Why It Is Important
To Be Generous

Wed, 13/12/2017 Bangalore, India

"Give in such a way that the other does not even feel they have taken. This is generosity, and this is beauty."

Click To Tweet

Two Internal Tendencies

  1. Taking from another
  2. Giving to another

Which value system we are imbibing in our children is worth noting. If our children are hesitant to take or ask, then that is a sign of good values. But if they are hesitant to give, then there is something wrong there.

If people feel hesitation to put their hand out to take, that is a good sign, but if they hesitate to extend their hands out to help, then we need to change the direction society is going in. If a child is sattvic (positive state of being), s/he will always make an effort to share her/his belongings with everyone. But if the child is rajasic (restless state of being), then s/he tries to take things from everyone.

We Should Imbibe the Value of Sharing in Children

Children should feel happiness in giving and sharing, and hesitation in taking. They should feel hesitation to put their hands out and ask.

There are people who have enough, and yet they keep asking for more. This is very strange.  So, when there is an attitude to give and hesitation to take or to ask, then the direction of life has reached an elevated level. If there is hesitation to give and no shame in taking, then, comparatively, that is of a lower level of existence. And there are some people who even go to the extent of pouncing, grabbing, and seizing, which is an even lower level of existence.

Now, in this world, there are all kinds of people and all sorts of things happen. So we must not hold anyone guilty or judge anyone. The important message is that we must set an example for others, but not make another feel guilty.

Click To Tweet This Article

Subscribe

If you enjoyed reading this content and would like to receive a notification on our future updates, you can subscribe here.

Enter your email address:


You can also write to us on webteam.wisdom@artofliving.org for any questions or comments.

The 3 Types of Maya

These are three types of Maya,
and one has to cross over the
three types.

1. Moh Maya
2. Maha Maya
3. Yoga Maya

In this article, 
Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar explains the three types of Maya.

READ MORE

 

 

Read earlier posts

  • Why Does the Mind Get Attracted to Negativity?

    February 22, 2018
    • Reeling in negativity or simply getting caught up in a web of negative thoughts is a common challenge faced by most people. In this article Sri Sri Ravi Shankar talks about 'Why the Mind Gets Attracted to Negativity'

    Inner Peace and Outer Dynamism

    February 6, 2018
    • Here is the transcript of the event: 'Inner Peace Outer Dynamism' - where Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar interacts with the Youth of Kochi on 5 February 2018.
  • A Message On Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti

    January 4, 2018
    • "Indian land will always be indebted to Guru Gobind Singhji because of the way he brought change in this country."
      Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar reminisces Guru Gobind Singh on the occasion of his birth anniversary.

    Gurudev's New Year Message - 2018

    January 1, 2018
    • Here is the transcript of Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar's New Year message welcoming 2018 and wishing you a Wisdom Filled Year
  • A Christmas Message

    December 22, 2017
    • A New Perspective to the Hymn - Silent Night.

      An insightful knowledge sheet by Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar on the occasion of Christmas - 2017

    A Message on Dattatreya Jayanti

    December 1, 2017
    • Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar reminisces Dattatreya on the occasion of Dattatreya Jayanti. Dattatreya is a Hindu deity regarded to symbolize the Guru Energy.
  • Inner Peace Outer Dynamism

    November 15, 2017
    • A transcript of what Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar said at JNU on 13 November 2017 at New Delhi

    Strength in Diversity

    September 8, 2017
    • Here is the transcript of what Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar said at the North East Indigenous People’s Conference
  • Janmashtami Message 2017

    August 16, 2017
    • A transcript of Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar message on the festival of Janmashtami on 14 August 2017 at The Art of Living International Center

    Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar's Message on Raksha Bandhan 2016

    August 4, 2017
    • A transcript of Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar message on the festival of Raksha Bandhan on 18 August 2016 at The Art of Living International Center
  • Celebrating Love, Knowledge & Infinity

    July 12, 2017
    • A transcript of Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar message at the Montreal Ashram on the significance of Guru Purnima a day after Guru Purnima

    Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar's Message on Guru Purnima 2017

    July 10, 2017
    • A transcript of Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar message on Guru Purnima at The Art of Living Centre in North Caroline USA

CONNECT WITH GURUDEV

THE GURUDEV APP

Read wisdom from Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s Blog, Facebook, Twitter and Live Talks.

IPHONE | ANDROID

Subscribe to wisdom updates