Aspirants Guide

Author(s): Atmanandji Maharaj
Publisher: Shrimad Rajchandra Sadhna Kendra Koba

Page 18

CHARITY
2. Compassionate charity. (31/07,46T) 3. Charity of gentleness. (THUGTT) 4. Charity of knowledge. (ST161) 1. Charity Accompanied by Utter Devotion and Humility :
In this charity, the recipient is a far more virtuous person than the donor. Only persons endowed with understanding and discrimination can, possibly undertake this.
The donor* who resorts to this kind of charity intends to reduce greed in his life, and thereby to become better suited as Sadhaka; so that slowly and steadily the unique virtues present in the recipient, dawn in his own life. Again, it may be that, the person who accepts charity is a person endowed with self-knowledge or is a high-grade Sadhaka and the donation is so auspicious that it will nourish for long periods the sublime traditions of right-knowledge and right self-control. When this happens, naturally the traits of purity are nurtured at the individual level and higher cultural values get disseminated in the community.
Acceptors of such charity are selfless and benevolent individuals. It is logical, therefore, that donations to such virtuous individuals be accompanied by proper respect and due honor. It is easily understandable, that no matter what the form of this charity may be - whether giving of food, clothes, medicines, scriptures or a place to stay - it should always be carefully thought out, and associated with due respect.
This type of donation is predominant in the life of a discriminating Sadhaka, because, on such occasions, he is lucky to come in contact with virtuous, ascetic, learned and saintly personalities. In such a case, if the Sadhaka is alert and awake, he will begin to follow the discriminating and scientific process of enjoying in the virtues and the resultant process of bringing virtue into his own life.
This delight in virtue will inspire him to serve saintly persons or monks and nuns in so many different ways - e.g. rising on seeing them, salutation to them with folded hands, going toward to receive them, walking behind them in all humility, offering higher seats to them, behaving in a manner befitting their
Characteristics of th donor : Trust, content, worship, knowledge, detachment, forgiveness and strength are the seven virtues of a donor.
CHARITY