Secrets About Giving

By Masami Sato

The secret to get what you want is revealed. Simply by giving. The reasons are explained using the classic philosophical question: "Which comes first, the chicken or the egg?" The chicken and the egg, which forms the circle of life, serves as a profound analogy to giving and getting what we want: the circle of joy. The concept is explained in the clear and refreshing voice of Masami Sato, the author of ONE Book.

As humans, most of us naturally have endless desires for all kinds of things. And of course, the traditional principals of economics tell us that while wants are unlimited, resources are limited. This induces us to think, the more and more resources we have, the more and more desires we will be able to fulfill. We become very protective of our resources. We then think sharing or giving these resources will reduce the portion that can be used to get what we want. This is the traditional win-lose game that is being played.

Then, is it true?

What if the answer was "no"? What if it actually contradicts the secret of getting more? What if the secret to get more is simple - by giving more?

One can get something just by giving something else. Exactly the way one can have eggs by raising chickens. As simple as that. Normal. Automatic. And it is a completely joyful experience.

First of all, let us begin with some analogy to explain things.

Chicken and Egg - The Cycle of Life

Many a philosopher has come out with this question from the beginning of time, "Which comes first, the chicken or the egg?"

There is a simple answer to this unending doubt. It is that the question is unimportant, since both chicks and eggs are here now. Nevertheless, if one wants a greater effect, one can choose to start somewhere.

Giving and Receiving: the Circle of Joy

What if we asked a different question? "Which comes first, giving or receiving?"

Again, if we want a better outcome, we should choose to start somewhere. Giving off things to others is certainly easier than striving to get it first!

What is the outcome, when we try to get it first?

If we yearn to own something, naturally we would try to get it. And once we get it, we would try to hold on to it. This is absolutely normal - it does make sense logically.

But the actual upshot of 'striving to get' is often not profusion and actual long-term recompense.

For example, desiring to see others joyful is not about finding the joy from them or managing them to become happy. It is about how much pleasure we can give them and share with them. Period.

So how do we begin to get what we desire?

From the other end of the circle - by giving generously!

When we are ready to give away first before we have even got what we hope for - what we are dreaming of - we are sending a strong message to ourselves which says, 'there is enough, and more will come.' It lets us feel the joy today - the joy of sharing.

We only need to give out the love generously to others. It simply comes back to us. Giving love is the only way to be generously loved. When we acknowledge everyone for the great things they do and the great qualities they have, again it comes back to us. Others acknowledge us because we acknowledge them.

In the same way, if we wanted to have enough in our life materially, financially and emotionally, we just need to share the things we want generously with others.

Some are ready to give more physical things like time. Others opt to give what they can spare financially, like money. Those who give more (time, money, compassion, love, thoughts) have these things in abundance because it is the surplus. And surplus is the natural law of life.

Just keep in mind the rule of the game

Important rule: never give anything expecting a return.

When we have the anticipation that giving involves 'getting' something back, we become unhappy when we do not see the thing returning to us fast. We may even feel unhappy towards the one who gets the gift. And having a negative feeling for someone is definitely not a right state of affairs! So we can know the real pleasure of giving when we are doing it with the awareness that we are actually doing it for ourselves - we are doing it for our own pleasure!

Losing to win, giving to get..

In the beginning it may appear that we are the losers. Still, at some level we realize that receiving things without giving anything is not a realistic life pattern. We have always been aware of it. That is the reason why giving away a part of their income has been a pattern with many well known people. And they have not done it openly, so it was not done to make themselves popular. It was just the way they wanted it to be.

Look around yourself. 'Lesser' creatures do it naturally. The bumblebees take the honey of the flowers and in return pollinate the flowers, thereby making them bloom. They do it in accordance with the laws of nature. They do not do it as a part of any law of justice. That is why they create permanence, without even making an attempt to do so.

Giving is just being who we are, it is just like having; not greater or lesser. No difficulty, no conditions attached, just releasing oneself.

The essence of getting more can be stated in two steps: Give first, and do not expect to get anything in return.

When we let go and give open-handedly, what we require would come to us. On its own. - 31963

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