In a conversation I had with one of my older sons yesterday, he raised some insights on generosity that he had cause to contemplate. How funny it is that in my random virtue pick this morning, it should appear and I had been thinking about some of the thoughts my son had shared. I have often thought that of the practice of generosity in terms of material significance, to share what I have with others. But when I consider what it means to possess a generous spirit it extends to every facet of my life. My son shared how when we are not practicing being generous we lack the capacity to forgive. I had to think about that for a little while and then it became clear. I need to be able to let go of what it is I may be clinging to that inhibits my ability to let forgiveness flow toward another soul and more importantly my own soul. To let go of self-interest and open to the needs and concerns of others. To know that even if I have a negative experience with someone, it is the ability to let go of that negativity, free my body of the trauma that may have accompanied it and allow myself to heal. When I am in meetings it is generosity that enables me to listen to other's opinions and ideas, to acknowledge and view all contributions as valuable and necessary to the process of consultation. I had never connected all of this with generosity before. It is the virtue through which I will be assisted to truly see everyone as a part of one human race and not see anyone as other.
Ah...generosity. Its such an incredibly uplifting virtue. Connecting it with forgiveness is brilliant...especially when applying it to ones self! A gift indeed. Thank you for sharing your thoughts.