Freely vs Free, by Thuy Nguyen

सहजता में देना बनाम मुफ्त में देना द्वारा थुय न्गुयेन
आज, एक मरीज ने, मेरी एकुपंक्चर ( acupuncture) की दान पर निर्धारित चिकत्सा लेने के बाद, मुझसे पूछा कि मैं इतनी अच्छी चिकित्सा मुफ्त में क्यों बाँट रही हूँ ? क्या आप आपनी प्रतिभा की कीमत या अहमियत नहीं समझती हैं ? उन्होंने मुझसे पुछा | क्या आप नहीं चाहती कि और व्यक्ति भी आपकी प्रतिभा की कीमत को समझें ? क्या आप नहीं चाहती कि लोग आपकी प्रतिभा का आदर उसकी कीमत आपको देकर दिखाएँ ? तब उन्होंने मेरा हैरानी भरा भाव देख कर मुझसे फिर कहा “ ओह , आप इस टूटी दुनिया को सही बनाने की कोशिश कर रहे हो | आप लोगों की जरूरत पूरी करके उनकी मदद कर रही हो , क्योंकि उनके पास कुछ कमी है | ये आप बहुत ही अच्छा काम कर रही हो | उन्होंने मेरे उत्तर का थोड़ी देर इंतज़ार किया पर मैं निशब्द खड़ी रही| उन्होंने इतना कुछ कहा कि मुझे समझ में नहीं आ रहा था कि मैं कहाँ से उत्तर देना शुरू करूँ, इसलिए मैंने सिर्फ अपनी गर्दन इतनी घुमाई कि लगे कि मैं सहमती में हूँ | वो मुस्कुराई और 5 डॉलर मेरे कैश बक्से में रख कर निकल गयी |

उस दिन से मैं उसकी कही हुई बातें सोच रही हूँ ? मैं जो करती हूँ वो ही करती हूँ, और कोई भी ऐसी पैसे की रकम नहीं है जो मुझे कोई दे और उससे मुझे यह एहसास हो कि वह मेरे द्वारा दी गयी सेवा चिकत्सा का पर्याप्त मूल्यांकन है | ना ही 5 डॉलर और ना ही 5000 डॉलर | क्योंकि मैं जो सेवा देती हूँ उसकी कीमत नहीं आंकी iजा सकती | क्योंकि जो भी सेवा मैं देती हूँ वो सिर्फ़ मेरा स्वयं है , और वह ही मेरी चीनी (Chinese) औषध चिकित्सा पद्धति में नज़र आता है और मैं उसका कारोबार भी उसी तरह से चलाती हूँ | ये वह ही है जो 16 वर्ष के मेरे औषधि एवं स्वास्थय के बारे में मेरे विचार से उभर कर आया है , कि मैं जिस दुनिया में जीती हूँ , उसको मैं कैसे प्रभावित करना चाहती हूँ, और किस तरह मैं उस दुनिया से प्रभावित होना चाहती हूँ |

यह मेरे स्वास्थ्य सम्बन्धी समझ का ही प्रतिबिम्ब है और यह प्रतिबिम्ब हमारे एक दुसरे के साथ के आपसी समबन्धों का | मेरी चिकित्सा पद्धति दर्शाती है बहुतायत , भरोसे एवं संबंधों में मेरे विश्वास को , जो हमारी इस दुनिया में मुमकिन हैं , और साथ ही चीनी चिकित्सा पद्धति की ठीक करने वाली क्षमता में मेरे विश्वास को | मैं मानती हूँ इस पद्धति की सरलता को , इसकी कोमलता को , इसकी विनम्रता को, इसकी आसान उपलब्धता को , इसकी असीम गहरायी को , इसकी शीतलता से ठीक करने की क्षमता को| मुझे हार्दिक प्रफुल्लता होती है ( आज के दिन और युग में भी) एक ऐसा सुरक्षित वातावरण प्रदान करने में, जहाँ पांच अंजान व्यक्ति , साथ लगे बिस्तरों में लेट सकते हैं , नींद ले सकते हैं, आराम कर सकते हैं और ठीक हो सकते हैं | और दिन प्रति दिन लोग यह ही करने आते हैं |

यह ही विश्वास है | यह ही ठीक होने की प्रक्रिया है | इस प्रकार की सोच से मूल्य और कीमत बहुत ही दुसरे प्रकार के दृष्टिकोण ले लेते हैं | और मेरे द्वारा दी गयी सेवाएं की असीम कीमत की मेरी समझ का ही नतीजा है कि मैं इसे सहजता में दे पाती हूँ | मुफ्त में नहीं पर यह सहजता से है | मैं यह सेवाएं एक टूटी एवं बिखरी हुई दुनिया को जोड़ने के लिए नहीं दे रही हूँ ना ही इस से मैं जरूरत मंदों की मदद कर रही हूँ | यह दुनिया टूटी या बिखरी हुई नहीं हैं और जो लोगों की जरूरत है या नहीं है वो मेरी समझ के भी बहुत ऊपर है | मैं यह सिर्फ इसलिए कर रही हूँ , क्योंकि यह मेरे स्वयं का एक बहुत ही प्राकृतिक उदहारण है | यह उदाहरण है कि मैं आतंरिक तौर पर क्या हूँ और आतंरिक तौर पर क्या बन गयी हूँ|

मनन के लिए बीज प्रश्न : आप मुफ्त में देना एवं सहजता में देना के अंतर को किस प्रकार से देखते हैं| क्या आप अपनी एक निजी कहानी साझा कर सकते हैं जब बहुतायत के स्थान से, आप सहजता से दे पाने में सक्षम थे? ऐसी कौन सी पद्धति है जो आपको बहुतायत में जमें रहने में सहयोग करती है , हमारी प्रचलित मूल्यांकन पद्धति को विचारे बिना ?

Thuy Nguyen is a licensed acupuncturist and mother of three wonderful children. Berkeley Community Acupuncture represents a culmination of her love of Chinese medicine, her commitment to family and community, and her desire to effect positive social change. She is a certified Medical Qigong Practitioner and this article is reprinted from her blog. â€‹

Seed Questions for Reflection

What do you make of the distinction between freely and free? Can you share a personal experience of a time when you were able to give freely from a space of abundance? What is a practice that helps you stay rooted in abundance, regardless of the monetary system you engage with?

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Add Your Reflection

15 Past Reflections

John Ross

Sep 8, 2022

This attitude described in this post is a breath of fresh air--fresh air that we need more in our capitalistic business environment. As I read, the question in my head is "who does this?!" and sadly my image of the writer, before I saw the name, was that of someone from another country because this type of generous attitude is so foreign to most of us. "What's the catch?" "When are they going to ask something of me?" What a great gift that you share and how lucky are those that get to receive it. I bet your gift to them pours out through their actions and spirit when they leave you...

Nanda

Jun 26, 2020

Thank you, putting words to what I am feeling. Human beings are such amazing, whole and abundant giving beings. We are all contributing in our own way, how amazing a world where all this energy can flow freely and without limitations and expectations.

Atul Sahu

Jul 18, 2017

What a beautiful article and answer to my quest to know, Who am i and what am I doing. Now i can say that what i am doing is the "most natural expression of who I’ve become and of who I am." Thank you

Margaret Dec 28, 2018

Wow, that is me! You just articulated what I have inside but have not been able to put in words. You are blessing. Namaste, & Stay blessed

Greg Acuna

Oct 30, 2016

Beautiful and thought provoking. I'll be enjoying this throughout my day...and hopefully life.

Norma

Jan 30, 2015

Beautifully said. Thank you for finding the words to express what I have not been able to. I too like to give freely and my motives have been questioned. Your well articulated understanding helps me find the words to understand myself. Thank you again.

drjustin

Jan 29, 2015

In my personal philosophy, "free" connotes the law. What is mandated by 'law' to be free, e.g. food stamp, bus ticket, etc. as mandated by either law or other eligibility criteria. Whereas, "freely" means availability as needed.

paashi

Jan 27, 2015

My thoughts , emotion and occasionally action flow freely when the I'm not confined with the give and take practicality of everyday life. when the heart is un constricted and in a natural state of being part of the wholeness, then the flow of life moves freely towards others.

Always Love

Jan 27, 2015

A beautiful sharing! I am thankful for your free gift!

Deneen

Jan 27, 2015

This is a very powerful reminder. If only politicians realized the power in giving freely instead of just giving for free. I read a quote by Jimmy Carter about this the other day about different parties claiming to be Christian based and yet yelling loudly when tax money goes to programs for the needy. If we all just gave freely without expecting, our world would be a much different place!

Annette

Jan 27, 2015

I spend two days a month holding hands at a clinic for women/girls who are going through abortions. I wipe their tears and I love each and every one of them. They often thank me but it is me who is grateful to them for allowing me to be there to comfort them during this emotional/physical trying time in their lives. What I get out of this is the pure balance I need in life as I work in retail which has it's own 'sufferings' to deal with.

Kristin Pedemonti

Jan 27, 2015

Oh yes!!! I resonate 100% The distinction between freely & free is the liberation one can feel when one views giving as a choice in "freely" and that free does not devalue the worth of what is given. I often give, donate or do Pay What You Will for my Storytelling (and yes it is my full-time work and how I pay my bills). Even though I have lived on what many may consider limited income it has always been enough and I have always had a roof over my head, food in my stomach and kindness shared from others. As Thuy shares, there is a trust that what is needed will somehow be provided. And it works. It is knowing there is abundance in giving/receiving although there are no expectations, just the trust. The practice that helps me stay rooted in abundance is focusing on all those in the world who give from their hearts and a view of love and kindness; seeing those examples over and over again reminds me this is the path. And in my own life I reflect on all those times services were shar... View full comment

Jyoti

Jan 26, 2015

So beautifully expressed. I had a similar exchange at work today when someone I work with made comments that were so far away from how I think and behave - that I was completely dumb-struck. I realized that we approach the world very differently. I paused. I accepted that the interaction was meant to teach me something that I needed to learn. I talked with someone who shared my values. It helped to heal the hurt I felt from being put down for my being. I found the courage to walk the path I was on, even if I had to go alone. I spoke my truth. I thanked the person for their candid feedback and said what I was going to do and why. I know I do not need her acceptance or approval, and I do not need for her to see the world the same way as I do. I am happy to have clarity on my choices, and that is a blessing. It frees me.

david doane

Jan 25, 2015

My understanding is that offering freely is about the giver and means my giving is my choice and what is given is a gift from me for which I expect nothing in return. Offering for free is about the receiver who has no obligation to pay for what is given. Who, when, and how much I charge for something that I give is arbitrary. There are times and people for whom I have chosen to give freely. We all do some of that, usually giving freely of ourselves in small ways that are important. What helps me stay rooted in abundance is to remind myself daily that life is a gift, that I have been given very much and that it only makes sense for me to give from what I have been given, that I am part of all that is and thus really own nothing, that the other is me in a way that is beyond my understanding, that giving is natural, that I feel joy in giving and feel better giving than receiving. I come from a pace of not being very giving, and becoming more giving ove... View full comment

Jagdish P dave

Jan 24, 2015

Free, freedom and freely are very profound words. Words have power only if they resonate with our inner being, if they reflect ourselves.I am a teacher and a psychotherapist. To me teaching and psychotherapy are relationships based on authenticity and compassion. They reflect and represent me, my being.My profession is me. When I relate to my students and my clients, i enrich their lives and enrich my life too. It is by giving, we receive as St Francis of Assisi reminds us.Work becomes worship with no conditions attached.I am following my bliss when I work.I am 89 years old and I am not retired. I am still working and following my bliss. When I was 20, I was riding I used a bicycle to do my work. I am 89. I drive to do my work. The inner joy and satisfaction, the inner abundance have not changed regardless of my age and my bank balance. I am free from self created bondage which lets me blossom and blossom others. Life is a wonderful gift and it becomes more... View full comment