Giving and Its Unseen Strings

The last two 90-degree days brought breezes with them and gave us the delightful treat of hot and cool at the same time. Breezes blowng through open windows felt delightful in the meditation hall.

One sangha volunteer brought a bouquet of flowers for the visiting nun who was leading the meditation and teaching. Another meditator quietly moved the bouquet to the anteroom, due to chemical sensitivities.

How do you feel when your act of generosity is not accepted?

Perhaps you offer something and the recipient says, "No thanks."
Or perhaps they accept, but don't put your gift in a place of honor (such as the flowers at the meditation hall).
Or perhaps they accept, but then pass the gift on to someone else.

These are all opportunities to look at our intentions. Ostensibly, we thought we were being generous. But then we see/feel the strings we had unknowingly attached to our gift.

We want the recipient to be happy or grateful or surprised.
Or we want them to like us or love us.
Maybe we want them to think well of us. But perhaps they think ill of us for giving them something they consider as useless or even ugly.

The road to hell, as well as the road to stress and distress, is paved with good intentions.

Let's be kind to ourselves. We give because we want to give. Period.

How the recipient responds is none of our business.