Charity, a cornerstone of compassion, transcends mere monetary transactions

Charity is defined as the voluntary giving of help, typically in the form of money, to those in need. It is also kindness and tolerance in judging people; charity refers to a nice way to treat people. It is an activity or gift that benefits the public at large. Charity is what costs you a little, but can benefit someone greatly.

The Bhagavad-Geeta has lots of information about this topic. Lord Krishna has stated this activity in the three modes of goodness, passion and darkness. Beginning with charity in goodness, “The charity, which is given with a thought that one must donate and is given to someone from whom nothing is expected in return and is given at a proper place, on a suitable occasion and is given to a worthy person, that charity is said to be in goodness. (18.20) Lord Krishna has set five conditions for a proper donation. The first is a strong urge that one must donate. After all, it is a voluntary act or should be. Any compulsion of any kind is not really charity. The second requirement is that it must be given to someone from whom nothing is expected in return. If it was it is not a donation but an exchange. We give something and get something in return like a favour. The third condition is the place; it must be proper. Those in need of money gather outside religious places like temples on auspicious days like Janmashtami. One can donate to them whatever one can spare easily. Similarly, there are needy persons in dhams (sacred places) like Kedarnath. Donations in these places are highly beneficial to givers.

The fourth condition of the Lord is occasions like Mahashivaratri. These are excellent opportunities to donate. Additionally, people feel generous on personal landmarks like birthdays of self and family members when they like to spend money set aside for these purposes. This is very nice too. Others get associated with our happiness. The fifth condition of the Lord is very stringent. All charities must be given to worthy persons only. Before offering charity to someone, make sure that he is, in fact, needy and not just a pretender dressed like a beggar. Why? Many are not needy and are fit enough to earn a living for themselves, but choose to become burdens on society. They even train their children to become beggars. This cannot be encouraged. Similarly, there are sadhus, who have escaped their family responsibilities and have chosen to seek an easy way out to exist.

Now we come to the donation in passion. “But charity, which is either given in return for some favour earlier, or with an expectation of a future return in mind and is given grudgingly with a heavy heart, that charity is said to be in passion.” (18.12) Lord Krishna has warned against two faults in donating. One is to make it an exchange deal as stated earlier, which is I do something for you and you do likewise. This in the cloak of charity is not to be practised. The other is to give a donation under some compulsion because there is a faulty emotion behind it.

There are five different ways to donate. These are money, material objects, personal labour, kind words and good emotions. There is not just one way. Even if we feel we don’t have surplus money, there is something material we can definitely spare like clothes which we are not likely to ever wear. If that is also not possible, then, we can do some personal labour like assisting in the marriage arrangements of a relative or a friend. If that is also not convenient, we can say a few kind words, which mean a lot to someone in distress. And, lastly, our good emotions can bring cheer to someone. Different religions encourage doing charitable work. Lord Jesus taught that we should give food to the hungry, shelter to those, who have none and clothes to the poor. Charity in Islam is given to please God through generosity, love, compassion and faith. These acts are not necessarily physical or monetary. Simple good deeds such as a smile, or a helping hand are great acts of charity.

(The writer is a spiritual teacher; views are personal)