Generosity ...Giving me that which you need more then I do

Generosity is not giving me that which I need that you do, but it is giving me that which you need more than I do.” 
― Khalil Gibran 

 Let  me explain with  a  story  from  Jataka tales which  talks  about  a  young  man who  earned  his  meal  after  working  in a  rich man’s house  was more  then  willing   to  part  with  it when there  was more Need to  give his  food   to  Buddhist  monks who  were  hungry  and i believe this  story  aptly helps  us  to  understand  Khalil Gibran’s  saying  that

,Generosity is  ......Giving  me that  which  you  need more  then  I  do .

This  young  man Madavasu while  on  a  visit to  his friend” s place  in  a  village was passing by  a  road  and  was curious  to  know why  there  were  a big  crowd in  front  of  a rich  man’s   house .upon  inquiring he  came  to  know  that every  week this  rich  man had  the  tradition  of  opening  his  house  big door   facing  the  road so  that  general  public can  view the  sight  of this  rich man  having  LUNCH ! you  may  wonder what’s  so  great

Well , it  was  was  seven  course   meal  spread  across  big  table  with  all possible  dishes prepared  with  pure  ghee and  this  rich  man sat  on a  majestic  chair  and ate  those meal  relishing   and  taking  his  own  time   which  was  served  in  silver plate  .The  smell  was irresistible  and all  villagers were  waiting  every  week  just  to  see  the  Rich  man enjoying his  meal   and   also smell  the  food .!!

This  young  man Madavasu as  a  part  of  the  crowd watched  the  proceedings but  dint  stop like  everyone   but a thought started  crystallizing  in  his  mind

Yes,  he  was  determined  to  eat  that  food  served  to  the  rich  man  for  once , just  once  in  his  life  time  and  when  he  shared  his  thought  to  his  friend he gently suggested   Madavasu  to  concentrate  on  his  pending  work  in  this  village  and pack his  bag  and  go  back thereafter  and  not  to chase  this  kind  of  stupid  dream of  eating  the  rich  man’s  food  for  a  day, but  this  young  man  had different  plan. He  did reach  the rich  man’s house  waited  at  his  gate  for  him  to  come  out  and straight  away requested  him   that  he  wishes  to  eat  the food  what  is  prepared  for  him  for  once in  his  life  time  and for  that he  offered  his  service  as  a  servant  in  his  house to  fulfill  his dream 

 At   first  the  rich  man was  taken aback by  this  young  man’s request  but  at the  same  time  appreciated his  frankness and  noticed  the    spark in young  man’s   eyes and his determination  to  achieve  his  goal   Yes  told  the  rich  man “you  can  have  the  food  for once  but  to  get  that  you  need  to  work  for  me  for  two   full  year and  do  whatever  work  I  give  you “

Young  Man  readily  agreed and  stated working  from  the  very  next  day , toiling  in  his  paddy  field , rearing  his  cattle  and  sheep , mopping  his  house  floor ,  cleaning, washing,every  possible  work   given  to  him.     He worked with  dedication day  in  day  out for  two  full  year just  for  one  good  meal .At  last  the  day  came  where  he  was  awarded  for  his work  and  his  dream was suppose  to  come  true .The  whole  villages  by  now  had  come  to  know of  this  young  man and  his  dream  to  eat  rich  man’s  food  for  once  and  they  were  all  in  full  attendance and  waiting  in for  the  door  to  open for the  grand  event  to  unfold  

Meanwhile in  rich  man’s house  the young  man madhuvasu  was  given  royal bath  and  new  cloths  on  instruction  by  rich  man and  he  himself volunteered to  serve  this  man  with  the  best  food as   by  now  he  had  developed respect for  this  young  man .Door  was opened  and  as  usual seven   course  meals was  elaborately  spread on  table  and  rich  man started serving to  Madhuvasa who  was glowing  with  pride and  contentment   and  yes  he  made  his  dream  come  true  and for  this  meal  Madhuvasa   had  skipped eating  his frugal meal from two  days  just  to  have  the  satisfaction  of  eating  this  food and  nothing  else  and as he  was  about  to  eat  some   thing  happened suddenly  from   no where  two   frail looking old  Buddhist  monks turned  up near the  door  and   begged for  food and  pleaded  that  they  had    not eaten  for 4  days .

Imagine  the  scene here was  a  young  man who after  chasing  dream had  worked  for  2  years  to  eat  this  royal  food  was  about  to  eat  and  at  the  door  step  two  fragile  old  monks are  begging  for  food .This  young  man without  second  thought took  all  the  food  he  earned  and  gave it  to the  needy  old  monks .They  ate  and  were  satisfied  and  went  ahead to  next village after   blessing  this  Man .People  watching  were dumbfounded as they  dint  know  how  to  react. They commented   that  this  guy has  turned  mad and When  rich  man  asked  him  why  he  donated   the  food   to  the  old  monks which  he  earned  for  2  years    maduvasa  replied
” yes  I  chased  my  dream waned  to  eat  the  food  worked  for  it for  two  years   but  sir, today  those old  monks  need  was  far  more  critical  then  mine  as they  were  hungry, and  I  gave  them what I  had and  I  am  sure that I  have  strength to work  for  another  2  years   but not  those  old  monks ”

Now  you  can  appreciate better   . Generosity is not giving me that which I need that you do, but it is giving me that which you need more than  that I do.” 
― Khalil Gibran  
 Happiness doesn't result from what we get, but from what we give.”