There is a circular nature to the universe. This is the belief of the Won-Buddhist temple I attend. This is also a fundamental spiritual teaching, and a pattern of nature.
All things move in cycles.
So the phrase ‘what goes around comes around’ — it’s really true. Like everything, energy moves with a circular nature. So what you put out comes back to you. It’s universal law.
This teaching was driven home to me one December day, when I ran into my son’s second-grade teacher at my favorite burrito spot.
As we waited in line for our delicious takeout orders, this teacher and I struck up a conversation.
She shared with me that she had just been thinking about my son, since she had recently decorated her Christmas tree with her family, and my son had given her an ornament the previous year.
She told me that it’s her tradition every year to decorate her tree with the ornaments her students have given her. With each ornament she hangs, she tells a story about the student from whom the gift came.
So she talks about and remembers each student fondly to her family every year.
And I realized: this is how it works! This is how gifts give back! I had always heard these daily reminders to be a light in the world: what you put out comes back to you, says every greeting card in the grocery store.
But I hadn’t seen it in action so clearly in my life before. There, talking to me, was a woman with such a good and pure heart, who conveys blessings and happy thoughts of children to her family and to the Universe each holiday season.
All because these children thought to give her a gift when they were her students.
Now, for years to come, they will receive the gift of her kind best wishes. These children will be remembered in their teacher’s heart every time the holidays roll around.
This simple story acts as a daily reminder to me, whenever I think about generosity.
When I give to others, I am creating good feeling in the world. Even though it seems like you lose something when you give — you lose some money, at minimum, right? You end up gaining, though: the respect and appreciation of others. You tip the balance of the world toward the light.
It’s a powerful thing to be a source for others, and in being generous — with your time and attention, with a smile, with the offer to buy someone’s coffee when you meet — you embrace the power of your Source.
Also: when I worked at the above-mentioned burrito restaurant, I was always so blown away by generous tippers. I felt like they had a level of compassion that was uplifting to all. It surely made my night great and renewed my faith in humanity when folks were generous.
It feels so good to give, once you realize how powerful it is.
One Response