The Newsletter of Alandi Ashram and Alandi Ayurvedic Gurukula

Agni The Newsletter of Alandi Ashram and Alandi Ayurvedic Gurukula 5
Amma is home, for Amma is the heart of us all. It
cannot be but so. We cannot be and will never be
outside the love of Amma. My heart is grateful and
free, and as Amma has given to me, I would say to
each of you, “When you seek, the love of Amma
will come. Amma will come because she has come
already. She is the love of you, the ever-abundant,
eternally-giving, fountain of life of you. She is the
call of you, calling you home.
Boulder Lags in Giving
Alakananda Devi
According to survey data collected by The
Community Foundation, “The level of giving is
lower in Boulder County than in comparable communities
across the nation”. Specifically, Boulder
falls far behind Denver. Only 84% of Boulder residents
give, compared to 90% of Denver residents.
And the amounts given by people in Boulder tend
to be smaller than those given by Denverites,
despite the fact that the average after-tax income is
$6,000 a year more in Boulder than in Denver. In
other words, Boulder, a prosperous community, is
giving below its capacity.
Why should we give, and to whom According to
the teachings of all wisdom traditions, giving is not
optional, it is a duty. One who does not give is a
barbarian, even if she or he lives in a large home on
Mapleton Hill. Bhagavad Gita explains that gift-giving
falls into three categories. When a gift is given
to an unworthy person, such a gift reflects tamas,
the mode of ignorance. Even a gift to a good cause
expresses tamas if it is given in a contemptuous or
disrespectful manner. Sant Jnaneshvar, in his commentary
on Gita, warns his listeners not to try to
get away with a gift of “a trifling sum”. If the cause
is worth giving to, stretch yourself and give a larger
gift, an amount that means something to you.
A gift given with hope of return reflects rajas, or the
mode of passion. Not only should we not hope for
return from the recipient of the gift, we should also
avoid the temptation to win fame or respect with
philanthropy. For our gift to reflect sattva, the mode
of goodness, we must give to a worthy cause, without
the hope of return and with the understanding
that we are simply doing our duty.
Giving is not a random act, not just something we
do with our spare change. Rather, we should set
aside a designated percentage of our income and
allocate these funds to our “giving portfolio”. The
giving portfolio is a type of investment. We invest
in quality of life, for our local community and for
the world. The Vedas emphasize two types of causes
as paramount, those that relieve poverty and
those that preserve sacred outlook.
When assembling your giving portfolio, first
include an agency such as the homeless shelter
that relieves poverty at the local level (for more
ideas, look up www.cultureofgiving.org). Next,
select some organizations that relieve poverty in
less wealthy countries. One suggestion for 2001:
relief for the aftermath of the Gujarat earthquake.
Also include in your portfolio some non-profits that
address deeper causes of poverty and suffering
such as the Rocky Mountain Peace and Justice
Center. Perhaps you feel that global warming could
be an underlying cause for drought and famine in
places such as Afganistan. In that case, relieving
poverty requires you to support some environmental
organizations. Protecting animals and trees also
ranks high in the order of worthy causes.
Finally, remember that the most sattvic gifts of all
are those given to organizations which promote
sacred outlook. Non-profits such as Alandi serve to
nurture your spirit, awaken your heart and spread
more love in the world. If you yourself have
received spiritual upliftment, remember that helping
to provide this upliftment for others is an important
investment in the future and a significant
aspect of your giving portfolio. We at Alandi believe
that today's pressing challenges such as poverty,
famine, war and environmental degradation can
only be met by the awakening of love, oneness,
simplicity and connectedness with in the human
heart. This is our mission and thus we address
poverty and suffering at its root cause.
By now, you may be feeling like the President of the
United States, as you allocate a budget to relieve
poverty, protect the environment and preserve
sacred outlook. And it’s true. Millions of citizens,
investing responsibly in the community and the
world, have untold power. Now that you have covered
the primary aspects of giving, remember the
other non-profits that enhance your quality of life.