Namaskaaram Swami,
In today’s world there are many kinds of charities. So my question is, “Is there a particular type of charity we are supposed to do? Do the Shastras recommend any particular form of charity? If so, can anyone give adiyen a list of charities we are supposed to do?”
adiyen
Shravanan swamy, namaskaram.
Nice question; very important question. There are multiple aspects to this:
What kinds of things can be given in charity?
How to determine whom to give charity?
When and at what place and circumstances charity is to be offered?
What should be the motivation in offering charity?
What should be the attitude while offering charity?
What are the consequences of different kinds of charity?
Kindly listen to upanyasams on Bhagavad Gita 17.20 to 17.28 for detailed answers to these questions.
adiyen dasan.
Namaskaaram Kambandasan Swami,
Thank you for your reply, Swami. I couldn’t find specific upanyasams for Bhagavad Gita 17.20-28. If you have the link, please share. But I read the slokas (17.20-28), and also listened to 2 EnPani audios regarding Charity. They are EnPani #49 and #1939.
In one of the above mentioned EnPani audios, Sri Velukkudi Swami gave examples of some charities such as building temples, planting trees, etc.
Swami, I have a doubt regarding charity, for a long time now. Consider these situations:
adiyen
Swami, also consider another situation:
Situation #3: If we plant trees and provide food and care for animals(for example: Cows), will we not have influence of karma? Will a person who has done saranagati, still do these activities, although they are pious?
(P.S.: My intentions are not against giving charity. But these are some of the doubts I had)
adiyen
வறியார்க்கொன்று ஈவதே ஈகை மற்றெல்லாம்
குறியெதிர்ப்பை நீரது உடைத்து
அதிகாரம் : ஈகை (Charity) குறள் : 221
பொருள் : வறியவர்க்கு ஒரு பொருளைக் கொடுப்பதே ஈகை எனப்படுவது, மற்றவர்க்குக் கொடுப்பதெல்லாம் பயன் எதிர்பார்த்து கொடுக்கும் தன்மை உடையது.
But to keeping on giving and let them continue in their status quo is not good. One easy service they can do is the service of eating prasadam instead of eating ‘food’. We can give them prasadam. Along the way we have to find ways of engaging them in some service or other to acharyas and Perumal. eg. engage them is preparations for festivals.
3. If we do these activities as a ‘pious activity’ then we have to experience the burden of the punyam acquired. If we do these activities as kainkaryam then no punyam; no papam. Sarvam Krishna-arpanam astu!
adiyen dasan.
Thank you Swami, devareer cleared a lot of adiyen’s doubts. I thought ‘Kainkaryam’ and ‘Pious activities’ were one and the same. Can you please explain the difference?
adiyen dasan
The way I understand, punya karma = pious activity; such activities are prescribed in the scriptures as ‘good” and we expect to get ‘good reactions’. There may be some amount of devotional sentiments, but the main motivation for doing such activities is the reward we are promised to get from such activities.
paapa karma = impious activities; such activities are proscribed in the scriptures; if one engages in such activities it brings bad reactions.
Kainkaryam is loving service rendered to acharyas and Perumal without any expectation in return (not even expecting liberation). We engage in kainkaryam because it is our privilege and it is our duty. It is done only out of love (i.e. devotion).
adiyen dasan.
eg. reading Sundarakaandam for the pleasure of Lord Rama is kainkaryam.
reading Sudarakaandam to pass an examination (or expecting any such result) is punyam.
Thank you for taking your time answering my doubts, Swami.
adiyen dasan
Srimate Raamanujaye Namaha,
Swami two relevant threads in the past is as below.
https://www.kinchit.org/dharma-sandeha/thread/helping-in-worldly-matters/
https://www.kinchit.org/dharma-sandeha/thread/lending-money-dharma-sankatam/
Also another paragraph about charity can be read here.(5th or 6 th para in the link)
https://vedabase.io/en/library/bg/10/4-5/
In another perspective safest but most difficult charity to give is knowledge of soul and Bhagawaan and Vaishnava Qualities.. We can give it only when we earn it.. earning it is difficult and giving is more difficult as there are not many recipients as well.. But in one sense that is the highest charity.
Adiyen
Thirukachidaasanudasan
Namaskaaram EnPanifan Swami,
Thanks for citing several relevant references regarding this thread. Swami has given nice answers with reference to Shastram.
adiyen dasan.
