‘Ethics in Vedanta’ is a series of blogs we will be publishing from the book, ‘The Choice is Yours‘ by Swami Chinmayananda. Our choices should be based on some ethics and values. Here we understand what are the ethics mentioned in Vedanta. After reading and understanding each value we will be better equipped to make the ‘Right Choice.’

Charity (Dana) comes from an inner sense of abundance. The desire to give charity springs from a sense of oneness in us – oneness between the giver and the recipient. Unless one is able to identify oneself, one will not have this noble urge to share all that one has with others who have not as much. Charity is born out of an ability to sublimate one’s instincts of acquisition and aggrandizement and to replace them with the spirit of sacrifice.

Giving of charity can create feelings of egotism and vanity unless we give with modesty and humility, ever remembering Him who has given us whatever we have. Many may have the intellectual vision to judge the cause they are espousing, the large-heartedness to give in plenty and with modesty, yet they may not have the element of love that is necessary to feel a deep sympathy with the cause that they patronize. To give without sympathy is as futile as to build temple without an idol.

Sympathy generates love in us, and unless this love element dominates us, compelling us to identify with the cause, we will not spiritually evolve along the path of charity. Charity, honeyed with the spirit of love and the joy of identification, blesses the giver with an inner abundance far outweigh that which has given.