There is nothing wrong in accumulation. But you must also learn to share. Take a look at Nature. The clouds pour forth their rain on the Himalayas. The mountains do not keep all the water. All the water is sent down to the plains in the form of rivers. Spring comes and fills all the trees with flowers. But do the trees keep the flowers and fruits for themselves? No, man, animals, birds, all eat their fruits.
If you don’t learn to share, you become proud. Have you seen the pond that has collected water from all four sides? It stinks. The water is stale. Why? It has not learned to give. The river flows, and as it flows, it gives water to every body. Look at the ocean; though it is so vast, yet the water is salty. Not one creature can quench its thirst with sea water.
When the whole world is giving and taking, how is it that man alone does not want to share? There is nothing wrong with making money. But if you don’t share, it is a crime. You can use the money to improve the lot of the poor. If you don’t let the money flow, it will begin to rot. Your life will begin to decay.
Too much money leads to all kinds of temptations. It is better to wash off all the sins in the river of charity. Be charitable. It is certainly wrong to be a miser. Charity can be done through other ways. You can work with your hands; you can give some land; you can give your blood; and you can share your knowledge.
Vinoba bhave who is the disciple of Mahatma Gandhi created great awareness of land charity.
Our Former president Abdul Kalam insists to youngsters for sharing their knowledge to innocent people.
There are innumerable ways of doing favors. You can help society; you can help your friend; and you can help your neighbor. When you don’t want any thing, you can give it to a needy person rather than let it to wastage bin. You can give your woolen clothes, some food to a poor person. If you can share your food with a hungry person, it is the best act of charity you can perform.
It is said in the Vedas that the man who eats alone does not eat food, he eats sins. It is very important to share food. Learn to give. No matter how little a person’s salary is, the entire family somehow manages to survive on it. Everyone eats. Everyone celebrates festivals. Then, why does a question of a low salary occur only when you have to give?
These a little acts of charity can change a person’s life. It can give a poor person a chance to do something in life. It also makes you a much better person. You need only one thing – to give in charity. You need compassion to be a complete human being. You must have sympathy for a fellow living creature. You must have compassion, forgiveness and love. You may be a human being in outward appearance. But without these qualities, you are no human being at all. A human being must show humanity.
When a person dies, only his good and bad deeds go with him. Swami Vivekananda has said, “The hand that goes out to help a person in need is greater than the two hands being joined in prayer.”
Look around you. Be like an angel to one, who is needy, give bread to the hungry, share with the poor, give books to the one who wants to study, but has no books. If at all you have nothing to give, distribute the knowledge and information you have acquired.
When you give you must give with a pure mind. If you are thinking of what you will get in return, it is no use giving at all. It becomes a bargain, that’s all. Always keep an eye open for the needy. Give help readily and with a smile as Gandhiji smile in rupee note.
Don’t ask what you will get in return. Remember the one simple fact: the more you give, the more you have.