Awakin Readings

The Act of Giving is the True Gift

Author Unknown
  1 min read ·   22 reflections
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देने की क्रिया ही सच्ची भेंट है

-- अज्ञात लेखक (२५ फ़रवरी, २०१५)

एक प्राचीन भारतीय महाकाव्य में, प्रसिद्ध योद्धा, अर्जुन, अपने दिव्य सारथी कृष्ण से पूछते हैं कि इस राज्य में सबसे बड़ा दाता कौन है। कृष्ण बताते हैं कि, “कर्ण ही इस साम्राज्य में बेशक उदारता का सबसे बेहतरीन उदाहरण है," यह जवाब अर्जुन को परेशान कर देता है। कर्ण युद्ध के मैदान में उनके सबसे बड़ी प्रतिद्वंद्वियों में से एक है। वह भौंहें चढ़ा लेते हैं और कुछ नहीं कहते। कृष्ण अर्जुन की चढ़ी हुई भौंहें और उनकी आंखों में प्रतिस्पर्धा की चमक देखकर मन ही मन में मुस्कुराते हैं। यह विषय कुछ समय के लिए छोड़ दिया जाता है, लेकिन कुछ दिनों के बाद, कृष्ण एक कुशल परीक्षण ढूँढ निकालते हैं।

जब एक शाम वो दोनों एक साथ सवारी कर रहे थे तो कृष्ण ने अर्जुन से पूछा, "क्या तुम उन दो पहाड़ों को देख रहे हो?" जैसे अर्जुन अपनी निगाहें उस तरफ घुमाते हैं, तो दूर वो ऊंंची पहाड़ियां झिलमिलाने और चमकने लगती हैं। वो दोनों पहाड़ ठोस सोने में बदल जाते हैं। कृष्ण कहते हैं, "अब तुम्हारे लिए एक काम है। तुम्हें तलहटी में रहने वाले सब गरीब ग्रामीणों के बीच सोने के इन दोनों पहाड़ों को बांटना होगा। जब तुम इसका कण-कण बाँट चुको तो मुझे बताना।”

अपनी परोपकारी क्षमताओं के द्वारा कृष्ण और संसार को प्रभावित करने के इस अवसर से उत्साहित होकर अर्जुन सभी ग्रामीणों को बुलाते हैं और धूम-धाम से उन्हें संबोधित करते हैं, “ध्यान से सुनो, क्योंकि मैं खुशखबरी लेकर आया हूँ। मैं आप सभी के बीच सोने के इन दोनो शानदार पहाड़ों को बाँटूँगा।” आश्चर्य और खुशी से दर्शकों की सांस थम जाती है, वे महान योद्धा अर्जुन की प्रशंसा के गीत गाने लगते हैं। इस प्रशंसा से उत्स्साहित हुए अर्जुन सोने को इकठ्ठा करने और बाँटने का बड़ा प्लान बनाना शुरू कर देते हैं।

बिना एक मिनट भी खाना, पानी, आराम या सोने के लिए रुके, दो दिन और दो रात वो लगातार पहाड़ से सोना खोदते रहते हैं। लेकिन फिर भी, उन्हें हैरानी और निराशा हुई कि पहाड़ों में अभी भी कोई फर्क नहीं पड़ा। वो जितना खोदते वो उतने ही बाकी रह जाते। बहुत थक जाने के बाद वे कृष्ण के पास गए। “और खोदने से पहले मुझे कुछ दिन आराम करना होगा,” उन्होंने थक कर कहा।

जवाब में कृष्ण नें कर्ण को अपने पास बुलाया। “क्या तुम वो दो पहाड़ देख रहे हो?” कृष्ण ने कर्ण से पूछा। “जी हाँ,” उस महान योद्धा ने जवाब दिया। “तुम्हें तलहटी में रहने वाले सब गरीब ग्रामीणों के बीच इन दोनों पहाड़ों को बांटना होगा। जब तुम इसका पत्थर-पत्थर बाँट चुको तो मुझे बताना।” कर्ण ने बिना किसी हिचकिचाहट के उसी क्षण पास से गुज़र रहे दो गांव वालों को बुलाया। “क्या तुम वो दो पहाड़ देख रहे हो?” कर्ण ने उनसे पूछा। “जी हाँ” उन्होंने जवाब दिया। “सोने के पहाड़ अब तुम्हारे हैं, उनका जो चाहे करो,” कर्ण ने चढ़ते सूरज की सी उज्ज्वल मुस्कान के साथ कहा। और बड़ी आसानी से ये शब्द कहकर, उन्होंने कृष्ण के सामने शीश झुकाया और वहां से चले गए।

अर्जुन ये सब देखकर हैरान हो गए। कृष्ण उनकी और मुड़े और बहुत ने प्यार और गंभीरता भरी आवाज़ में बोले, “अर्जुन - तुम्हारे मन में उस सोने की बहुत अधिक कीमत थी, और तुम मन ही मन उससे आकर्षित थे। देने के विषय में तुम्हारा देखने का तरीका साफ़ नहीं था। तुमने योजना बनाई और सोने को इस तरीके से बाँटने की कोशिश की जैसे तुम्हें लगा कि इसे पाने की योग्यता किसमें है। लेकिन इस तुच्छ हिसाब-किताब ने तुम्हारे मन को थका दिया, और समय के साथ तुम ये सोचने पर मज़बूर हो गए कि पहाड़ों की प्रचुरता तुम्हारे अपने बुद्धि, मन और हाथों की क्षमता से कहीं अधिक है।” अर्जुन ने मौन होकर उन शब्दों की सच्चाई को अपने मन की गहराई में उतार लिया।

“और कर्ण ने क्या किया?” अर्जुन ने आखिर पूछने की हिम्मत की। “कर्ण के लिए उस सोने का कोई मूल्य नहीं था,” कृष्ण ने आसानी से जवाब दिया, “उसके लिए असली भेंट सोना नहीं, बल्कि उसे देने का काम था। उसे कोई हिसाब-किताब करने की ज़रूरत नहीं थी, न ही उसे वापसी में आभार या बढ़ाई पाने की चाहत थी। उसने सब कुछ साफ दिल और दिमाग से दिया, और देने के बाद वो अपने अगले पल की ओर बढ़ गया। और प्रिय अर्जुन, यही जागरूकता की राह पर चलने वाले इंसान की सच्ची निशानी है।”

विचार के लिए कुछ मूल प्रश्न: आप इस बात से क्या समझते हैं कि भेंट देने की योजनाएं बनाने से देने की क्रिया ज़्यादा महत्त्वपूर्ण है? क्या अपना कोई व्यक्तिगत अनुभव बाँटना चाहेंगे जहाँ भेंट देने की योजना में और भेंट देने की क्रिया में अंतर आपको साफ़ दिखाई दिया हो? आप “बिना योजनाएं बनाए देने” और “जागरूकता से देने” में सामंजस्य कैसे बना सकते हैं?
Seed Questions for Reflection

How do you relate to the act of giving being more important than the strategy of giving? Can you share a personal story of a time when the distinction between the strategy of giving and the act of giving became clear to you? How do you reconcile 'giving without strategizing' with 'mindful giving'?

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22 Past Reflections
ST
starway
Sep 17, 2020
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KA
Kay
Jul 28, 2020
So beautiful!
RA
Rao
Nov 5, 2019
Giving should not be perceived as sacrifice.
That happens when we take ownership of some thing as our own right!
When you give in true spirit, You are not a care taker of any thing that doesn't BELONG to you!
Happiness is not to cling on to things, and feel responsible
MC
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Naveed
Sep 16, 2019
I just found this blog and have high hopes for it to continue. Keep up the great work, its hard to find good ones. I have added to my favorites. Thank You.
SS
sarawan spices
Aug 29, 2019
The excellent concept. it is a good Idea people can read and listen
SH
Shyam
Apr 27, 2019
Wonderful.
Give with no expectations be it kindness, be it service, be it a smile ot be it something of a monetary value, not even expecting or waiting for a thank you.
Dont even bother whether a receipient is worthy of it or not. Have trust and faith in nature.
WN
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Mar 19, 2019
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JO
Jo-Ann
Jan 13, 2016

 Loved the story.

Giving is not about showing people that you give but giving it secretly without any exchange.

-joann

SA
Sammi
Mar 2, 2015

 Loved the message, beautiful. 
It is always worthwhile to come to this site. It's like a temple 😊

JY
Jyoti
Feb 25, 2015

 Recently, Audrey mentioned Adam Grant's book Give and Take - and mentioned the idea of 'closeted givers'. I liked the idea of outing the givers - because there is a large number of givers who prefer to remain anonymous and closeted. This silence is clouding the way the world may be experienced - so lets out the givers and make it okay to give so easily that it is normal and public - like all ordinary behaviors. 

SB
Sepli Bunta
Feb 25, 2015

 The story comparing Arjuna and Karna is perfect.  I love it because it is all of us.  I cannot count the times in my life that I have gotten caught in the "greatness of my giving," emphasis on "my."  How perfect an example to model: giving without thought, then, moving on into the next moment.  One of my personalities is "the teacher," so, too often I find myself getting absorbed in the desire of sharing my wisdom.  I am in a new relationship with a woman who is so unattached to her instinctual wisdom, her words are always just her opinion with no desire to do anything other than 
"utter the truth."  She never tries to instruct, and because of this, she becomes, like Karna, the best giver of all of us.

KP
Kristin Pedemonti
Feb 25, 2015

Beautiful story. Two thoughts: the act of giving should always be with no expectations & with no strings attached. It is important for the giver to think deeply about what is being given; is it what is truly needed by the receiver? This story illustrates this powerfully by allowing the receiver to decide what is best. The philanthropic and charitable world could learn much from this story. :)
Having just returned from presenting at a Storytelling Festival in Iran, there were countless experiences of Iranians giving from their hearts, minds and souls in ways that lifted us all up, connected us and created deep & lasting bonds. Grateful for the experience!
Hugs to all of us.
Mindful giving is giving from the heart. <3

DH
Dhan
Feb 25, 2015

 What is the source of the above story???

TA
Tamara
Feb 24, 2015

I always say that I give because I'm selfish. I love the way it makes me feel. Now I need to practice this selfless form of giving. Thanks for sharing. 

DA
Dr.Asha
Feb 24, 2015

 This reflection is so appropriate for me at this time as my journey of Giving to strangers  is in the initial phase. Thank You. 

AS
Ashok
Feb 24, 2015

Very stunning example of giving. It seem to go even above the level of giving-with-no-selfish-intent. I feel very happy to read this example and be aware of such level of giving. Thanks for this post...

RA
Rajesh
Feb 24, 2015

 Amazing story and really struck me hard.. But had another parallel thought, have found that the ego typically comes in any act of kindness. We can usually hear people talk about the number of trees they planted or the number of people they have helped.. although there is nothing wrong in those phrases..the challenge is for the giver not to be there when the giving happens :) 

SE
Sethi
Feb 23, 2015

 Thank you for this wonderful narrative from the epic Mahabharat , ancient Indian wisdom that has withstood the test of time . For me Giving represents just give , without any agenda of my own , from the bottom of my heart and then moving on . That is it .

JO
Jo
Feb 22, 2015

 God gave . . . God gives . . . And God continues to, in Love, give.  As a thank you to my Father, I use His gift to pass along His gift to others.  God demonstrates, perfectly, the act of giving without "strategy".  God's gift begets life.  "Strategies" gift begets confusion. . . Lots of strings attached.  
I love, too, how God's gift cannot be "bought".  It comes with the price we each put on our faith, trust, hope and relationship with Him.  Too, we cannot lie re our motives to God!   Thanks be!  There is equity in Him.  His gift is the same for all who believe.  
Amen.

DD
david doane
Feb 20, 2015

"I only get to keep that which I am prepared to give up.  In Western terms, virtue is its own reward.  There is no hope of redemption in doing good in order to be saved.  Only by doing good for its own sake, without seeking reward, can we attain salvation."   That quote by Sheldon Kopp is a favorite of mine.  When I give simply to give or in response to a need, my giving is pure.  When I give with some ulterior motive such as to get something in return or inflate my ego or to make the other happy, my giving is strategic.  I think I saw at a young age that giving can be pure or manipulative, and the distinction became more obvious over time.  A great deal of giving is strategic, and pure non-strategic giving stands out as special.  Sometimes my giving is strategic even when I think it's pure.  Being mindful of my giving helps me be aware of my true motives and be aware of whether I'm giving with or without strategizing.

RI
ricky
Feb 19, 2015
To begin, it is important to reflect on how personal the act of giving is, and that judgment has no place in this discussion. That said, the pressures of society on the act of acknowledging giving and elevating it to miraculous heights creates significant conflict for youngsters seeking to make a difference in this world, to make it a better place, to encourage love and support, and to celebrate day to day acts of kindness reflected in a smile that may have taken an enormous amount of courage to express. The act of giving is steeped in a philosophy of ‘do your work, share your fruits, then let go.’ The act of giving is demonstrated time and time again in the Sanskrit words for clear light and non-attachment: vairagya and aparigraha. In response to the phrases above “giving without strategizing” and “mindful giving”, there is a slight difference only in the word selection. Both concepts are born from a deep sense of encouragement and confidence. Both... View full comment
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