I was so happy to read Jeff Kriger's article entitled "The Pursuit of Happiness" in my most recent World Tribune. This opinion piece deals with the relationship between generosity and happiness. Kriger talks about studies in which people were given sums of money, and told to spend the money either on themselves or on others. Those who spent the money on others were demonstrably happier.
I know that the SGI-USA is currently gearing up for its annual May contribution campaign, and that the issue of "giving" is going to be a big one for the coming eight weeks or so. I plan to do my usual bit and contribute to the special campaign, but I'm also pleased to see that the question of generosity in general is being addressed.
I don't have a lot of money. Not at all. In fact, I'm currently looking for a new job and squeaking by on unemployment. But, because I have noticed in my own life the phenomenon which Kriger writes about, I have made it my personal practice for awhile to give away something material every day. It might be money, it might be food, or it might be clothing. Next week, I'll probably give my car away to one of those charities that comes and picks the car up. Good bye, old friend, fare thee well.
For me, the net experience of giving things away is an increase in my own sense of having plenty for myself. No matter how broke I may be (temporarily), I always have something that I can share with somebody else. That's true abundance, at least from my current POV.
Sometimes, I even have an opportunity to promote this practice to others. A couple of days ago, I was checking out at the grocery store, and the checker asked me if I wanted to make one of those one-dollar donations to a charity (I think it was a children's cancer hospital or something like that).
"Sure!" I responded with delight. "And thanks for giving me this opportunity!" I explained to the clerk about my practice of trying to give something every day, and she perked up and seemed to think that was a good idea.
I genuinely think that most Westerners have little or no idea what real poverty is like. By the standards of most folks, I am currently "broke". However, I have a roof, and I have food. I have a flush toilet. Believe it or not, that is a mark of wealth in many parts of the world. In fact, by world standards, I live like a Queen, and I'm very well aware of that fact. I have traveled to parts of the world (like Sudan in the late 70's) where the level of poverty was truly shocking, and where children actually had those distended bellies that come with malnutrition. That's something that I will never forget, and I do not focus on lack when I'm in a situation such as I am now. I try to focus on being grateful for what I have, and on doing what I can to help those who are less well off.
As a result, I am quite happy. I'm getting a visit next week from a couple of SGI line leaders (area and region, I think), and I can hear the question now: "Are you happy?" And the answer, surprisingly enough, is "yes, I am." I really am enjoying my days, enjoying my job hunt, enjoying my Spring cleaning and apartment painting, and enjoying the writing projects I have started, and I think this is because I have chosen to practice generosity. When I'm more flush, I enjoy giving to charities at the Hunger Site, that encourage third-world women to become more self-sufficient with micro-business loans. I also enjoy supporting education in third world countries. Of course, I do my regular literacy volunteering as well. That gives me a lot of happiness. My pupil is pleased with the progress he has made, and I am thrilled, too. It truly is a wonderful thing to learn to develop generosity, but not when it comes from guilt or from a sense of martyrdom and duty. When it comes from joy at being able to give, it is a wonderful elixer of happiness.
So, thanks to Jeff Kriger for a fabulous article. It's a piece I'm really happy to recommend and agree with.
Be generous, be happy, be cool.
Byrd in LA
Posted by wahzoh at April 11, 2008 12:46 PMI love this. thank you! This entry has reminded me of my desire to do the KIVA microlending thing- for third world folks so they can improve thier circumstances. Those folks repay the loan and then you can reinvest it in someone else so they can improve their life too! It keeps going! Generosity is a wonderful daily practice. It is contagious and might be a quality of life longevity elixer.May you be prosperous with joy and laughter and good food and good stories and infinite blessings raining down like heavenly flowers.
Posted by: St. Clair at April 11, 2008 01:57 PMHi Byrd!
I think their are four types of donation (offerings) in Buddhism and three in the secular realm. Giving of material things; teaching others how to acquire material things for their own needs; giving of solace; and the giving of the Law. Benefits accrue from all types of donation.
Does anyone really have to tell us to give to accrue benefit once one is chanting the Daimoku? To me the article seems trite not because the concept isn't worthy but because this should be obvious to a practitioner of the Lotus Sutra.
Mark
Posted by: Mark Rogow at April 11, 2008 10:23 PMRe: Hinayana in Current Living Buddhism
Thais people are pretty much as colored as any American Indians I've
met.
I think the Gakkai is pretty well acknowledged as being the most
diverse (racially) sangha out there. I read a sad interview with an
African American Vipassana teacher in Tricycle magazine. WHen she
was asked about where most of the African American Buddhist
practitioners were, she answered "prison".
I have no reason to believe that mindfulness and meditation practices
don't benefit black people as much as they do white people, anyway.
Bye for now, Byrd in LA
She is right, review your statistics. How many Black frineds do you have? ONE
Posted by: Patrick at April 13, 2008 08:31 AMHi, Patrick, I don't know who you were talking to, there - I have a number of black friends. But honestly, I don't think about it very much. I mean, i don't sit down and count people and put them into this or that category, racially. I don't thin kmost Gakkai members I know do that.
Anyway, thanks for writing in.
Best, Wahzoh
Posted by: Byrd in LA at April 13, 2008 01:25 PM