Generosity – contd.

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Expanding on the thought I seeded in the previous blog, generosity is also the display of the mental state of the human being. This is seen through a comparison of two interesting stories from the Mahabharata.

Both the stories start on similar grounds with two friends spending their childhood together playing, learning and growing up. One of the two friends grows up to be a king and the other a poor Brahmin. Bowing to their family and financial pressure, the poor Brahmin friend goes to the king friend asking for help. Now the stories take different turns. In the first story, the Brahmin is unable to ask for any help. Yet the king understands the need and provides everything without being asked. In the second story, the poor Brahmin approaches his friend and demands for provisions as they discussed in the childhood. The king, in return, derides the Brahmin and throws him out of the court. The first story is of Krishna – Sudama, while the other is of Drupada – Drona. It's the denial and the ridicule in the second story that leads to the darkness in the Mahabharata. Drona and Drupada become sworn enemies and the Pandavas and Kauravas play the role of actors fulfilling their desires.

Let us look at the symbols shown in these stories. Both the stories show the poverty in the society. However, in one story the king understands and takes proper steps to bridge the gap. While in the other the king actually denies to bridge the gap, thereby increasing the discomfort.

Imbalance is the state of nature and can never be changed. A generous person spreads comfort for all around them. He or She supports everone with what they need – material comfort or the emotional comfort. At the same time, we know we can share only what we have. Hence a generous heart also represents a peaceful mind. And peace all around. Lack of generosity (not charity) results in the discomfort all around us.

 A beautiful Rahim's couplet describes this thought –
"रहिमन वे नर मर चुके, जे कहू मंगन जाही,
उनते पहेले वे मुए, जिन मुख निकसत नहीं."
"Says Rahim, he who has to beg is no longer a man. But those who refuse were never men to begin with."

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