"Rivers do not drink their own water, nor do trees eat their

own fruit, nor do rain clouds eat the grains reared by them.

The wealth of the noble is used solely for the benefit of

others.



 Even after accepting that giving is good and that one must

learn to give, several questions need to be answered.



The first question is when should one give? We all know the

famous incident from Mahabharat. Yudhisthir, asks a beggar

seeking alms to come the next day. On this, Bhim rejoices,

that Yudhisthir his brother, has conquered death! For he is

sure that he will be around tomorrow to give. Yudhisthir

gets the message. One does not know really whether one will

be there tomorrow to give!





The time to give therefore is Now!!



The next question is 'how much to give ?

One recalls the famous incident from history. Rana Pratap

was reeling after defeat in a war. He had lost his army, he

had lost his wealth, and most importantly he had lost hope,

his will to fight. At that time in his darkest hour, his

erstwhile minister Bhamasha came seeking him and placed his

entire fortune at the disposal of Rana Pratap. With this,

Rana Pratap raised an army and lived to fight another day.





The answer to the question how much to give is "Give as much

as you can!"



 The next question is what to give ?



It is not only money that can be given. It could be a

flower,your time,knowledge or even a smile.
It is not how much one gives but how one gives that really

matters. When you give a smile to a stranger, that may be

the only good thing received by him in days and weeks!

"You can give anything but you must give with your heart !"

One also needs answer to this question whom to give?

Many times we avoid giving by finding fault with the person

who is seeking. However, being judgemental and rejecting a

person on the presumption that he may not be the most

deserving is not justified." Give without being judgemental

!"



Next we have to answer 'How to give?"

Coming to the manner of giving, one has to ensure that the

receiver does not feel humiliated, nor the giver feels proud

by giving.



 In giving follow the Bible, 'Let not your left hand know

what your right hand gives!! Charity without publicity and

fanfare, is the highest form of charity."'

 'Give quietly !

While giving let not the recipient feel small or humiliated.

After all what we give never really belonged to us. We come

to this world with nothing and will go with nothing. The

thing gifted was only with us for a temporary period. Why

then take pride in giving away something which really did

not belong to us? Give with grace and with a feeling of

gratitude.

What should one feel after giving?

 We all know the story of Eklavya. When Dronacharya asked

him for his right thumb as "Guru Dakshina", he

unhesitatingly cut off the thumb and gave it to Dronacharya. 
There is a little known sequel to this story. Eklavya was

asked whether he ever regretted the act of giving away his

thumb. He replied, and the reply has to be believed to be

true, as he was asked when he was dying.

 His reply was "Yes ! I regretted this only once in my life.

It was when Pandavas were coming in to kill Dronacharya who

was broken hearted on the false news of death of his son

Ashwathama and had stopped fighting. It was then that I

regretted the loss of my thumb. If the thumb was there, no

one could have dared hurt my Guru!





The message to us is clear.

Give and never regret giving !



And the last question is

' How much should we provide for our heirs ?



Ask yourself 'Are we taking away from them the "gift of

work--- a source of happiness?"

"Leave your kids enough to do anything, but not enough to do

nothing !"

Quoting Sant Kabir:

When the wealth in the house increases, When water fills a

boat, Throw them out with both hands!