A couple of things that will surprise you about Zen and the Art of Giving ...

So let's talk about Seeing and Acting - Having and Giving - Self and Others. In this time of being at home, it's easy to slip into being self-absorbed and almost forgetting about the world out there.

As Mindfulness meditators, we spend a huge amount of time getting in touch with what we are feeling, what our mind is doing, our emotions and what our mind needs. But how much time are we spending getting in touch with what others need?

Yes, I know. Daily we are confronted by so many people in need, I can hear some of you sigh already. But before you switch off ...

Sometimes it’s difficult to know how to deal with it or even face up to it. With dozens of people, charities and good cause appealing for help and support, it can feel frightening, even exhausting. I call it charity-fatigue.

But the question is: if our yoga and mindfulness practice is something we are supposed to be able to take off our mat and into the ‘real world’, how can meditation help us deal with people in need?

How do we go about living our spiritual life without sticking our head in the sand? Feeling safe at home, while at the same time knowing there are people who are suffering, who have so little and are in need of help?

What is the Zen take on wealth and having more than others? What do the old Zen teachings say about charity and generosity, working with feelings of having and giving?

Well, you may be surprised. While many people live with the belief that you can not be truly spiritual unless you renounce everything, letting go of all your worldly possessions is not a prerequisite to living a spiritual life.

Surprisingly, the old Zen teachings tell us that the idea of wealth in itself is not a problem. Because people who have wealth are able to share and provide for others, thereby creating lovingkindness. And also because people who have wealth are often looked up to, thereby creating an opportunity to set a good example.

Zen happiness is found by recognising a balance between wealth and ethics. Wealth only becomes a problem when we cling to it. Wealth and an extravagant lifestyle can bring us comfort and joy, but can equally bring great misery when it creates a clinging attachment to a luxury and a constant and great fear of loss.

Zen is very pragmatic about things like wealth, having and sharing: According to one account, the Buddha walked thirty miles to teach a poor person, but first made sure he was fed before focusing on spiritual matters.

In Zen, the act of charity is not generally discussed in monetary terms like “cutting a cheque” or giving money to a worthy cause. Although giving money to charity can be considered doing something out of concern and in the service of another person’s happiness, in the Zen tradition, charity and generosity is much more than that.

Generosity is considered a skill, an accomplishment, and something we practice. It is part of a sincere, heart-felt wish we carry with us. Which is much more difficult than cutting that cheque.

It all starts with a practice which is called the practice of Metta: the practice of loving kindness and compassion.

Buddhists often quote early writings on generosity: “What is the accomplishment in generosity? A noble person has a heart free from the stain of stinginess, is open-handed, pure-handed, delighting in relinquishment, one devoted to charity, one who delights in sharing and giving. This is called accomplishment in generosity.”

So while we can practice generosity by giving monetary support to charities, we practice Metta to create a deeper, heart-felt practice of kindness and generosity.

Metta is the sincere wish that all beings are happy, safe and peaceful. Note the words ‘all beings’. Not just those we like or admire, feel neutral about or can tolerate, but all people. That means even those we don’t like. Metta is the antidote to selfishness, anger, and fear. The words we use in our Metta meditation practice are:

Metta is a practice which automatically moves us into a place of lovingkindness, compassion and generosity. It's a slightly different charity which changes our focus and intention: it is is based more on a feeling of understanding, a connectedness to others.

How? When we practice Metta, we practice with only one aim: to wish for all people to be happy. When we think of the people in the world around us in those terms, we begin to see things less in terms of separation and more in terms of connectedness. There is less of “me and you” or “them and us”. We begin to see the other person as being very much like ourself. It leads us naturally to a realisation or recognition that every action we take affects us and everyone around us.

In Zen this is called Dependent Origination, sometimes also known as Interdependent Co-arising. It is an understanding that no thing or person spontaneously exists all on its own. We’re all connected. Furthermore, all our actions create conditions which affect each other’s wellbeing. It is the nature of human life, of all things and of all situations. We share the same earth. Ultimately, there is nothing and no one with whom we are not connected.

It is easy to see and feel how we are all connected when we are outside, like taking a walk in nature. Then we can more clearly recognise that everything we experience throughout our life is happening arises from conditions, from a certain background of complex circumstances which are constantly shifting and changing.

So how do we start with connecting with others? We can start from nothing. Whatever we have, wherever we are—that is the place we can start from. Many people feel overwhelmed or have the idea that they don’t have enough to do what is necessary. Not enough power, energy or not enough money.

But any point is the right starting point. This is the perspective that lovingkindness and compassion opens up. We can start from zero.

We have all we need - to start working toward connecting and helping others by feeling lovingkindness to all beings. Although we can’t at the moment go out and practice lovingkindness directly with others, we can start our practice at home. This brings a new meaning to the phrase “charity begins at home” J

Actually, you may be surprised to learn that Metta practice starts with generating lovingkindness first towards ourself. Metta meditation – meditating on generating lovingkindness - always starts with generating lovingkindness towards ourself first. And only then we give Metta to others. Because how can we truly carry the wish to help others, love others, feel compassion for others if we can’t find love or feel compassion for ourself?

I invite you to come and sit with me in Metta meditation tomorrow morning and experience the feeling of generating lovingkindness towards yourself and others. The original Metta Sutta - the teaching - is on this image below:

Metta to you all.

_/\_