"I have learnt that it is the foremost duty of man to learn to give - give in charity, give in plenty, give with love, give without any expectation. Charity is incomplete without charity of disposition, charity of feeling, charity of understanding." -Swami Sivananda
The inborn tendencies of helping others, sharing all that he had with others and always giving plentiful had made Swami Sivananda a personification of charity. During the early days of the Ashram, even when the entire ration was exhausted and there was no money to buy fresh ration, he would keep on giving in plenty. He had given generously to the thief who had stolen things from the Ashram, and even to the person who had tried to kill him! His charity and generosity had no bounds. Here are some gems of his broad vision...
Charity is the disposition to think favourably of others and do them good. In a general sense, charity means love, benevolence and goodwill. In a theoretical sense, it is universal goodwill to man and supreme love to God.
Charity is love in action. True charity is the desire to be useful to others without thought of recompense or reward.
Every good act is charity. To be kind and loving is charity. To forget and forgive some harm done to you is charity. A kind word said to a suffering man is charity.
The whole world is your home. You are a citizen of the world. Cultivate a generous feeling for the welfare of the whole world.
He who lives as a trustee of his property and spends his money in charity thinks that the property really belongs to the Lord, and lives happily.
Think well towards suffering people. Pray for their welfare. Feel that every being is a manifestation of the Lord. This will accomplish more good than much money.
Sins can be destroyed by charity. Lord Jesus says: "Charity covereth a multitude of sins." Charity is a great purifier of heart.
See God everywhere. Share with all. O Man! Give plenty in charity. You will enjoy peace, plenty and prosperity.
