The convention of honouring and bestowing titles on philanthropists
has been in vogue in all countries since time immemorial. This practice
has two benefits. One - it serves as an opportunity to the donee to express
his gratitude to the donor. Two - it initiates others to undertake charitable
activities. In either case, it is the recepient who stands benefitted and
not the donor.
On the other hand, the praise and the title does more harm than good to
the donor.
While undertaking an act of charity, the thought that 'I am donating' ,
'this money belongs to me' will usually be present in a dorment form in
the mind of the donor . Most people do charity with some expectation - be
it the desire for a comfortable life after life or the desire to become
famous. At this juncture, the praise of others will nurture the hitherto
dorment ego and makes it a huge tree. He will then think that the person
who has received the donation has been favoured and that it is but natural
for him to express gratitude in return. Thus, the noble attitude he might
have had in the beginning will redede to the background to be replaced by
the desire to satisfy himself by being praised by others. In other words,
the purpose with which the act of charity was performed will become the
first casualty in the course of satisfying one's ego.
What can be done to prevent this ? Is it possible to pass
a legislature prohibiting praise ? No. What else is possible ?
It is possible to change your attitude. The story of Buddha Jataka illuminates
the path one should follow.
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 penence. 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 receipient. Observe
this gem of a saying-
Tvadeeya daanena parigriheetuh
na chintitavyam bhavateeti laabhah
Param tu paapakshataye tavaiva
pradeeyate mitra na samshayotra
"Dear friend, 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 Swamiji
