Diwali – An Opportunity to Raise the Quality of our Giving-ness

There is joy and warmth in the air as the spirit of Diwali fills the atmosphere. Diwali is traditionally considered an auspicious occasion to give gifts to loved ones. It gives us an opportunity to reflect on the value of “giving” in our life. How can we make good use of this festive time to raise the quality of our giving?

Giving can be monetary, or even in kind. It can even be the donation of time or efforts. A subtler form of giving is that of wisdom and counsel. But the quality of giving does not really depend on what is given, or how much is given. Our state of mind, our presence, our innermost feelings and intentions have a vital bearing on the quality of giving.

Giving-ness has to be preceded by having-ness. We need to dwell in the feeling of abundance with full faith when we give. If we are in doubt about nature’s providence, it taints the quality of what we give. It is a law of nature that whatever we give, comes back to us, multiplied many times. Hence, give with full faith, understanding this law of nature. Our feelings are seeds that shape our future. Hence, give with the feeling of love, faith, and pure intention. Give unconditionally, without expecting any returns.

Purity of mind is the soul of giving. Give with feelings of love and compassion, without holding the credit of being the giver. We are channels for the Source (God) and whatever we give is merely a part of the divine flow. Let the left hand not know what the right hand gives. Giving has to be a quiet act, where no one needs to know. The human ego seeks credit or appreciation for what is donated.

We can ensure purity of mind by being grateful for what we already have and thankful for the opportunity of giving. This sublimates the ego and makes giving an expression of divine devotion.

How much we give is immaterial. Even if we give something that is materially unsubstantial, it is the genuineness of our feelings that matters. The noblest giving is that of prayers and blessings for the wellbeing of all.

The highest form of giving arises from being present in pure consciousness. When we sit in meditation with the right understanding, we go beyond our individual limitations and rest in our true nature—pure consciousness. Being in this state is a blessing in itself. From the state of inner silence, we radiate love, bliss, and peace to the world.

We can offer daily prayer with a pure heart for the onset of peace and healing. For this, we need to first have clarity of who-we-truly-are. We are not the individual praying, but the expression of the Divine will of the Source. The time that we give for this prayer is not our personal time; it belongs to the wellbeing of all beings. Hence, we need to give our highest quality of attention without giving in to any distracting thoughts.

This Diwali let’s celebrate the joy of giving. Let’s make the purest and greatest donation for the wellbeing of all with faith, joy, and gratitude. Join thousands of enthusiastic givers in offering prayers and blessings for world peace and global healing. Visit: https://tejgyanglobal.org/dhyanprarthanabeej