Buddha and Charity

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Jaya Guru Datta,

 

Here is today's saying:

 

“In one of his births, Lord Buddha was born as a wealthy businessman. He was a

man of charity by nature. He never missed an opportunity to undertake charitable

activities. His business was ever prosperous. As time passed, his children grew

averse to his charitable nature and demanded that he should divide his wealth

and properties among them. He agreed and each one of his children got their

share. The father also kept a share for himself. In due course of time, he gave

away his possessions in charity to the poor and the needy and went away to the

forest to undertake penance. Those who had been benefitted by him in the past

implored him to come and stay with them. But he politely refused.

 

While he was in the forest engaged in tapas, Indra thought of testing his

charitable nature. He assumed the form of a demon and stood in front of him and

said, - 'O ! noble man, I am have not come here to pose any more trouble to you.

I have been told that I will get rid of this form of mine if I receive charity

from you. This will ensure me a place in the heaven. Therfore, please have mercy

on me and donote something to me.'

 

Tears started rolling down the cheeks of the wealthy businessman. He said

helplessly - 'You have chosen to come to me at a time when I have nothing left

to gove to anybody. What can I give you now ?'

 

'But you have inexhaustible fund of merit which you have acquired by tapas. That

will enable you to spend some time in the heaven. If only you make up your mind

to give all that to me, I can get rid of my present form. But I must warn you.

If you give all the merit to me, you will have nothing to eat in your next life.

So, think well before you decide and donate only as much as you think you

should'-said the demon.

 

The businessman's face brightened immediately. He said 'I had never thought that

I had acquired any merit and that it could be given away in charity ! Don't

worry about my next birth. Please accept all my merit and get rid of the curse

which has made you a demon' and donated all his merit to the demon.

 

Immediately Indra appeared before him and took him in a special plane to heaven.

 

This story tells us as to what attitude one should develop if one wants to

become a real philonthropist. As a first step in that path, the donor should

stop thinking that his donation is a favour to its recipient . . . "don't ever

think that the person who receives charity from you is getting benefitted. You

are doing charity only to get rid of your sins. Don't ever forget this.'

 

There was a tradition in ancient India for the donor to

worship the person accepting the donation for having provided an opportunity to

get rid of sins. The donor used to feel indebted to the person who accepted the

donation."

 

Sri Guru Datta,

Swamiji Says

 

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