for a year, it would certainly be better. Still further, if our act of service can answer the need of an individual for his lifetime… it would unquestionably be rated as the greatest help.
… How can this level of help be done? What is that sufficient condition? What are the crucial facets of the art of giving?
To know all this in toto, read the complete article in the November edition of English Akhand Gyan monthly magazine.
