Karma Yoga: Selfless Service and Giving - All Year Long
By Paul Jerard
It is that time of year, when many people contribute more to charities, than they do all year. Many charities and non-profit organizations have scheduled mailings to donors and prospective donors, making a mass appeal for financial assistance.
This is a world where poverty, hunger, distress, anxiety, and misery, exist on a daily basis for most of the world’s people. Many people do give generously to charities at this time of year. There is a reason for this: A financial “windfall,” bonus, or a little extra in your pocket, at the end of the year.
This is understandable, but some charities are in dire need of help, all year long. Hurricanes, tsunamis, droughts, wars, earth quakes, and tornadoes make the headlines, but the poor are starving in every corner of the earth throughout the year.
Karma Yoga is a daily practice and is not specific to a season or the next “news flash.” When we see someone in need of help, there is no question that giving assistance is the right action to take. Do we look to help others, or do we have to see a situation to react charitably?
Even among givers to charity, there is sometimes a feeling of hierarchy. For example: Which is more valuable, voluntary service or a financial contribution? This has been an ageless debate, and sometimes, a foolish one.
When you are on the receiving end of charity, you do not care who wants to take credit for it. If we want to wave our money around before making a contribution, what is our agenda? If we are volunteers, should we shout to the heavens how much better we are than the people who made financial donations?
Every charity depends on contributions and volunteers. One group does not outweigh the other. When we start to think that what we give is better than someone else, our purpose for giving is flawed and we have missed the point.
What is the greatest gift you can give? The knowledge to be self-sustaining, to live in tranquility, and to help someone discover internal bliss, is the greatest gift you can give to another person. When a person is starving, we must feed him, or her, first, but the value of knowledge cannot be under estimated in comparison to material gifts.
Yoga teachers, from various styles, give the gift of knowledge on a daily basis. Sometimes, Yoga teachers are called upon to share their knowledge with local charities and non-profit groups.
When, or if, we make the time to help and share our knowledge, we are contributing to the welfare of all.
© Copyright 2006 – Paul Jerard / Aura Publications
Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500, is a co-owner and the director of Yoga teacher training at: Aura Wellness Center, in Attleboro, MA. http://www.riyoga.com He has been a certified Master Yoga teacher since 1995.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FREE articles about self-help, self improvement, wellness, holistic health, and fitness. To see our full line of e-Books visit: www.ebooks4selfhelp.com
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Get a Free Yoga e-Book & Free Report
posted by Cheryl Levesque @ 2:18 PM
<< Home