👉 First Give, Then Gain

Great personalities always appeal and motivate people in their contact to give something for noble causes. They themselves sacrifice everything they had. This is what makes them great. Thorough pondering over this fact has taught me that there is no religious duty greater than giving or sacrificing (for others’ welfare), which we can do any time (provided we have the will and attitude). There is no better mode than renunciation (of selfish possessions and attachments) for elimination of evil tendencies and untoward accumulation in the mind.

If you want to acquire precious knowledge, attain people’s respect, achieve something great, then first learn to give what best you can for the society, for altruistic service. Donate your talents, intellect, time, labor, wealth, whatever potentials or resources you have for the betterment of the world…; you will get manifold of that in return… Gautam Buddha had renounced the royal throne; Gandhi had left the brilliant career, wealth, comforts… As the world has witnessed, what they were rewarded in return was indeed immeasurable,immortal…

It is worth recalling the beautiful verse of renowned poet Rabindranath Tagore here, which says – He spread his hands open and asked for something… I took out a tiny piece of grain from my bag and kept on His palm. At the end of the day, I found a golden piece of same size in my bag. I cried – why didn’t I empty my bag for Him, which would have transformed me, the poor man into a King of Wealth?

📖 Akhand Jyoti, March. 1940