No Thanks

[fletcher]

The precept, To refrain from being stingy or Not to be possessive but to be generous.
To be generous with love, happiness, praise and the Dharma is not too difficult, with our money, our food, our labour, our time a little more so, but to give it all even the shirt off our own backs and not want or expect any Thanks is a hard.
Hard because we've been raised to be grateful when something is done for us or given to us and therefore we have learned to expect thanks for our own acts of generosity.
To be completely generous and without the need or want of thanks is the way of the Bodhisattva.
Your thoughts please
With gratitude
Gary

[KoolAid900]

word

[KoolAid900]

sometimes what is hard for me is knowing whether or not it was beneficial....I don't need them to thank me, but I want to know the NRG i invested was wisely used, cuz it seems so limited!

[Esho]

Help when there is an oporunity for that and forget about it, even forget about "being a Boddhisatva". If someone askes why you have done that... just say just because.

;)

[fletcher]

"When Buddhas are truly Buddhas they don't need to perceive they are Buddhas." Dogen, Genjokoan.
:hands:

[KoolAid900]

Help when there is an oporunity for that and forget about it, even forget about "being a Boddhisatva". If someone askes why you have done that... just say just because.

Wink

yes this is true. something i have a hard time with. seems like the way lies in unity of letting go and sustaining... or the lack of their existence

[Esho]

"When Buddhas are truly Buddhas they don't need to perceive they are Buddhas." Dogen, Genjokoan.

Thanks Gary,

:hands:


seems like the way lies in unity of letting go and sustaining... or the lack of their existence

Do not struggle with an interpretation of that... just go directly to the silent realization of it. As in zazen.

;)

[londonerabroad]

A Bodhisattva is somebody wishing to become enlightened for the sake of others. In order to do this he cultivates the six (six in Mahayana Buddhism, 10 in Theravada Buddhism) perfections, the first of which is generosity. The kind of generosity here includes giving up one's property, body and merits.

Generosity is one of the six perfections so it is something we are all blessed with - we just have to find it within ourselves by ridding ourselves of greed and meanness.

[Esho]

wishing to become

At least for Soto Zen, this makes a lot of noise.

Generoisty has to be practiced because has to be practiced and I dont think is about of becomeing something special.

;D

[Ngawang Drolma]

In a word, I think becoming an embodiment of the dharma closely follows the way of the bodhisattva. But that is no simple task! I've lately taken up study of the paramitas.

I have no reference for this, just some ramble from me :) But I hope it addresses the OP.

Best,
Laura

[Mani]

Gererousity is essential to the path, as it is taught that it is the most basic cause of gaining merit and creating the conditions and auspicious circumstances for practice in the future.

The great masters of the past advised that though me need to practice generousity (as well as the other paramita's) this must also be done with wisdom.

Mani

[kilroydavek]

I find the gifts I enjoy giving the most are nonmaterial, like taking the time to listen and try trying to be helpful, for instance

[Esho]

I find the gifts I enjoy giving the most are nonmaterial, like taking the time to listen and try trying to be helpful, for instance

Sure,

;)

[JadeRabbit]

IMHO, being generous doesn't have to be difficult (if you have some sort of practice). I do whatever's necessary at the time because it's my nature to do so. There is no alternative, I just do it (with mindfulness).

[Esho]

There is no alternative, I just do it (with mindfulness).

This is the best approach to the issue. When "there is no alternative", we are living the Dhamma in full commitment.

;)