Giving

Once a woman, while wandering in the mountains, found a precious stone in a stream. Later she met a hungry traveller and when she opened her bag to share her food, he saw the precious stone. Instinctively, he asked the woman to give it to him. She did so without hesitation. The traveller left, rejoicing since he knew the stone was worth enough to give him security for a lifetime. 

However, a few days later, he came back to return the stone to the wise woman. ‘I've been thinking,’ he said. ‘I know how valuable this stone is, but I give it back in the hope that you can give me something even more precious. Give me what you have within you that enabled you to give me this stone.’

Surely there is no greater personal wealth than the attitude of spontaneous giving. While we may share sometimes some of our resources or some of our money, very few can easily pass on what is most precious in our possession. Such unbridled giving needs a large heart that does not clutch on to valuables.

We need to be better at letting go of our self-absorbed and self-seeking attitude that prevents us from the act of passing our ideas, resources or opportunities. It is pertinent to note that the hallmark of leadership is in the ability to pass on opportunity to team members. To grow in life we must learn to give and share sans inhibitions.

However, it is not enough to generously give. Too often, we hope for a reciprocal reversal of giving by the one who has received from us. Such expectations fetter the decision to give. But when we give unconditionally, we liberate ourselves of the shackles of self-centred anticipation of receiving. And such an attitude is more valuable than any other riches!

Let’s BE BETTER at unconditional giving...

For true liberation lies in generous sharing!

- Pravin K. Sabnis

Goa, India.