Charity

Charity

"The life of a man consists not in seeing visions and in dreaming dreams, but in active charity and in willing service."
- Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Awakens

Sense of Interconnectedness

Deepens

Compassion and Generosity

Heals

Greed and selfishness

What is Charity?

For most of us, being charitable or philanthropic implies financial generosity. However, being charitable means much more than just making a financial donation to an individual or a cause. The word “charity” does imply having a generous spirit but one can also express charity through forgiveness, patience, and attentiveness.

How do I practice charity?

Our traditional view of charity poses a classic dilemma: "Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime." It is wise to think carefully about how you choose to be helpful. One way to do this is to check on the effectiveness of the charities you support. It is also wise to first cultivate a sense of charity within our own circles where we can practice it in a face-to-face manner. Moving outward from that, remember that your time and talent are also gifts that are just as important as your “treasure.”

The Power of Philanthropy (from the Rockefeller Foundation)