This ritual will help you to cultivate generosity and realize that the true essence of giving is a generous spirit.
Giving is not dependent on wealth; even if you are materially poor, there are still things that you can donate. Time is a precious gift in the contemporary world and giving someone the gift of your time is an act of real generosity. This involves listening. In the same way that a material gift given carelessly is rooted in selfish thinking, if you do not give your full attention to others when listening to them, this is also selfish.
Receiving is an integral part of giving. Even if you are given something you don't like or want, be gracious in receiving it and thank the person from the heart. By appreciating their kindness, you have given that person an opportunity to practice generosity.
- Find a quiet place where you will not be disturbed for 20 minutes;
- Sit comfortably and spend a while reflecting on how you would like to lessen your selfish thoughts and actions, ask yourself: "If I am stingy towards myself, how can I be truly generous towards others?" You need to learn how to be giving to yourself as a first step towards lessening selfish thinking.
- Take a small ordinary object such as a stone, hold it in your right hand and notice what it feels like to have the stone. Try to feel a real appreciation for having and holding it. Reflect that a small, inexpensive gift given purely with love creates more happiness for the giver and receiver than an expensive gift given resentfully or with the expectation of receiving something in return.
- Slowly transfer the stone from your right hand to your left hand. Feel that your right hand is giving the stone to your left hand. Remain conscious and aware of the sensation of giving. At the same time, your left hand is receiving the stone. Develop a feeling of appreciation that you are receiving something. Although the stone has no material value, try to experience the sensation of giving and receiving something with a true and pure spirit of generosity.
- Continue to transfer the stone back and forth between your hands slowly for ten minutes. Observe your feelings, noticing how they change.
- Reflect that practicing this ritual will help you to give and receive more authentically, and will eventually lessen selfish thinking.
