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 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!