Shundo David Haye – Zen Priest

‘When we find that our lives are being compromised by the myth of scarcity, generosity is an effective medicine.

Generosity requires that we focus on what we have because we have to think about what it is that we can give. Anxiety over the myth of scarcity can keep us from even noticing what we have, let alone appreciating it. In addition, the moment we perform a sincere act of generosity, the world is transformed into one in which spontaneous generosity is alive and well. Perhaps we don’t have to worry so much about ourselves after all?

It is a fallacy to believe that simply changing our attitude will attract wealth, or whatever else it is that we want. It can be tricky to avoid falling into magical thinking in this area. Our practice must begin with changing our minds and hearts just for the sake of living in our current circumstances in a way that is free from added, unnecessary suffering. This unnecessary suffering is the part we ourselves add by being fearful, anxious, stingy, greedy or competitive. It isn’t easy to let go of these tendencies, but if we can, our lives will be improved even if we have the misfortune to live in poverty.

Despite the disclaimer about magical thinking, however, there is another reason why scarcity is a myth. When we open our hands and let things — including money — flow freely, we generally find that we have stopped impeding the flow into our lives as well as the flow out. Also, when we more deeply appreciate what we have, it usually begins to grow and flourish.’ (Zen and Money article)

We were talking about donations and generosity in the Monday group this week, and I was minded to dig out this article, which I have used for teaching over many years.