The gift of giving

Words JENNI MADISON

Within the Buddhist dharma teachings it is shown that true and lasting happiness comes when we are giving to others, helping others, doing for others – gifting.

The essence of a gift is to give something of self, whether it is material, emotional or mental, in whichever form it may take, it is a giving of something. The authenticity of giving is to practise this act without any expectation or desire for a return, just because it feels right and because you can.

To recognise your self in a position of being able to give to another is in itself a gift. Some may hold back from giving due to lack of self-belief or self-worth. You may even know of materially wealthy people who are stingy with their money or possessions, and with that comes feelings of isolation and depression.

A talented and gifted artist may be holding back on sharing their work with the world out of fear or insecurity of what others might think. And now both the artist and the potential receiver of this unique art are losing. Holding on for self-alone is not a gift for anyone.

So when the very act of giving creates natural and true happiness, who or what is the giver and the receiver? One cannot exist without the other. This is an interconnected, interdependent natural process of life and an absolute lore of nature.

To learn anything about anything, it is always wise to look to Mother Nature. Nature lives with the utmost integrity, purpose, flow, and with an intelligence beyond that which can never be fully understood by the human intellect.

The most sophisticated human creations, such as plastics, technology, machinery and pills are either trying to mimic use or dominate nature, and therefore they need her.

Nature’s gift to us is to enhance our wellbeing, to provide nourishment, medicine, energy, aliveness and nurture. We constantly receive this gift through our five physical senses – the taste of food, the smell of flowers, the vision of her glorious landscape, the sound of bird songs, feeling our feet on the ground. Although we may be managing a balancing act when it comes to giving back to nature at this time, our very existence is allowing nature’s creation to unfold just as it should.

Nature’s unadulterated essence manifests without ulterior motive. She shows us that the purpose of life is to be alive, and to be alive is to participate in the cycles of life. Whether we stop to smell the roses or show our appreciation, we are being gifted right now in this very moment. So pay attention, as you too are very much a part of this beautiful and natural process of creation, the gift of giving and receiving. Happy gifting!

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