Power of giving

Yesterday I visited a local Ganpati temple (how uncharacteristic of me). But, let’s say it was social compulsion. There were two young kids, children of temple workers, playing. The boy was playing in a corner with a tree branch and his younger sister was playing at a distance.

I decided to give them both the prasad (sweets) which I had got. My ego obviously was riding a high, as it does whenever I ‘give’. As soon as I offered the boy sweets he dropped the branch and looked at his sister, I assured him I was going to give to her also. And the moment I offered the sweets to the young girl, she called out for her brother. She looked at me and pointed to him, asking me to give him. It warmed my heart (and taught a lesson to my ego).

These kids who are in economical terms from the ‘lower class’ were so concerned about each other. That even when they received something they were more bothered about the sibling also receiving it. The boy must have been no older than 3 and the girl was even younger.

In life it is very important to operate from abundance instead of scarcity. Selfish people operate from a sense of scarcity. They believe that whatever they have is limited, therefore they cannot share. Self less people operate from a sense of abundance. They believe that whatever they have is a lot, therefore they share.

I come from a family that predominantly believes in giving, not because it gives ‘gains’ but they want to give. But it pales in comparison to how others give. We live a life of comfort in a city like Mumbai, and there are those whose life may not be as comfortable, yet their sense of generosity superior.

Someday when I get married and have my own kids, I hope they grow up to be as kind as those two children I met at the temple. Even more so, I hope to inculcate those values in myself on a regular basis.