Skip to main content

"Helping others"

 A friend sent the following video some time back:

https://youtu.be/K9vFWA1rnWc?si=IJMUOw-fKoJUB9De

An interesting video where a person is helping everybody. He is trying to help a plant get water, feed a dog, help an old woman, help an old neighbor, and also a girl begging for money on the street for no reward or expectation. I often wonder about "helping" or "giving". Doesn't it imply an artificial division between the giver and the taker? The moment there is a division between the "giver" and the "taker", there will definitely be an exchange of considerations. The "taker" may be taking something tangible and returning something "intangible" in the form of a smile on the face or gratitude or something else and that "smile" or "gratitude" may carry more value to the "giver" than what he gave. 

There may be quite varied types of exchanges. For example, some "givers" may give to improve their "social image" so that they shall be regarded as philanthropists by the society. On the other hand, some may try to improve their "self-image" because they "feel good" by having a self-image of being a giver. Some may give because they want some tax benefits in return. Some give to add it to their CV. Some feel that giving is like an investment and the takers will be standing with them as and when they need them. Some feel that takers will feel obliged and that is how they create a cult of appreciators and followers and thereby feel powerful.

However, I feel that "giving" is not possible till the time the division between the giver and the taker exists. It is only when we feel connected to the other person, we feel like extending. There is not much difference between our hunger and the hunger of the street dog demanding food from us. We feel connected to that little girl who is forced to beg on the street and share whatever we have. We feel connected to the old lady somehow trying to feed herself. When there is a feeling of that connection, there is no giving or taking. 

Our minds are very good at creating divisions between "I" and "you" by forming strong identifications with our thought processes and material possessions. However, it is an eternal truth of life that we must eventually leave this body, leaving behind all our thoughts and beliefs, as we transition to a new existence and begin anew in a different body with a fresh thought process. We can live in two very distinct ways. One involves strong identifications with our thoughts, bodies, and material possessions. In this case, we would always inhabit a world of divisions and seek to maximize our happiness around the mental concepts we've constructed throughout our lifetimes, including the notion of "giving." However, the more we strive, the stronger these divisions will become, and the more fearful and fragile we will find ourselves. The other way is to maintain constant awareness of "who we are." When we hold onto that awareness, we naturally develop a concern for those around us. There is no question of "giving"—how can I give to myself? In that state, there is no need to search for happiness; it is a natural outcome of love and compassion. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

A Comfortable Life full of Fears

 Why did Buddha reject the offer of a comfortable life as a prince from his father? Why do most people grab such an opportunity? Why do most people struggle all through their lives to get such a comfortable life? It is because most people can't see what Buddha could see. That is exactly why Buddha wanted to tell the secret to the entire world.  Buddha asked questions to his charioteer about disease and death. He could have closed his eyes to the suffering of the people and sat happily inside his palace. But he enquired into the nature of death and diseases, the old age and pains thereof. He asked whether anyone can avoid suffering, and came to know that it is not possible to avoid the sufferings of old age, diseases, and death. He was determined to find a solution and therefore delved deeper and deeper into the nature of suffering and its source. His inner journey revealed the secrets that he shared with the whole world. The real cause of suffering is ignorance.  We form ...
Post a Comment
Read more

A "home" decorated with "bonsai"

 Somebody gifted a plant sometime back. When I look at the plant on the Table, it appears to me as if the plant had the potential to grow into a big tree, but we confined the little plant within the limits of the pot, and it has grown strangely. It has a thick stem but has small leaves and branches. We have designed the plants to look the way we like. What "I" want is more important than what the "plant" is. The plant will grow the way "I" like it to grow. And then, "I" would also claim that "I" love the plant.  Yesterday, I went to a coaching institute to get some test series for a competitive exam for my daughter. The guide there spoke for around 40-45 minutes on the risks and chances of getting selected in different competitive examinations. So much competition. Fear is instilled into the minds of the students from the very beginning. Everything is around fear. If they are not able to get enrolment in a professional course , they wi...
Post a Comment
Read more

Kurukshetra Within Ourselves

I watched the Netflix series Kurukshetra today. It's a wonderfully made series and, in fact, made me recall my childhood series of the Mahabharata that used to be telecast on DD. Mahabharata is magical. The most magical thing about the Mahabharata is that it has no straitjacket definition of Dharma . The entire battle of Kurukshetra is for Dharma, and everybody feels that he is fighting the battle for Dharma.  When Bhishma realises that Vichitravirya needs to be married, he goes to the Swamvara of Amba, Ambika, and Ambalika and forcefully brings them to Hastinapur . Ambika and Ambalika are married to Vichitravirya, while Amba carries out penance to take revenge on Bhishma. Why did Bhishma bring these three girls against their wishes to Hastinapur? If Vichitravirya wanted to marry, he should have shown courage and participated in the Swamvara. After all, Swamvara meant that the girls wanted to marry the most courageous person. Bhishma deprived them of their rights for his attac...
Post a Comment
Read more