Giving and the Spiritual Path Scott Shaw

Giving and the Spiritual Path

Scott Shaw

Central to the spiritual path is the concept of giving. But, giving can mean many different things to many different people. Just what is giving?

Karma Yoga
In India the concept of karma yoga was developed. In essence, karma yoga is defined as selfless service performed in order to help your teacher, your organization, a particular person, or the world at large. The primary premise behind karma yoga is that you are doing what you are doing to help someone or something, but expecting no results from your actions.

This concept, though very pure in its definition, has led to many a misconception. First of all, as defined in the definition of karma yoga itself, you are doing something and expecting nothing. Yet, in karma yoga you are told you will receive good karma for your actions. Isn't good karma a something?

Though this is a very finite point, the spiritual path is riddled with these finite points and they all must be uncovered for the aspirant to enter into a state of True Knowledge.

Therefore, to understand the true essence of,"Giving," you have to ask yourself, "Why do people do anything?" The answer is, because they expect some response or result from their actions - even if they claim this not the case. Whether these results are something concrete or something so subtle as simply being made to feel good about themselves for doing or giving something, the outcome is the same; they have done what they have done for an expected outcome.

Now, this does not necessarily diminish their actions. But, it does make the concept of giving a response motivated action.

But, back to the premise of karma yoga…

In eastern philosophy based spiritual groups, a devotee is often guided to perform very specific actions. They are told this is for the betterment of the group or the guru. As such, it is karma yoga. In many cases the disciple does not want to the action at all. In these cases, they are told that this is truly spiritual practice and the essence of the spiritual path -- doing something that you don't want to do.

Interesting justification, don't you think? And, a great way to get people to do things that may be against their psychological or moral make-up.

Though it is not discussed, people in spiritual circles perform these actions, (their giving), to become more closely linked with the sect, the teacher, or to be seen as truly spiritual. They perform these guided actions to become a more accepted part of the communal whole. They do this in order to gain a closeness to a the group or individualize acceptance and love from a specific individual or individuals in order to fulfill whatever is lacking from the relationship aspect of their life.

Think about it, how many actions have you performed in your life to be liked, loved, and accepted by a single person or to become a part of a specific group?

From a more worldly perspective, people do things; particularly donate money, to appear as if they are a truly giving and caring person. From this they gain hoped for acceptance and self-worth.

Even from a self-help perspective, teachings have arisen that state if you give this amount of money or that amount of time, it will crate great financial results in your life. But, none of the examples actually embrace a true sense of helping and giving.

The Spiritual Path
With the true essence of the reasons for giving defined, it must be understood that the spiritual path is a funny playground. Why? Because there is all of these subtle elements of consciousness that are going on that the outsider and the spiritual novice do not understand. The spiritual path is populated by people who have heard of what this path has to offer: community, fulfillment, a calmer mind, enlightenment, god, etc. So, people step into this playground expecting to receive all of the promised benefits. And, if one does not look too deeply, they will find what they are promised.

What I always say about life, however, is that for everything you do, there is always a price to pay. And, this too is the case with the spiritual path.

On the spiritual path you will be asked to give. Now this request may come in various fashions depending on what type of sect you associate with. Christian churches commonly expect a weekly donation at the end of the service. Other religious may ask for donations or for you to provide various types of physical help to expand the cause. At its root, I suppose there is nothing wrong with any of these requests. If you have the money or the physical ability, why not help out? But here is where the slippery slope begins…

As much as most will deny this fact, people who enter the spiritual path expect something in return. If they give their time, their money, or themselves, they expect the promised community, enlightenment, god, or whatever. They want to be accepted into the fold and be given what has been promised. From this arises all of the denials commonly given on the spiritual path to those aspirants who have not achieved what they expected. "Oh, you must meditate longer to become enlightened." "You are pure enough to personally speak with the guru." "You have to walk this path for many years and do all of the things we ask before we can award you that title or rank." And perhaps most damning of all of the spiritual denials is, "You must pay this amount of money and take this course if you want to progress."

People believe all of these things. They continue to give all that the can -- that is until they see through the illusion. Then, they become disillusioned and walk away from the path, nun-the-better for all of the giving that they have given. And, often times, leave having become very bitter.

The reality is, any spiritual group is out for one thing - the group. As a collective whole, they believe what they have been taught by their teacher. From these accepted teachings, the upper echelon of the group does whatever it takes to maintain their positioning in the hierarchy of the group and to help the group to grow and expand so their beliefs are spread to more and more people and their high standing relationship with the group may be observed and honored by others. How do they do this, by asking others to give? And, what are the people who are doing the asking achieving? Nothing but feeding their own ego.

You must understand that spiritual groups are not there for you. They are in place for the dissemination of the knowledge taught by the leader of the group. If all you want is to receive, and not question a specific set of teachings, then all if fine. But, be prepared to give for what you receive and do not ask them for anything in return.

Questioning
Throughout history, man (and woman) has questioned authority. This is what has set all revolutions in motion: political, spiritual, and otherwise. But, question a spiritual group and you are shown the door. Though they may escort you to it very kindly.

Ask a spiritual group to give you something physically specific, (other than the promised abstract benefits of spiritually), you will be told, "No." If you contest and say, "But I gave the church this or that." All that will happen is that they will tell you that is the way it is supposed to be -- your giving to the church. If you continue to contest, you too will be shown the door.

I could provide you with a long list of personally witness examples of this style of behavior on the part of religious based sects -- some even made the news. But, I believe that we have all heard of these circumstances occurring, so it is unnecessary.

On the other side of the coin, believe the teachings, ask for nothing, be prepared to give all that is asked of you, and all is well -- you may remain a content member of the group.

Giving
So then, what is giving and why should you give?

Giving must be based in what you have to offer and what you are willing to discard.

So many times I have walked down the street and a homeless person is asking for change and a person will tell them, "Get a job." Or, "All you will use the money for is drugs or alcohol." Or if they have a pet dog with them, "Why don't you just eat your dog." But, what is the negative emotion base on. It is based in the self-righteous attitude of the person who is spewing these words.

Maybe the person would get a job if they could. Maybe they will use the money for drugs or alcohol. But, why would anyone want to eat their best friend?

None of these responses have anything to do with giving. All they have to with is ego. But, we all have to realize how fast everything we call, "Known," can be taken from us by an untold number of catastrophic circumstances. That is the cornerstone of life. We never know what is around the next turn. So, if you can give to a person asking for something, (if you want to give to a person asking for something), then give. But, if you do not want to, berating them does nothing but bring you bad energy. So, just tell the person that you can't help them out right now and walk on.

Like I always suggest, if you are going to be homeless (or crazy) move to India, because there, instead of simply being a bum, you will be considered holy and the society will take care of you.

Here lies the essence of the cultural differences about giving. In India, if you are a homeless person, a sadhu, you are a saint. People believe that they generate good karma by feeding and taking care of you. In the west, if you are homeless, you are seen as adding to an ever-growing problem, and very few people are willing to give you anything.

Who is Asking
The other side of the issue is, who is asking for you to give and why.

Here in California it is very common for a person to come up to you at a gas station or a parking lot and tell you that they ran out of gas and they need money to buy gas to get back to their family or to buy a bus ticket to get to their sick grandmother, or whatever. In fact, when we were filming one of my movies, The Rock n' Roll Cops, at Los Angeles Union Station, a person using this line came up to us. Instead of just saying, "No." We had him perform his whole speal to two of the cast members. We filmed it and integrated it into the movie. Then we gave him some money.

But, in most cases, it is simply the job of this type of person to ask you to give them money. So, that is probably the kind of person you do not want to give to.

This situation occurred to me another time a few months ago in the affluent neighborhood of Newport Beach. California. I was in a gas station and a guy wearing very expensive clothing came up to me and asked me for money because he ran out of gas. I smilingly told him I could not help him out. As I was pumping my gas, I noticed that he had gone into the gas station's market and paid for a cup of coffee. I smiled.

Another example of this situation happened to me today. A very down and out guy came up to me in a gas station, in South-central L.A., with a gas can. He asked for my help and I was happy to fill it for him.

On the other side of the issue, when I tried to give something to somebody, and was declined, took place in Varanasi, India. I was buying some prayer beads from a man who strung them for a living and sold them near the River Ganges. I made my selection and he told me the price of two rupees. Trying to be nice and GIVE, I handed him a one hundred-rupee note. But, he would have nothing to do with it. All he would accept was his stated price of two rupees.

This is an essential lesson to learn about giving. Most people ask for it. Few, the truly whole and spiritual, refuse it. So, ultimately, you give what you can, when you can. You must keep your eyes open to who you give to, because if you do not you will give and you may be left feeling taken advantage of - lord knows I (like many others) have felt that way several times in my life. But, if you give simply to give, then it does not matter what the person or group does with your gifts. All that matters is that you gave.

So, define your own parameters about giving. And, then give. Because this is what makes this place called life worth living - helping others when you can help them. Because then they will move forward and give when they can give. From this, the world becomes a much better place.

Scott Shaw.com