Sunday, August 10, 2008

Let's give in order to give

"Quid pro quo" - "something for something" - "tit for tat" - "You scratch my back, I'll scratch yours" ... That's the attitude most people take toward generosity. It's so sad because it inevitably breeds resentment:

Giving needs to have the right motivation behind it. if one gives in order to get whatever one is after – merit, appreciation, gratitude – it doesn’t work. It’s a contradiction in terms. One doesn’t give in order to get. One gives in order to give. Only when one investigates this and inquires into it, does one see that quite clearly. If one gives in order to give, one is certain to get, namely happiness, satisfaction, peace of mind, contentment.

- Ayya Khema

2 comments:

  1. Anonymous7:37 AM

    sister Ellie. could you send this to Oral and Richard Roberts? I think they lost this somewhere betwee. the $ signs!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Anonymous12:16 PM

    How very true this is! Marilyn

    ReplyDelete

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