Charity that expresses vanity ends in vanity by ChaitanyaCharan Das Based on Bhagavad Gita Chapter 17
Charity is usually a noble expression of the human
virtue of compassion. Few joys in life are as sublime and fulfilling as the joy
of helping wiping someone’s tears or bringing a smile on their face. When done
in a mood of helping others, charity expands our consciousness, by helping us
tune to concerns beyond our immediate concerns.
Yet not all charity is done with the same level of
consciousness – when done primarily as an expression of the ego, “Just see how
good I am”, charity can keep the consciousness locked in the temptation of
wanting to be a controller of matter.
The Bhagavad-gita classifies everything in material
existence into a typology of three modes, wherein the modes are among other
things shapers of the interaction between matter and consciousness. Normally,
charity would be considered as belonging to the mode of goodness, but not
always. The Gita (17.20-22) indicates that charity can be in any of the three
modes.
When charity is done in the mode of passion (Gita17.21), the purpose is expanding one’s sense of power and prestige in
controlling matter. Usually, those in passion control matter for their own
immediate sensual gratification, but sometimes that control can be for indirect
gratification by helping others enjoy matter. Such charity ends in vanity – it
doesn’t take us towards liberation, nor does it grant any lasting fulfillment.
Given that the Gita right from it beginning takes us from outer appearance of
matter to the inner substance of soul and ultimately the Supersoul, its
analysis of charity is similarly meant to take us to the substance – to prompt
deeper introspection so that our external expression of charity is accompanied
by an internal intention of benevolence. The highest charity is spiritual
charity – the charity that helps people link spiritually with the Supersoul.
No comments:
Post a Comment