Here is the secret to get what one wants. It is just giving. The reasons for it are based on the well-known philosophical dictum "Which comes first, the chicken or the egg?" The egg, and the chicken that is born out of it, create the circle of life, and form the basis for a profound comparison for attaining and giving what one wants: the circle of joy. This brilliant concept is analyzed in the clear voice and lucid prose of Masami Sato, the author of the book named ONE.
As human beings, most of us have yearnings for different kinds of things. And of course, the fundamental principles of economics tell us that while needs are unlimited, resources are not. This makes us think that the more resources we have, the more yearnings we would be able to satisfy. As such we tend to safeguard our resources. We would then feel that giving away these resources or splitting it between many would lessen the portion that can be used to get what we desire. This is the conventional win-lose strategy that is being played out.
Is this true, then?
What if the answer turns out to be "no"? What if it in fact contradicts the secret of attaining more? What if the secret of attaining more is in itself simple - by giving more?
One can get something just by giving something else. Exactly the way one can have eggs by raising chickens. As simple as that. Normal. Automatic. And it is a completely joyful experience.
First, let us start with a little analogy to explain more.
Chicken and Egg - The Cycle of Life
Philosophers have made this query ever since time dawned, "Which comes first, the chicken or the egg?"
There is a simple answer to this unending doubt. It is that the question is unimportant, since both chicks and eggs are here now. Nevertheless, if one wants a greater effect, one can choose to start somewhere.
Giving and Receiving: the Circle of Joy
What if we asked a different question? "Which comes first, giving or receiving?"
Again, if we want a better outcome, we should choose to start somewhere. Giving off things to others is certainly easier than striving to get it first!
What happens when we try to get it first?
If we want to have something, naturally we try to get it. And we try to hold on to it after getting it. This is very natural to do-it makes sense intellectually.
But the real results of 'trying to get' are often not abundance and real long-term rewards.
For example, hoping to see others happy is not at all about deriving joy from them, or manipulating them to become happy. It is about how much happiness we can give them and thereby share with them. Full stop.
So how do we start to get what we desire?
From the other end of the circle - by giving generously!
When we start giving before we even have what we hope to get - that which we dream of - we are sending out a powerful message to ourselves which tells us, 'there is enough, and more will come.' It allows us to sense the joy today - the joy of giving.
We only need to give out the love generously to others. It simply comes back to us. Giving love is the only way to be generously loved. When we acknowledge everyone for the great things they do and the great qualities they have, again it comes back to us. Others acknowledge us because we acknowledge them.
In the same manner, if we want to have plenty in our life materially, financially, and mentally, we have to share in full measure with others, what we want.
Some would give more physically by giving their time. Some would give more financially by giving money away. The people who give more (time, money, kindness, love, ideas) have more of these things because that's the balance. And balance is the natural law of life.
Just keep in mind the rule of the game
One rule: never expect a return when we give.
When we have the expectation that giving should create 'getting' something back, we get upset when we don't see the result coming back immediately to us. We may even hold unpleasant feelings towards the recipient of our gift. And clearly, holding a negative feeling for someone is not a pleasant or kind thing to do! So we can feel the real joy of giving when we're doing something for others knowing that we're simply doing it for ourselves-we're doing it for our own joy!
Losing to win, giving to get..
It may initially feel like we are losing out. Yet at some level we know that getting without giving is not a sustainable life model. And we've known that from the very beginning. That's why tithing has been such a natural part of the lives of many successful people. And they didn't always do it publicly so it wasn't done to gain a better reputation. It was just because that was the way it was.
Just take a look around. 'Simple' forms of life on the earth do it routinely. The bumblebees fertilize the flowers in return for the honey they take from them and ensure that the flowers bloom profusely. Habitually. That is the rule. They do not do it consciously. That is why they maintain nature's balance, without even trying.
Giving is just being who we are, it is just like having; not greater or lesser. No difficulty, no conditions attached, just releasing oneself.
The essence of getting more can be stated in two steps: Give first, and do not expect to get anything in return.
When we let go and give open-handedly, what we require would come to us. On its own. - 14915
As human beings, most of us have yearnings for different kinds of things. And of course, the fundamental principles of economics tell us that while needs are unlimited, resources are not. This makes us think that the more resources we have, the more yearnings we would be able to satisfy. As such we tend to safeguard our resources. We would then feel that giving away these resources or splitting it between many would lessen the portion that can be used to get what we desire. This is the conventional win-lose strategy that is being played out.
Is this true, then?
What if the answer turns out to be "no"? What if it in fact contradicts the secret of attaining more? What if the secret of attaining more is in itself simple - by giving more?
One can get something just by giving something else. Exactly the way one can have eggs by raising chickens. As simple as that. Normal. Automatic. And it is a completely joyful experience.
First, let us start with a little analogy to explain more.
Chicken and Egg - The Cycle of Life
Philosophers have made this query ever since time dawned, "Which comes first, the chicken or the egg?"
There is a simple answer to this unending doubt. It is that the question is unimportant, since both chicks and eggs are here now. Nevertheless, if one wants a greater effect, one can choose to start somewhere.
Giving and Receiving: the Circle of Joy
What if we asked a different question? "Which comes first, giving or receiving?"
Again, if we want a better outcome, we should choose to start somewhere. Giving off things to others is certainly easier than striving to get it first!
What happens when we try to get it first?
If we want to have something, naturally we try to get it. And we try to hold on to it after getting it. This is very natural to do-it makes sense intellectually.
But the real results of 'trying to get' are often not abundance and real long-term rewards.
For example, hoping to see others happy is not at all about deriving joy from them, or manipulating them to become happy. It is about how much happiness we can give them and thereby share with them. Full stop.
So how do we start to get what we desire?
From the other end of the circle - by giving generously!
When we start giving before we even have what we hope to get - that which we dream of - we are sending out a powerful message to ourselves which tells us, 'there is enough, and more will come.' It allows us to sense the joy today - the joy of giving.
We only need to give out the love generously to others. It simply comes back to us. Giving love is the only way to be generously loved. When we acknowledge everyone for the great things they do and the great qualities they have, again it comes back to us. Others acknowledge us because we acknowledge them.
In the same manner, if we want to have plenty in our life materially, financially, and mentally, we have to share in full measure with others, what we want.
Some would give more physically by giving their time. Some would give more financially by giving money away. The people who give more (time, money, kindness, love, ideas) have more of these things because that's the balance. And balance is the natural law of life.
Just keep in mind the rule of the game
One rule: never expect a return when we give.
When we have the expectation that giving should create 'getting' something back, we get upset when we don't see the result coming back immediately to us. We may even hold unpleasant feelings towards the recipient of our gift. And clearly, holding a negative feeling for someone is not a pleasant or kind thing to do! So we can feel the real joy of giving when we're doing something for others knowing that we're simply doing it for ourselves-we're doing it for our own joy!
Losing to win, giving to get..
It may initially feel like we are losing out. Yet at some level we know that getting without giving is not a sustainable life model. And we've known that from the very beginning. That's why tithing has been such a natural part of the lives of many successful people. And they didn't always do it publicly so it wasn't done to gain a better reputation. It was just because that was the way it was.
Just take a look around. 'Simple' forms of life on the earth do it routinely. The bumblebees fertilize the flowers in return for the honey they take from them and ensure that the flowers bloom profusely. Habitually. That is the rule. They do not do it consciously. That is why they maintain nature's balance, without even trying.
Giving is just being who we are, it is just like having; not greater or lesser. No difficulty, no conditions attached, just releasing oneself.
The essence of getting more can be stated in two steps: Give first, and do not expect to get anything in return.
When we let go and give open-handedly, what we require would come to us. On its own. - 14915
About the Author:
Contents are extracted with minor modification from ONE, a book written by Masami Sato. Visit Buy1GIVE1 for updates.
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