Dear Akshay: Dana and Charity

[Guest guest]

Dear akshay:

" Not giving money to some temple or one wife sister in law or to

some

relatives " .

" I just wanted to understand people give money to Wife sister in law

what is the idea behind it "

 

I am sorry as the post was getting lengthier; I cut short it without

any adequate explanation.

Many years we have plenty of money for charities as per the

agreement or oath we took at the time of Lakshmi puja.

 

Many members of family (supported at times by spouse) say

" Instead of giving to unknown people and strangers why not give to

us. We are your own. "

 

But in my practical experience " this is a thankless job "

as some think " he is earning in dollars , got lot of money what is

the big deal! Etc " .

Hence I stopped giving to known family members with in a short

time/.I consider this as Apathra Dana

This method of worship with Sri Lakshmi worked for me and to almost

every one who tried it.

I heard comments like " money comes from where. Things started going

well for me Etc. " .

 

Dana -about charity

 

This is my personal opinion and it may not be right.

Giving is receiving.

We are fortunate in this world. We do not have any disabilities. We

have food to eat. That means we have some divine grace and earned

some Punya Karma.

We need to keep earning good karma. We should not forget how

fortunate we are.

 

We will all go through some bad or stressful periods in our life,

Sade sathi, bad dasa etc. I think it will help to build good karma

before rather than trying to find a remedial measure when one is

facing tough times

 

There are 2 Kinds of Dana as per me'

 

Apathra Dana .Donating money to the undeserved.

I want to see smile on the face of the recipient. It is a kind of

blessing. I want to be involved in the project if I can .Hence my

preference for Deaf and dumb, Anna Dana Etc.

 

I prefer that rather than writing a check.

 

Ayachitha Dana: Giving to some one unasked. .Random acts of kindness.

 

Charity based on a purpose or projects.

Some people (America women some times give me some money when ever I

visit India with the instruction to spend it ONLY for the welfare of

women.)

Another example . A good friend of mine went to India while

traveling in a bus could not find a toilet hence has to hide behind

some bushes. She built 10 toilets for women in her district.

 

Distributing seral ccopies of Hanuman chalisa or some strotra book.

 

 

I am sure Shani will be more than happy if you give a shirt or a

pant to a blind or deaf and dumb person rather than Thila Dan.