己所�欲，勿施于人 ** (don't give to others what you don't want)
Because of this Chinese saying, I had in the past always been pretty particular about not giving away things that I no longer want to others.
Over time though, I learned to loosen up with regards this issue. In what sense? I reason that what I couldn't use, others may actually find useful. And, what may not be suitable for me may actually be suitable for others.
Over the years, my family has sent quite a lot of used clothes, bags and shoes to a Third World country via a friend. The feedback that we got was very positive. This has helped me understand that it would be even more wasteful to hang on to things you no longer have any use for, when they could well have utility elsewhere.
If we give away used items with the motivation that the things we give can find better use and benefit the new owner, then I think it's OK. Of course, if the items are already in very poor condition, broken, tattered or torn, then the only place for them is the dustbin! However, if they are still useable, we can attempt to find suitable owners for them.
What do others think about this issue? :)
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** of course, this Chinese saying actually has a larger meaning that's more akin to "do unto others as you would have others do unto you", but can also apply to mundane matters like giving away used things.
Even reused school text books, if it is stil readable and not torn, then I am sure the not so rich familes would not mind to take one for their kids.
Same as cloths, we cannot use dump torn cloths to them. How are they suppose to wear?
I give away things which I think they are not too old and useable. I put myself in others' shoes, if I think I can't accept the conditions the things are, I will not give them away, I will throw them away.
erm... if a man is poor yet he wants to donate an item (which is not in good condition)... just to help another person... wouldn't the merit be great too...?
人尽其�，物尽其用
The rest are just selfish excuses of a wasteful lifestyle.
Yes those item that can still be use, and not being use for long time or kept in the cabinet, why not just donate to the poor or needy family?
At least, we at the same time, make our home less clutter free.
Another form of fengshui clutter free qi flowing around the house for the good of the family.
Actually I prefer to donate staple food rather than money.
Originally posted by Aneslayer:人尽其�，物尽其用
The rest are just selfish excuses of a wasteful lifestyle.
// ... 物尽其用 //
Agreed.
I was just thinking yesterday that what we are materially endowed with is the result of merit accumulation and we shouldn't be squandering it. If there's really something that no longer fits in with our lifestyle but still in good and useable condition, it's better to give it to someone who can use it, rather than just mindlessly discard.
Somewhat like sharing one's merit...
But of course, on our parts we shouldn't be spending extravagantly; excusing ourselves, thinking that we can simply give things away if we end up with too much clutter.
used items can also be sold as 2nd hand items. Not all used items are in bad shape.
So instead of selling these used items, if we give them to the needy, it is akin to giving away a part of our fortune. ( it's our accumulated fortune thru our lives to own these materials things).
I will view it as sharing or donating our " fortune" to those who need them.
Of course used items in terrible conditions should be discarded and not gave away in the name of " charity".
Originally posted by realization:己所�欲，勿施于人 ** (don't give to others what you don't want)
Because of this Chinese saying, I had in the past always been pretty particular about not giving away things that I no longer want to others.
Over time though, I learned to loosen up with regards this issue. In what sense? I reason that what I couldn't use, others may actually find useful. And, what may not be suitable for me may actually be suitable for others.
Over the years, my family has sent quite a lot of used clothes, bags and shoes to a Third World country via a friend. The feedback that we got was very positive. This has helped me understand that it would be even more wasteful to hang on to things you no longer have any use for, when they could well have utility elsewhere.
If we give away used items with the motivation that the things we give can find better use and benefit the new owner, then I think it's OK. Of course, if the items are already in very poor condition, broken, tattered or torn, then the only place for them is the dustbin! However, if they are still useable, we can attempt to find suitable owners for them.
What do others think about this issue? :)
---------------
** of course, this Chinese saying actually has a larger meaning that's more akin to "do unto others as you would have others do unto you", but can also apply to mundane matters like giving away used things.
Many buddhist temples in Singapore now have recycling programs. If you don't want other stuffs such as clothings, books etc, you can donate them out . Actually, this is a practice of generosity.
As for this Confucian quote 己所ä¸�欲，勿施于人, the more applicable philosophy behind this is that "do not impose upon others what you do not like" (自己ä¸�å–œæ¡çš„æ�±è¥¿ï¼Œå�ƒè�¬ä¸�è¦�åŠ åœ¨åˆ¥äººèº«ä¸Šï¼‰. E.g. if you don't like others to be rude to you, then don't be rude to others (asking you to be polite). If you don't like others to criticize you, then don't critize others. It's actually a confucian practice of you putting yourself in other's shoe and being considerate of others (i.e. you think of yourself as another person and think in terms of him). If you wish yourself to live better, you also wish others to live better. If you don't like yourself to live in poverty, then you also don't wish others to live in poverty. It's more applicable to moral conduct and behaviour.
In terms of donating the stuffs to others that you don't want, it doesn't necessarily mean that you don't "like" these stuffs. Thus, 己所�欲，勿施于人 doesn't always apply to the case of donation or practice of generosity. What you don't want might be a need for others. If it's something that you don't like, then naturally, others might also not like it. In such a case, 己所�欲，勿施于人 does apply.
In this sense, it's quite similar to the moral law of karma in buddhism. You do a good thing, you reap good. You do evil, you reap evil. If you don't want to receive evil, you don't do evil to others.