CHARITY IS UNIVERSAL LOVE

An Article of Interest

Charity the disposition to think favourably of others and to do them good. Charity is universal love. It is liberality to the poor. It is benevolence. That what is given to relieve the needy is charity. In a general sense, charity means love, benevolence and goodwill. In a theological sense, it is universal goodwill to men and supreme love to God.

True charity is the desire to be useful to other without the thought of recompense or reward, but it should go abroad. You are a citizen of the world. Cultivate a generous feeling for the welfare of the whole world. It is a sin to hoard money. All wealth belongs to the people and the one who spends his money in Charity should think that the property really belongs to the Lord and thus should live happily to attain Moksha or eternal peace.

The waters of the Ganga cannot decrease if thirsty people drink it. So also, your wealth cannot decrease if you do charity. Give cheerfully, quickly and without hesitation. Defer not charities till death. Do charity daily. Prayer takes you half – way to God, fasting to the door of His Supreme Abode and Charity procures you admission.

Every good act is charity. Giving water to the thirsty is charity, an encouraging word to a man in distress is charity, giving a little medicine to the poor, sick man is charity, removing a thorn or a glass-piece on the road is charity, to be kind and loving is charity, to forget & forgive some harm done to you is charity, akind word said to a suffering man is charity.

Charity is not confined to giving in terms of dollars, rupees or shillings. Think well towards suffering people. Pray for their welfare. This will accomplish more good than much money.

The best form of charity is "Vidya-dana", imparting wisdom. If you give food to a poor man, he again wants food when he becomes hungry. Whereas wisdom removes ignorance, the cause for taking a body and destroy in to all sorts of miseries and sufferings for ever. The second best form of charity is giving "medicine to the sick". The third best form of charity is "Anna-dana" or giving food to the hungry.

"The whole world is your home"

Do discriminate charity in the beginning. Later on, practise indiscriminate charity. When you feel that every being is a manifestation of the Lord, it is difficult to discriminate who is good and who is bad. Give to the poor, the sick, the helpless and the forlorn. Give to the orphans, the decrepit, the blind, the helpless widows. Give to the Sadhus, Sannyasins, religious and social institutions. Thank the man who gives you an opportunity to serve him by doing charity. Give with the right mental attitude and realise God through charitable acts. Glory to those who do charity with the right spirit.

Some people do charity and are anxious to see their names published in the newspapers with their photos. This is a Tamasic form of charity. This is no charity at all. That charity which advertises ceases to be charity. It is only pride and ostentation.

You should not advertise your charity and charitable nature. There must not be any exaltation in your heart when people praise you for your heart when people praise you for your charitable nature. Charity must be spontaneous and unrestrained. Giving must become habitual. You must not think : "I have done a very charitable act. I will enjoy happiness in heaven. I will be born as a rich man in the next birth. The charitable act will wash away my sin. There is no charitable man like me in my town or district. People know that I am a very charitable man." Bragging is mean and deplorable.

Do charity silently. Do not advertise. Do not boast. What your right hand does, the left hand should not know.

It is easy to fight in the battle, but it is difficult to give a gift silently, without manifesting pride and self-glorification and with expressing to others.

Always give the best things, best food, best fruits, best milk, best clothes to friends, neighbours, strangers, guests and servants. You will derive immense joy, strength and happiness. Put this into practice and realise the benefits yourself.

Share with others what you have. In sharing, there is joy and peace. Sharing generates cosmic love and destroys greed. Sharing removes selfishness and creates selflessness. Sharing purifies the heart. Sharing develops oneness.

Sins can be destroyed by charity. Lord Jesus says, "Charity covereth a multitude of sins." Charity is a great purifier of heart. In the Gita you will find : "Yajna charity, and austerity are the purifiers of the intelligent."

If one can destroy one’s miserly nature, a great portion of "Sadhana" is over. One has then achieved something substantial.

If you want wealth and children, do plenty of charity. If you want to become wise, serve old men and Mahatmas. If you want to get rid of sins, do Havan.

O man ! Give plenty in charity. You will enjoy peace and prosperity here. You will go to heaven hereafter. You will attain purity of heart and Moksha too.

 

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