| |
to relatives, even to strangers. But he confessed to me once, while traveling with me in the train: "I have always wanted to ask you something, but I could not gather courage to expose myself. I have given to all my relatives who were poor, and now they are rich people. I have given to my friends, I have given even to strangers who have asked; I have never said no to anybody -- I have so much that I can go on giving. But they are all angry at me; they talk against me."
I said, "It is very simple: have you ever allowed them to give something to YOU?"
He said, "I don't need anything."
I said, "That explains everything. But small things... for example, you can phone a friend to whom you have given money, a factory, and made a rich man, and say: 'Just passing by your house I saw beautiful roses in your garden. Will you bring a few roses to me?' And the friend's attitude towards you will change.
"You are sick: you can phone somebody and say: 'I am lying in bed, with a bad headache and fever, and a great desire has arisen in me for you, that you should be close to me. Just come here, hold my hand and sit by my side.' That will be enough.
"You have many cars, but you could have told any of your relatives: 'I need your car for one day.' You don't have to use it. Just keep it in the garage and by the evening return it. But your relative or your friend will think he can also give something to you. He is also needed."
He said, "I will try, although I am very reluctant. I have made them whatsoever they are. Why should I ask anything? I have roses in my garden. I have my own cars, and their cars I have given to them; their houses I have given to them."
I said, "It is up to you. It is your ego that is hurting them all -- that you are the giver, and they are always the receiver. If you want to change their attitude towards you, you have to become in some way a receiver. Let them enjoy for some moments the ego of giving."
He tried, and next time when he met me, he said, "It works, it works miracles! I had never seen... those people are so happy with me. They are talking about my generosity. Now that I am taking things from
|
|
|