Page 127 - Mystic Pathways through the Bible

d
chapter five 121
that you can sympathize with other’s sufferings makes you a charitable person of high caliber.
By following these instructions given in the Bible, the Gita, and the Upanishads, you practice satwic charity; by opposing them, you practice rajasic charity. And when your charity results in harming or degrading the recipient, it then becomes tamasic and should be shunned. A satwic act of charity puri es the giver as well as the receiver. Rajasic charity creates the illusions of attachment and hatred between the two, while tamasic charity degrades and hurls the performer into the depths of delusion.
According to an interesting parable, God once appeared before a Saint saying, “I am pleased with you; I will therefore grant you the power of healing the sick.” The Saint, who was afraid of being caught by the temptation of psychic powers, said, “Oh Lord, please refrain from endowing me with this power so that my mind may ow towards You in an undistracted manner. However, if you must, let my shadow have the power of healing others, and let me be absolutely unaware of that power.” The boon was granted, and many sought refuge in his shadow and became healed. But the Sage continued to keep his mind immersed in the loving remembrance of God, unaware that his shadow was performing immense acts of virtue day by day.
Those who are enlightened or Self-realized are truly the greatest performers of charity. This is