Generosity: The Four Kinds of Giving

The Dalai Lama (2012) in his book 'Beyond Religion' talks of 'ethics for a whole world' and speaks of the following 'four kinds of giving' (p.130):

1. giving material goods
2. giving freedom from fear – providing safety, security and honesty
3. giving spiritual counsel – providing 'comfort, concern, and advice to support others' psychological and emotional well-being
4. giving love

The Dalai Lama has the following to say about generosity:

'It seems worthwhile to say a few words about the value of generosity. Generosity is the most natural outward expression of and inner attitude of compassion and loving-kindness. When one desires to alleviate the suffering of others and to promote their well-being, then generosity – in action, word and thought – is this desire put into practice. It is important to recognise that “generosity” here refers not just to giving in a material sense, but to a generosity of the heart.'

(Dalai Lama, 2012, p.129)

Let's be generous. Like a puppy, generosity is not just for Christmas !

Recycling Ideas, Learning and The Christmas Spirit

CAYR (Christmas All Year Round)

Recyclng ideas or reinforcement of learning works for the positive when the ideas and learning are positive. When otherwise are otherwise. The learning cycle can have an upward or downward spiral which can evolve like a virus creating immunity. Bacteria can multiply in the psyche and are not always the good kind that keep us healthy and protect us from the bad.

Gladwell's ideas of epidemics mentioned in a previous post are much like Dickens' in A Christmas Carol :

"It is a fair, even-handed, noble adjustment of things, that while there is infection in disease and sorrow, there is nothing in the world so irresistibly contagious as laughter and good-humour."

(Dickens, 1843)

Leading up to Christmas, I was ill and not feeling at my best. So, when one day after another, one man screams blue-murder and another says he hates Christmas and another stares vacantly at me not even able to comprehend its Christmas, I try to put up barriers agains infection and instead try to spread good humour, however hard it feels. 

Its not just the person who doesn't have a certain belief or tradition in their culture,  or a moaner or groaner or the 'Scrooge' saying 'Bah Humbug'. Many blame the loss of 'Christmas Spirit' on the 'business' of Christmas. The so-called commercialisation of Christmas is regarded as one of the great epidemics of our time. So is the answer to the problem simple? Not to get involved in it...be part of the solution and not the problem? As Dickens' Ghost of Christmas Past said of what we should make our business:

"Mankind was my business. The common welfare was my business; charity, mercy, forbearance, and benevolence were all my business. The dealings of my trade were but a drop of water in the comprehensive ocean of my business!"
(Dickens, 1843) 

One of the men, who I had seen become disillusioned over time, complained of people wishing him Happy Christmas when the rest of the year they ignored him. We talked of people having the Christmas spirit all year. Of seeing the caring behaviour of people at Christmas-time being an all year-round norm.

As Scrooge learned from his ghosts so too will I try to learn from mine and say as he did:

"I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year."
(Dickens, 1843)

So the answer: To recycle Christmas all year long. Not just the tree and cards and empty bottles, but the feelings of love and joy and caring for those around us. 

CAYR 
 
 Christmas All Year Round

or more simply put...

  Caring All Year Round

 

A Christmas Poem: The Christmas That I Love

A Christmas Wreath of Helping Hands

The Christmas That I Love

 

White Christmas on the radio

Spotting the first drop of snow

Tangerines and clementines

 Family, friends and good times

Hanging the Christmas stockings

Highstreet and online shopping

Dickens' A Christmas Carol

Christmas jumper apparel

Candles flicker frosted pine

Christmas markets and mulled wine

Animated three Snow Kings

Shepherds tea towels n' angel wings

Brusselssprouts and potato peels

Christmas carols and leftover meals

Christmas tree and fairy lights

Sweets and treats and more delights

Hospital visits and good cheer

Skies so bright, day and nights so clear

A Christmas tree of green hands

Sounds of Salvation Army bands

Sherry trifle Christmas pudding

Wrapping presents, hiding things

Christmas dinner and paper hats

Cracker jokes and cheery chat

End of Year TV Roundups

Hot-chocolate marshmallow cups

Children's Christmas party games

Santas suitcase n'candy canes

Trying to make mum's stuffing

Hearing the New Year bells ring

Sitting in cafes to write

Watching Its a Wonderful Life

None of this can ever matter

Nothing can make me happier

Not a world of Christmas Fayre

Is Christmas without you there

A Christmas Tree of Hands