Quotations Search Results
We found 673 matching quotes
Simone Weil, And Morning Came
God is present at the point where the eyes of those who give and those who receive meet.
God is present at the point where the eyes
Sharon Salzberg, The Kindness Handbook
The Buddha said that a true spiritual life is not possible without a generous heart. Generosity is the very first quality of an awakened mind. The spiritual path begins there because of the joy that arises from a generous heart. Pure unhindered delight flows freely when we practice generosity. We experience joy in forming the intention to give, in the actual act of giving, and in recollecting the fact that we've given.
True spiritual life is not possible without generosity
Rami Shapiro, Minyan
This ancient concern for justice is infused into the daily life of the individual through the practice of tzedakah, generosity.
This ancient concern for justice is infused into the daily life of the individual
Brenda Shoshanna, Jewish Dharma
Learn to Listen and to Hear
When someone is speaking to you, stop the dialogue within, focus completely on that person, pay full attention, and really hear what she is saying to you.
If she says something that bothers you, don't take it personally. Get out of the way and just be completely available for her. Just think, "How may I serve you?"
If you don't understand fully, stop and ask her to explain.
If appropriate, ask what she needs from you. See if you can give it right away.
Learn to listen and to hear
Sharon Salzberg, The Kindness Handbook
Learning to share in the joy of others transforms our thinking about where we can find happiness. Usually we rejoice in what we get, not in what others have. But sympathetic joy is a practice of generosity, and giving isn't just about doing someone a favor — it also makes us feel better.
Learning to share in the joy of others
Geri Larkin, The Chocolate Cake Sutra
Genuine giving feeds joyfulness. The more generosity, the greater joy. And we can be more generous than we ever thought possible.
The more generosity, the greater joy
Kenneth Kraft, The Wheel of Engaged Buddhism
Generosity is a primary virtue in Buddhism. In the past, some teachers have attached greater importance to giving than to meditation or wisdom. According to a traditional classification, there is tentative giving, friendly giving, and princely giving. When one happily shares or gives up the best one has, whether it be time, energy, or material resources, that is princely giving.
Generosity is a primary virtue
If God Is Your Co-Pilot, Switch Seats
Giving
"It's better to give than receive,"
my mother used to say.
But it took some years
of experience
before I fully understood
what she meant.
When I gave my subway seat
to an old lady,
I felt kind.
When I dropped a dollar
into the street musician's hat,
I felt generous.
When I let the harried driver
cut in front of me on the road,
I felt patient.
When I lent a hand
to someone at work,
I felt a part of the team.
When I brought a meal
to my grieving neighbor,
I felt empathetic.
When I gave some water
to a thirsty dog,
I felt happy.
When I wrote a check
to a worthy cause,
I felt virtuous.
When I gave my friend
the benefit of the doubt,
I felt compassionate.
I discovered that
when I give my time,
my attention,
my money,
my thoughtfulness
to another —
I feel wonderful.
Mom was right . . .
it IS better to give
than receive.
In giving,
we generate warmth;
in giving,
we feel connected;
in giving,
we discover love.
Kindness
in words creates confidence.
Kindness in thinking creates profoundness.
Kindness in giving creates love.
— Lao Tzu, Chinese philosopher
BJ Gallagher's poem on how through giving we discover love.
Giving - The Sacred Art
"Caring for the planet, advocating for the poor, befriending the elderly, giving love to a homeless animal — each one of us can worship God through creative and generous giving of our time, talent, and treasure. Look to the issues you are most passionate about for a place to begin your own practice. Here are just a few examples of how you can give nonfinancially in a way that would be worship:
"Care for the environment. Take reusable bags with you when you go to the grocery store to avoid plastic bags, which are hard to recycle or reuse. Reusable bags also work great for trips to the big-box discount stores or even the mall.
"Recognize all of humanity. As we are all children of God, take time to look the passing stranger in the eye. When you sit down in an airplane, acknowledge the person beside you with a hello. Give the gift of presence and recognition to a stranger.
"Offer love to a homeless animal. Thirty minutes of your time can make a world of difference to an animal that is confined to a cage. If you have kids, the local humane society is a great place to spend a dull Saturday afternoon and the experience provides them with a powerful way to give.
"Share your possessions. Are you getting married soon, or have you recently tied the knot? Consider donating your wedding dress to an organization that can either pass it on to a woman who could not otherwise afford a dress or sell it to raise money for a charitable cause.
"Forgive and be patient with others. Whom do you harbor anger toward? Give them and yourself the gift of forgiveness. On a more casual basis, when someone makes a mistake or is just driving you crazy, be generous with your patience. By doing so, we imitate the nature of God.
"Provide hospitality. Invite the spouse of an active military man or woman for dinner. On Mother's Day, welcome into your home a mother who has lost a child.
"Care for our children. If we believe in God as creator, then we are all an extension of God's family. Spend time reading to children at schools. Attend a school play or band concert. Be a mentor or active role model. Adopt a child or be a foster parent.
"Support the support staffs. Thousands of people spend each day 'serving' others for a living. Give back to folks in the service industry. Throw away your trash after the movies and put the armrest back up. Return your shopping cart to the stall in the parking lot. Put away your food and tray at the cafe. You can even strip the sheets of your hotel bed and pile the bathroom towels; you'll really make the housekeepers' day."
Lauren Tyler Wright's suggestions for kind acts.
The Ironic Christian's Companion
"In Acts (20:35), Luke quotes Paul quoting Jesus: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.' Like many Americans, I find it more difficult to receive than to give. In the frontier spirit I do not want to be obligated to anyone. As soon as I receive something, I make a quick subconscious calculation to determine what I must do in return to even the balance of payments, or tilt it slightly in my favor. My stiffest resistance to the grace of God is my uneasiness when I get something for nothing."
Patrick Henry on his difficulty with grace.