The temporal benefits of generosity are that in doing so, even if one does not desire it, wealth and possessions arise and one is reborn wealthy in subsequent lives. Ultimately, having perfected the great accumulation of merit, one swiftly attains the state of Buddhahood.
As it is said in the Ratnāvalī (Precious Garland):
"Generosity brings prosperity, discipline brings happiness.
Patience brings beautiful form, diligence brings radiance.
Meditation brings peace, wisdom brings liberation."
Nowadays, neuroscientists who examine humans have found results such as the following: when a poor person is given money and their brains are suddenly examined, it is said that the brain of the benefactor responds more positively to the act of generosity than that of the beneficiary receiving the money, and the benefactor experiences greater happiness in their mind. Just imagine, if you are to lose a large sum of money on accident, you are left quite dejected and sad. On the other hand, if you were to “lose” a large sum of money giving to someone in need, you are left happy and contented. Serving others is the ultimate self-interest. Bodhisattva heirs of the Buddhas, having let go of their own self-interest, work for the benefit of others. They are not only supreme in accomplishing others' goals, but they are also supreme in accomplishing their own goals. We ordinary beings, due to our self-grasping, have been unable to accomplish even our own self-interest. Ultimately, failing to achieve even our own self-interest, we have wandered in samsara until now. When we analyze this situation, considering the maxim "accomplishing others' goals incidentally accomplishes one's own goal”; we must definitely strive to serve others.
Nowadays, when many people talk about giving charity, they believe it perhaps benefits that particular recipient exclusively. From the day you give something to others, you consider that object to be separate from you and belonging to them. However, when you give generously to others without expectation, ultimately, you will receive it back, just as depositing money in a bank. Moreover, when helping and making charitable donations to others, joy arises in your mind. Therefore, the first benefit of generosity is greater for you than for the recipient. Normally, we deposit money in banks for the future. In that sense, the needy are our true bank for the accumulation of merit. This is the reason why it is said that helpless sentient beings benefit us more than the Buddha for the attainment of liberation.
From the Sutra Requested by the Householder Ugra:
"What is given is mine. What remains in the household is not mine.
What is given is essential. What remains in the household is inessential.
What is given does not need to be protected. What remains in the household needs to be protected.
What is given is without fear. What remains in the household is with fear.
What is given shows the path to enlightenment. What remains in the household shows the way of Mara.
What is given leads to great wealth. What remains in the household does not lead to great wealth.
What is given leads to inexhaustible enjoyment. What remains in the household leads to exhausted enjoyment."
Without needing to elaborate much, in our daily lives, when we work for our own benefit only, we are left both physically and mentally exhausted; instead, when we work to benefit others, your body might be physically tired but your mind is filled with great joy, thinking, "Today I was able to help that person well". This demonstrates the innate compassion that exists in human nature. The best method for developing this compassionate mind is the attitude of cherishing others, which is the opposite of the self-cherishing mind that is the source of pride, jealousy, competitiveness, and hatred. If one wishes to find true happiness and go on the right path in this short human life, one should abandon self-cherishing and instead adopt cherishing others, helping and benefiting others as much as possible.
As Shantideva said in the Way of the Bodhisattva:
“Whatever happiness exists for beings
Arises from wishing happiness for others.
Whatever suffering exists for beings
Arises from wanting just their own happiness.
What need is there to say much?
Childish beings act for their own self-interest,
While Buddhas act for the welfare of others;
Just look at the difference between them!”
The ideal time for giving and a brief account of generosity.
Although there is no definite time for giving, it is said that the best time to give is when one is not wealthy. When one is not wealthy, giving a small gift is more virtuous than giving a large gift when one is rich. When it is taught to be generous, many people see it as if they cannot give without definitely first having wealth, waiting for wealth to come before beginning to practice generosity. When we think about the meaning of generosity, we may think only of the transference of some material wealth from one's hand to another's hand. That is called material giving, which is the lowest form of giving. Normally, during daily life, speaking words of genuine loving compassion to others, displaying physical and verbal expressions, looking with the smiling eyes of compassion and a genuine smiling face - all of these can be considered acts of giving.
In connection with that, I would like to tell a short story from the time of the Buddha.
Once upon a time, the Buddha and His Five Excellent Companion Bhikkhus, holding alms bowls in their hands and wearing beautiful saffron-colored monastic robes, went to that place for alms. On the way, they encountered a beggar woman who was coming along, leaning on a staff. The beggar woman actually saw with her eyes the Buddha and his companions wearing red and yellow monastic robes and carrying alms bowls as they came. Seeing this sight of the Buddha and His companions, great joy arose in her mind. She thought, "I am a beggar woman with nothing, so even though I am actually meeting the Buddha today, I have nothing to offer," and she then became sad. The Buddha knew the thoughts in the beggar woman's mind and approached her, saying these words:
"My dear Mother, do not be sad thinking you have nothing.” Buddha, while lovingly gazing at the beggar's face, said, 'I see a very precious jewel in your body.'"
The woman replied, "Lord Buddha, you too are reproaching and humiliating me, a beggar. There is nothing useful in my body except these tattered rags and the staff I hold in my hand."
The Buddha said, "Mother, do not say that. Material wealth is not important. There are three things that are absolutely essential for a human being. First, a mind of loving kindness. Second, an unfeigned, smiling countenance. Third, speaking gentle words to others. These three are more valuable than any material possessions. Since you have all three, mother, from today onwards, with this priceless loving mind, smiling countenance, and gentle speech, you will be reborn as a beautiful celestial maiden in your next life." Thus, he prophesied.
Actually, the time for giving alms is when one is lacking in wealth and facing the difficulties of poverty. This is because the current state of your poverty is the result of not having given in previous lives. When one currently lacks resources, making offerings and acts of generosity to both the Three Jewels (the Buddha, Dharma, Sangha) and the poor sentient beings below, sometimes the results ripen quickly.
I would like to tell a brief story about myself. In 1998, I came from Tibet as a refugee to India. When I was coming from Tibet, I had nothing except my own body; I had no money or other material wealth. When I arrived in India, I was truly a beggar. However, through the kindness of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan government-in-exile, while staying in the reception center for several months, I did not face any difficulties with food or clothing.
One day, I had a special private audience with His Holiness the Dalai Lama. At that time, I was sick and also poor, so my body was very weak. His Holiness the Dalai Lama asked me about the situation in Tibet from within his private residence. He also asked me many detailed questions about myself. This was the first audience I had with the all-knowing protector in my life. That day was a very special day for me, one which I will never forget. He did not display any of the grandeur or authority befitting his title or position as the Dalai Lama. Instead, he sat on the ground with me, a powerless and humble refugee in a foreign land, and listened carefully to whatever I had to say. I was amazed by how he listened to me. His Holiness the Dalai Lama knew that I was in poor health and had no relatives or family in India. Knowing this, he smiled and joked as he said, "Show me how much money you have in your wallet."
When I opened the old wallet inside my dirty yellow monk bag, there were only two hundred Indian rupees inside. That was all the capital I had in my life, which was equivalent to about two and a half American dollars. His Holiness the Dalai Lama looked at the money in my wallet and laughed loudly, saying, "Oh, you still have a lot of money. What are you going to do with it?" I replied, "I'll eat something tomorrow."
He said, "Oh no. I think it would be better for you to go down now and make a charitable donation to the Indian beggars at the crossroads. Isn't that right? Perhaps the fruits of your generosity may come tomorrow. It is said that the best time to practice generosity is when you yourself are not wealthy." He spoke with a smile and a laugh. I, scratching my head, bowed my head slightly with a low voice and replied, "Yes."
Finally, His Holiness the Dalai Lama said, "Now let's take a picture together. I have other work to do. You can go if you like. Anyway, if you encounter difficulties in the future, no matter what, come to me and I will help. I can instruct the staff in the office. In general, you won't have any difficulties. Everything will be fine. Don't worry. Take good care of your health for now. We will meet again later, okay?"
He held my hand tightly and gave me many pieces of advice like a father to his son. Tears uncontrollably flowed from my eyes. The details can be read more in my biography. After the audience was over, I offered the one hundred Indian rupees that were in my wallet to His monastery, Namgyal Monastery in Dharamshala. I then distributed the one hundred small coins to some beggars at the crossroads. I then went to Dharamsala's Mcleod Ganj village, where I was staying temporarily with a newly arrived Tibetan friend from Tibet who lived in a humble household.
That evening, I had dinner with my friend. That day, I felt very happy. This was because I had an audience with His Holiness the Dalai Lama and had sincerely offered everything I had as religious offerings and charity. The next morning, following Tibetan tradition, I went for circumambulation at His Holiness's monastery.
At the crossroads, a blonde-haired Western woman stopped me and started talking to me. At that time, since I didn't know any English words, she took a Tibetan boy aside for translation. The translator said she asked about me. Then we went to a tea shop on the walking path and had a long conversation about myself. She then took out an envelope from her bag and handed it to me. I took it and put it in my old, dusty yellow bag. She looked at me, wagging her finger, saying "No no" in English. She told me to open the envelope right away. In our Tibetan and Eastern tradition, there is no custom of looking at a gift before accepting it immediately. When I opened the envelope, there were some bills I had never seen before. The translator, as if surprised, said, "Sir, this is American money. This is called a dollar. They gave you 500 of these American dollars."
This was my first time seeing an American dollar, which was probably equivalent to more than thirty thousand Indian rupees at that time. It was the first time in my life someone gave me such a large amount of money. I wondered why this woman gave it to me. Perhaps it was because at that time I was sick, in very poor physical condition, and had just newly arrived from Tibet. No matter how I looked at it, I had a destitute appearance.
This reminded me of the prophecy His Holiness the Dalai Lama gave me yesterday, saying that perhaps the fruits of my generosity might come quickly. In any case, I am confident that this was the result of offering and giving two hundred Indian rupees the day before. As mentioned above, the time to practice offering and generosity is when one is lacking in resources, as it is said. This is my true, factual story without any exaggeration. I told it today thinking it might benefit some people.
From that time onward, wherever I went in the world, I did not encounter any difficulties regarding money or finances. In particular, the present Manjushri Dharma Center in Pacific Grove came into existence through the kindness and generosity of a person who had never even seen or met me before. All of these things are entirely the result of the pure intention of donating two hundred Indian rupees when I had no wealth myself, and solely the fruition of His Holiness the Dalai Lama's prayers. At that time, when I gave that donation, I had no expectation of any return or karmic result, such as thinking "In the future, if I obtain money." If one gives a donation with such a motivation, it will not bring any benefit. However, whatever virtuous deeds are done with a completely pure mind will yield results both temporarily and ultimately, which is the infallible result of the nature of reality. The arising of results from causes is the supreme unique quality of Buddhism.
This is an excerpt from my teaching on generosity, part of a larger teaching on the Six Paramitas, or Six Perfections, which I wrote in Tibetan and which were subsequently translated into English with the help of translation software, Monlam AI, and some further editing by my student, Karma Choeying.
