[blockquote source=”Ralph Waldo Emerson”]”It is one of the most beautiful compensations of this life that no man can sincerely try to help another without helping himself… Serve and thou shall be served.”[/blockquote]

There’s an elderly man who sits at the corner each day, his clothes worn to nearly threadbare – showing well the signs of suffering through all these years.

He sits atop an abandoned milk crate, waiting desperately for any act of kindness that will help to ease his pain. And, in his trembling hands – a sign which reads,

“Disabled war veteran. Seeking Human Kindness. God Bless.”

Come on, humanity, I secretly plead; but one by one, the cars slip away – leaving far behind them, the opportunity to make a change.

When I was a little girl, we always kept an extra place at the table – a tradition I maintain, still to this day. And, it doesn’t ever matter how tired I may feel – there’s always a space for strangers to become friends. Growing up, I thought it customary of all families. I can’t begin to tell you the disappointment I felt when I learned that this was, indeed, not the case.

I’ve often wondered what it might take to globally deepen our capacity for empathy? To broaden this circle of shared compassion, and raise the spiritual generosity of all human beings?

Is there a catalyst for loving-kindness?

The Buddha taught that our giving should be separate from the ‘reward.’ That we should give freely, and without attachment to either the gift or the recipient. In this way, the practice of giving helps to release the propensity towards greed and self-clinging.

And, there are many ways to give. We may give of our material possessions – offering food for the hungry, or clothing for the poor. We may give of our heart – offering patience, understanding and warmth when it’s needed most of all. We might also give of our time – offering a moment of service to a man holding a sign.

When the Buddha taught of compassion, he asked, “Now who here is capable of understanding my teachings?” And, when he saw a poor leper sitting amongst the assembly, he remarked, “Ah, yes, this is the person who may best understand.”

There’s much to be said of this passage. Indeed, it is often those seemingly most impoverished, who hold the greatest potential for humanity.

And, yet – all too often, we pass them by; fearful, perhaps, that our involvement may never be enough. Or, maybe “it’s our propensity to be bothered in the first place.”

There’s no denying, something happens when we meet someone in need. For some, it is a call to action – while, for others, it illicits a terrifying fear.

But, what is the basis of this fear?

Sometimes, there is no rational explanation; often, we are triggered by past memories and emotions – deeply ingrained within our ‘habit of reaction.’

In which case, maybe this fear stems from an unwillingness to embrace our own vulnerabilities?

But, as the Buddha so eloquently stated, in giving – we begin to release ourselves from suffering. It is this charity, which becomes the basis of our own spiritual freedom.

How silly we are, then, to pity the plight of others, when we are potentially the ones most needing ‘change.’

A little something to consider, my friends ~ that a single act of charity, may become the catalyst for a much needed global awakening.

Namaste.