CHARITY: DR SHRINIWAS KASHALIKAR

A great eye surgeon turned to charity; after his recovery from a serious kidney disease; thanks to his mother, who donated a kidney to him.

Another philanthropist tuned to charity after his recovery from a near fatal accident which left him unconscious for several weeks; thanks to the help of completely unknown people!

We find several people all over the world; turning to charity; in several fields of life; after such events. Actually; it is very difficult to find an individual without involvement in charity in one form or another.

Charity is acclaimed as a great virtue in all the religions! In fact if we recognize that pregnancy, delivery, beast feeding and rearing of new born; as an example of great charity, then even the animals would be credited for the charity!

Charity appears to be a physiological need!

But charity has another angle also!

For the beneficiaries; charity can nurture indolence, lethargy, irresponsibility, dependence and parasitic mentality and the overall evil within; instead of blossoming; the conscience.

For the philanthropist; it can nurture condescending attitude, arrogance, justification of exploitative activities and a system that suits/breeds the inequality and injustice.

Apart from this; there is another angle to charity. Thus there are several so called charity activities, which are actually meant to be umbrellas to hide antisocial activities; or serving other ulterior motives.

In addition; there is yet another angle! A vast majority of us have become cynical about charity; with doubt of “our charity” going down the drain or being misused!

In view of these three aspects; we tend to vacillate between two conflicting positions; viz. persistent proponents or ardent opponents of charity!

To overcome this conflict; we have to improve the quotient of satisfaction (QOS) or quotient of fulfillment (QOF) of by metamorphosing our ‘charity’!

How can we do it?

Apart from basic and unavoidable ‘charity’ activities such as; pregnancy, delivery etc; our activities of choice; have to be such that; they cannot
1. Nurture indolence, lethargy, irresponsibility, dependence, parasitic mentality, condescending attitude, arrogance, justification of exploitative activities and a system that suits/breeds the inequality and injustice;
2. Be misused as umbrellas to hide antisocial activities; and misused to serve other ulterior motives; and
3. Go down the drain!

The choicest activity that fulfills all these criteria is a process of self realization. But most of us; cannot live only with self realization! Hence the best way is; combining the process of self realization with every ‘charity activity’ that suits us! Thus; while treating a patient, teaching a student, feeding a needy, helping a helpless; we should practice NAMASMARAN; the simplest and easiest procedure for self realization!

What is true for ‘charity’; is actually true for every activity in life; so as to increase the QOS or QOF; in our overall life!

We need not believe in this; but verify!