5 Ways to Practice Generosity

From Gil's recent talk on generosity, I have taken away these 5 practices of generosity (as part of broader mindfulness practice):

1. Do exactly what you are already doing, but infuse it with a spirit of generosity.

2. Look for opportunities for small acts of generosity that you would not generally do, and study yourself before, during, and after.

3. Look for situations in which you are inspired to give, and do it, and if you can't think of anything look at that.

4. Stretch yourself in being generous, and give in ways that are hard for you, even if just a little; explore what it's like.

5. Practice doing an act of generosity to someone you are in conflict with, and explore what happens inside.

And while practicing generosity, keep the following principles in mind:

When practicing generosity or giving, you don't have to FEEL generous.

Wise generosity is about how to benefit oneself, and how to benefit others.

We should give in a way that does not harm oneself, and does not harm others.

We should give out of obligation but because it feels like a beneficial things to do.

HOW one give is more important than WHAT one gives.

To Gil's points, I would like to add my own twist:

Paying attention to the body and mind's movements as one considers giving or not giving. Is there tightening, or expansion in the body, the heart, the mind? Tightening is clear indication of the need to bring ease into one's approach, either needing to relax into being more generous, or its opposite, withholding misguided giving.

For now, I shall focus on the first and fifth practices. The fifth one because of current circumstances. And the first one because it goes hand in hand with casual, moment to moment mindfulness. 

What is your relationship with generosity? How do you practice? Do you?

Breaking Their Bank

Found in my mailbox this morning, this offer from a mom from the Bay Area French group listserv:

Nous avons une tirelire où nous mettons l'argent que nous trouvons et nous avons décidé d'utiliser son contenu pour acheter un boom box pour vos résidents. Nous compléterons ce qui manque. Ce sera un modèle de base comme vous pouvez l'imaginer mais il pourra jouer des CDs. Etes-vous toujours prenante?

(We have a piggy bank where we put money that we find and we have decided to use the money to buy a boom box for your residents. We will make up the difference. It will be a basic model as you can imagine, but it will play CDs. Are you still interested?)

This in response to a call I put out to the group to donate unused CD players that we could use in activities with residents at assisted living community where I work.

Generosity is a wonderful thing, not just for the donor, but also for the recipients. In this case a whole circle of them. First me as the facilitator, then the activity coordinators who lead the music groups, then the residents who so much love to sing and dance.

Noticing barriers melting around the heart, and a sweet wave filling in whole chest. I imagine a bunch of little French kids gathered around their piggy bank, and counting their coins. And Anita, their mom teaching them what it's like to practice generosity.

I feel inspired. How about you?