‘Let your left hand not know what the right hand is doing’ said Jesus, very relevant in the context of people trying to show off their generosity.
Man is a social being and not as individualistic as he is made out to be. But with every passing generation, he is getting to be more and more self-centered though by nature he is helpful, caring and ready to sacrifice his pleasures for a greater cause. With technological advancement, the world as well as man’s mind has become smaller. He is unable to think beyond himself.
Man has forgotten his inherent goodness in hedonistic pursuits. When he does behave in an altruistic manner , it is mostly with an ulterior motive-the publicity-hungry, for the news that they will make; the pious, to earn brownie points with God; the egoist, to preen over his charitable work; a business-man, to promote his business; the corrupt, to salvage his conscience; and the God-fearing, in fear of God.
It does appear that in an increasingly materialistic world, man has conditioned himself to be selfish, and thinks himself virtuous when he acts selflessly. If I cook for my family, I think it is my duty, but if I were to cook and feed the poor, I think that I am great. If I send my child to school, I am doing what every parent does but if I were to sponsor the education of my maid’s daughter, I feel quite saintly. Looking after your own parents is labouring with love but help your old neighbor with her shopping and you can sense the halo round your head.
Charity, kindness to strangers, help to the needy has become more a matter of show and ‘feeling good’ and for the orthodox their way of securing a place in heaven. So when a ‘Miss Universe’ contestant says that she wants to serve the society, this hypocritical answer may earn her the crown. A couple of years down the line, society will be long forgotten; she will be quite busy making a name in the world of films. If you are a famous personality, then work for charitable and environmental causes; your name will figure in the list of nominees for an award. When a politician is denied ministership what is the reason for his protest – that he has been denied a chance to serve the people!
Youngsters are catching up on this trend fast. Working in NGOs is the latest fad. If it done with a genuine desire to put in useful work which will benefit the marginalised, it is very well. But don’t do it because it is in fashion, or because it will look good on your resume.
Here is an anecdote from Sri Ramanuja’s life, which illustrates his selflessness and simplicity. His guru imparted to him a secret mantra reciting which he was assured of a place in heaven. He was warned that he would go to hell if he divulged it to anybody. Ramanuja joyously ran to the temple, climbed the pillar, called out to all the people there and taught them the mantra. When his guru took him to task, he said that if so many people could go to heaven learning the mantra, he would gladly go to hell.
One should not harp on a good deed done and feel that you are better than the rest when all one is doing is being true to one’s nature. In fact, I would be worried when I put up an act of uprightness when I am actually selfish, greedy and vain. The truly virtuous give when nobody is looking, when their giving may not be acknowledged or even appreciated.
Let me conclude with the wise words of Kahlil Gibran- “You are indeed charitable when you give, and while giving, turn your face away so that you may not see the shyness of the receiver.”
Author: Pratibha Shenoy (Basavanagudi, Bengaluru)
I cannot agree with you more. This was exactly the reason why Jesus became an enemy of the then Jewish patriarch. They were so muddled in their rituals to serve others to gain a place in the then society, that they had to plot and get rid of Jesus.
Great post. Keep them coming.