The Art of Giving

"Rivers do not drink their own water, nor do tree eat their own fruit, nor do rain clouds eat the grains reared by them. The wealth of the noble is used solely for the benefit of others?
 
Even after accepting that giving is good and that one   must learn to give, several questions need to be answered.
 
The first question is     when should one give  ?  

Yudhisthir, asks a beggar seeking alms to come the next day. On this, Bhim rejoices, that Yudhisthir his brother, has conquered death! For he is sure that he will  be around tomorrow to give. Yudhisthir gets the message.  
One does not know really whether one will be there
tomorrow to give!
 
The time to give therefore is
NOW.

The next question is 'how much to give ?
 
One recalls the  famous incident from history. Rana Pratap was reeling  after defeat from the Moghals. He  had lost his army, he had lost his wealth, and most important he had lost hope,  his will to fight. At that time in his darkest hour, his  erstwhile minister Bhamasha came seeking him and placed  his entire fortune at the disposal of Rana Pratap. With  this, Rana Pratap raised an army and lived to fight another day.
 
The answer to this question how much to give  is
  " Give as much as you can !

The next question is what to give ?
 
It is not only money that can be given. It could be a flower or even a smile.
 
It is not how much one gives but how one gives that really matters. When you give a smile to a stranger that may be the only good thing received by him in days and weeks!
 
"You can give anything but   you must give with your heart !

One also needs answer to this question   whom to give ?
 
Many  times we avoid giving by finding fault with the person  who is seeking. However, being judgmental and rejecting  a person on the presumption that he may not be the most deserving is not justified.
" Give  without being judgmental !

Next we have to answer 'How to give ?
 
Coming to the manner of giving, one has to ensure that the receiver does not feel humiliated, nor the giver feels   proud by giving.
 
  'Let not  your left hand know what your right hand gives? Charity  without publicity and fanfare, is the highest form of  charity.
 
'Give quietly !
 
While giving let not the  recipient feel small or humiliated. After all what we  give never really belonged to us. We come to this world  with nothing and will go with nothing. The thing gifted  was only  with us for a temporary period. Why then take  pride in giving away something which really did not belong to us? Give with grace and with a feeling of gratitude.

What should one feel after giving ?
 
We all know the story  of Eklavya. When Dronacharya asked him for his right  thumb as "Guru Dakshina". He unhesitatingly cut off the thumb and gave it to Dronacharya.
 
There is a little known sequel to this story. Eklavya was asked whether he ever  regretted the act of giving away his thumb when he was dying.
 
His reply was "Yes ! I regretted this only once in my life. It was when Pandavas  were coming in to kill Dronacharya who was broken hearted  on the false news of death of his son Ashwathama and had  stopped fighting. It was then that I regretted the loss  of my thumb. If the thumb was there, no one could have  dared hurt my Guru?

The message to us is clear.
 
Give and never regret giving !
 
And the last question is
 
' How much should we provide for our heirs ?
 
Ask yourself , 'Are we taking away from them the  "gift of work?- a source of  happiness!'   The answer is given by Warren Buffett:  
 
"Leave your kids enough to do anything, but not enough to do nothing !  

I would conclude by saying: let us learn the Art of  Giving, and quoting Sant Kabir:
 
"When the wealth in the  house increases,  When water fills a boat, Throw them out with both hands !  

This is the wise thing to do!