Learning to Give: A Way of Self Purification
(In Appreciation of Jet Li’s ‘One Foundation’)
Ven. Upali
University of Peradeniya
China-born internationally well-known actor Jet Li’s turning to philanthropy is a much appreciated act. It is indeed cultivation of the seed of enlightenment defined in Buddhism as bodhicitta or bodhibīja that ultimately leads to the attainment of perfect enlightenment. At a time when the world is conspicuously discriminated into two - the privileged and the underprivileged or distressed people - it is an exemplary episode for international celebrities, entrepreneurs and the so called ‘people of topmost class’ reminding them of the roles they ought to play to break off this tragic discrimination. Buddhism, in its precious literature, absolutely encourages such meritorious activities. Here, I seek to draw attention to some such extracts from the exquisite sayings of the Buddha in Pāli sutta-s. These utterances would serve as guidelines and certainly strengthen the will of good/virtuous persons (sappurisa) instigating them in philanthropic activities.
If we just have a glance into the various enumerations of moral principles, the significance of the principle of giving and sharing become explicit as it continue to be the first in consideration. Ten perfections of enlightenment and the ten wholesome deeds begin with the factor of ‘generosity’. It is also the first among the four saṅgahavatthus. Many stories in the Jātaka also emphasize the way Buddha practised generosity in the previous lives as a bodhisatta. In fact the wisdom gained through generosity [dānamayapaññā] as a component of attaining ultimate liberation has become a multifaceted subject of ethical and philosophical interest of which I touch upon the philanthropic dimension here.
Once when the Buddha asked an intelligent novice ‘what is one or first [truth]?’ according to the noble doctrine of the Buddha, the reply was – ‘all living beings survive on food’. Although everyone is aware of this down-to-earth reality, there are many who never get to know, and perhaps never want to know the number of people who die every moment in starvation. If a proper research is done, it is doubtful how many people would genuinely agree that they were trained or even told in their childhood to give/share some portions of their earnings for the benefit of needy and distressed persons. Although, Gotama Buddha had always emphasized the merits of ‘sharing’ and to come out of one’s ‘ego-centric ideas’, it is indeed pathetic that we tend to be inconsiderate of others’ sufferings and condition our thinking - only for ‘accumulating’ but not ‘giving’ what we can. Jet Li’s ‘one foundation’ movement has demonstrated that we cannot turn deaf ear to this tragedy of humankind just passing off our lives merry-making and how we should get into the field of philanthropy.
The Buddha has been reported emphasizing the act of giving in the following words – “Bhikkhus, if beings knew, as I know, the result of giving and sharing, they would not eat without having given, nor would they allow the stain of meanness to obsess them and take root in their minds. Even if it is their last morsel, last mouthful, they would not eat without having shared it, if there were someone to share it with. But, bhikkhus, as beings do not know, as I know the result of giving and sharing, they eat without having given, and the stain of meanness obsess in their minds. ” [Itivuttakapāli, PTS p.19] Thus, the Buddha asserts that ‘learning to give’ is intrinsically an art of training our minds towards the enlightenment and wisdom.
There is a discourse documenting the Buddha’s remarks on five types of gifts in terms of appropriate persons and occasions as practised during that time and can be seen even at present. The five are – giving to guests and beggars, to our relations leaving us for a temporary or long period of time, to the sick, in times of famine when it is hard to get food and the very first fruits and produce of a field in a season given to virtuous persons. [Aṅguttara Nikāya, Vol. –III, p.41 ]
In reference to the act of giving food to a hungry person the Buddha says that it is not merely giving food. In this act the giver is giving five things – life, bodily beauty, strength, mental as well as physical comfort, and wit. Such a gift invigorates these five elements in the life of the giver – say it in divinity or simply as a human. [ibid. p.42]
The Buddha had stressed that substantial amount of one’s income should be used for the benefit of suffering people. This is indeed an investment for upgrading our morality and for greater social benefit. It is not possible to contribute for great social benefit by oneself. Therefore, we need to co-operate and take responsibilities to organize such humanitarian organisations not only to assist the distressed persons financially but also to establish their talents and open up opportunities for them to explore the world. If one million people give one rupee each, there will be a large amount of money to really do something for the poor people. This is the central proposal of Jet Li’s one foundation. However, there are millions of people who can contribute bigger amounts than that.
It must also be considered that charity alone is not sufficient to eliminate poverty or establish peace. No government or any charity organisation can continue to support people who do not do any work. They should be employed and trained in activities according to their capabilities. The sramadana or dedicating physical labour, as practised by Buddhists in Sri Lanka, also aims at social development, where the workers, mostly school teachers and children undertake projects, such as reconstructing damaged roads, in the weekends but not for wages. Such activities, encouraged in government schools and Buddhist temples in this country, should be followed by others for their own benefit.
As a result of practising such humanitarian activities, the first person benefited is the one who gives. This is the opportunity to measure the purity of one’s heart. The person who gives with a pleasant heart and reflects that virtuous action enjoys some mental bliss which is not realized otherwise. Such an act takes one closer to suffering humans. Even people in foreign lands appreciate that person. Therefore the Buddha asserts that when we are asked to ‘give away’ it is not actually the material elements but the ego-centric ideas and evil tendencies in our heart – such as greed, hatred, and illusion that should be given away. These are the hindrances that obsess our minds and ultimately responsible for all the disharmonious consequences within and outside ourselves. Once we initiate to cultivate our minds to overcome these hindrances and come out of our ‘ego-centric ideas’ than it will be much easier to discover the true person in us. That is indeed what the Buddha says of becoming a true human being.
What the Buddha sees ultimately is that human beings are in utter ignorance – in the poverty of wisdom. Therefore the Buddha says there are two fundamental types of giving: one by giving and sharing material things and the other by giving and sharing wisdom or knowledge. Of the two, the latter excels the first by far.
Whatever we earn and whatever we learn there is a social claim to that sometimes may be in unwritten form. Our knowledge or earning is not for complete individual consumption. It has to be shared at least with our near ones. Buddhism encourages us to extend this sense of closeness not only among our relations but indiscriminately to whole humanity. |
