WhereverYouGoThereYouAreMeditationMindfulnessZen Kabat-Zinn identifies 5 qualities inherent to the practice of meditation:
- Patience
- Letting go
- Non-judging
- Trust
- Generosity
Generosity is an interesting concept in regards to meditation. It is not purely a vehicle towards detachment from material things; it is an opportunity to become more connected with my True Self, by being generous with the best version of myself. This means giving my trust, my kindness, my wisdom, my enthusiasm, my humor, and most importantly my presence.
On the contrary, mindless giving is counterproductive: it comes from a place of self-defense. It is likely done to make people like you. The motives for giving are as or more important than the giving itself. Kabat-Zinn states that some forms of giving are displays of fear or lack of confidence. In fact, sometimes giving to yourself is the most needed act of generosity. Then you enable yourself to be able to give more freely to others, little by little: by having more to give!
“At the deepest level, there is no giver, no gift, and no recipient… only the Universe rearranging itself.”