Generosity

Generosity is one virtue which the Buddha encouraged the world to cultivate in their life. Therefore, Buddhist people practise to give away things to the needed. When it is difficult for someone to give away, there are many teachings or similes to remind them. Here is one of them:

There was once a Zen teacher, named Mokusen Hiki, who lived in Tamba temple. He always taught people to give away things to those who needed. People practised according to his teaching, except the wife of his close student. He knew that and went to visit them at home. When he arrived at their home, he wasn’t given anything by the wife of his student, even a glass of water.

When they sat in front of him, he unfolded his hand and showed the fist to them. The wife asked, “Sir, what do you mean by showing the fist?” He answered, “If my hand is always like this, what does it mean?” She said, “If your hand always become like that, it is handicapped, isn’t it?” He said, “Yes, it is. So it should not always be like this”. He opened up his hand and asked, “If my hand is always like this, what does it mean?” She answered, “Well! If your hand is always like that, it is handicapped, isn’t it?” He said, “Yes, it is. So it should not always be like this; it must be flexible, folded and unfolded”. She bowed to the teacher and said, “Thank you very much indeed, master. You open up my mind”. The Zen teacher said, “You are welcome. If you understand, you are a good wife” and left them.

What does the story mean? Why did the wife of the teacher’s student say thanks to the teacher? What did he teach her? Let’s explain:

Unfolded hand or a fist means not to give or stinginess and opened up hand means to give or generosity. So stinginess is not good and also giving too much or to the unneeded is not good. To give or not to give must be based on wisdom, seeing the situation.

Do you understand this? If you do, you can put it into practice in daily life. Generosity can open up your mind; opened mind can learn a lot of things, but closed mind is blocked to learn or improve. Open your mind to learn from the outside world and inside world and with knowledge, you can live a reasonable life.