The secret to get what you want is revealed. Simply by giving. The reasons are explained using the classic philosophical question: "Which comes first, the chicken or the egg?" The chicken and the egg, which forms the circle of life, serves as a profound analogy to giving and getting what we want: the circle of joy. The concept is explained in the clear and refreshing voice of Masami Sato, the author of ONE Book.
As human beings, most of us have yearnings for different kinds of things. And of course, the fundamental principles of economics tell us that while needs are unlimited, resources are not. This makes us think that the more resources we have, the more yearnings we would be able to satisfy. As such we tend to safeguard our resources. We would then feel that giving away these resources or splitting it between many would lessen the portion that can be used to get what we desire. This is the conventional win-lose strategy that is being played out.
Then, is it true?
And if the answer is "no" what then? What if it actually goes against the secret of getting more? What if the secret to earn more is simple - just by managing to give more?
You can get something simply by giving. Just like you can have eggs by breeding chickens. Just like that. Natural. Automatic. And it's an absolutely joyful experience.
First, let us start with a little analogy to explain more.
Chicken and Egg - The Cycle of Life
Philosophers have made this query ever since time dawned, "Which comes first, the chicken or the egg?"
The answer to this riddle is simple. It actually does not matter which came first, as both eggs and chicks are already here. Still, if we want to get better results, we can choose to start somewhere.
Giving and Receiving: the Circle of Joy
What if we asked the question in a different manner? "Which comes first, giving or receiving?"
Again, if we want to have greater results, we can choose to start somewhere. Giving something to others is surely so much easier than trying to get it first!
What happens if we are trying to get it first?
If we yearn to own something, naturally we would try to get it. And once we get it, we would try to hold on to it. This is absolutely normal - it does make sense logically.
But the actual upshot of 'striving to get' is often not profusion and actual long-term recompense.
For example, hoping to see others happy is not at all about deriving joy from them, or manipulating them to become happy. It is about how much happiness we can give them and thereby share with them. Full stop.
So how do we start to get what we desire?
By starting from the other end of the circle- by giving generously!
When we start giving before we even have what we hope to get - that which we dream of - we are sending out a powerful message to ourselves which tells us, 'there is enough, and more will come.' It allows us to sense the joy today - the joy of giving.
All we need to do is give out the love in ample measures to others. It just returns to us. Giving love is the only way to be fully loved. When we acknowledge the greatness of others' achievements, and their great qualities, again, that recognition comes back to us. They recognize us, because we are ready to recognize them.
In the same way, if we wanted to have enough in our life materially, financially and emotionally, we just need to share the things we want generously with others.
Some would give more physically by giving their time. Some would give more financially by giving money away. The people who give more (time, money, kindness, love, ideas) have more of these things because that's the balance. And balance is the natural law of life.
Just remember the rule of the game
Rule one: never hope to get anything in return when a thing is given.
When we have the anticipation that giving involves 'getting' something back, we become unhappy when we do not see the thing returning to us fast. We may even feel unhappy towards the one who gets the gift. And having a negative feeling for someone is definitely not a right state of affairs! So we can know the real pleasure of giving when we are doing it with the awareness that we are actually doing it for ourselves - we are doing it for our own pleasure!
Losing to succeed, giving to receive.
It may initially feel like we are losing out. Yet at some level we know that getting without giving is not a sustainable life model. And we've known that from the very beginning. That's why tithing has been such a natural part of the lives of many successful people. And they didn't always do it publicly so it wasn't done to gain a better reputation. It was just because that was the way it was.
Just take a look around. 'Simple' forms of life on the earth do it routinely. The bumblebees fertilize the flowers in return for the honey they take from them and ensure that the flowers bloom profusely. Habitually. That is the rule. They do not do it consciously. That is why they maintain nature's balance, without even trying.
Giving is just a part of who we are, the same as having; nothing more or less. No complications, no strings attached; just letting go.
The gist of getting more can be summarised into two steps: Give first, and do not hope to get anything in return.
When we let go and give wholeheartedly, what we need will be given to us. Automatically.
As human beings, most of us have yearnings for different kinds of things. And of course, the fundamental principles of economics tell us that while needs are unlimited, resources are not. This makes us think that the more resources we have, the more yearnings we would be able to satisfy. As such we tend to safeguard our resources. We would then feel that giving away these resources or splitting it between many would lessen the portion that can be used to get what we desire. This is the conventional win-lose strategy that is being played out.
Then, is it true?
And if the answer is "no" what then? What if it actually goes against the secret of getting more? What if the secret to earn more is simple - just by managing to give more?
You can get something simply by giving. Just like you can have eggs by breeding chickens. Just like that. Natural. Automatic. And it's an absolutely joyful experience.
First, let us start with a little analogy to explain more.
Chicken and Egg - The Cycle of Life
Philosophers have made this query ever since time dawned, "Which comes first, the chicken or the egg?"
The answer to this riddle is simple. It actually does not matter which came first, as both eggs and chicks are already here. Still, if we want to get better results, we can choose to start somewhere.
Giving and Receiving: the Circle of Joy
What if we asked the question in a different manner? "Which comes first, giving or receiving?"
Again, if we want to have greater results, we can choose to start somewhere. Giving something to others is surely so much easier than trying to get it first!
What happens if we are trying to get it first?
If we yearn to own something, naturally we would try to get it. And once we get it, we would try to hold on to it. This is absolutely normal - it does make sense logically.
But the actual upshot of 'striving to get' is often not profusion and actual long-term recompense.
For example, hoping to see others happy is not at all about deriving joy from them, or manipulating them to become happy. It is about how much happiness we can give them and thereby share with them. Full stop.
So how do we start to get what we desire?
By starting from the other end of the circle- by giving generously!
When we start giving before we even have what we hope to get - that which we dream of - we are sending out a powerful message to ourselves which tells us, 'there is enough, and more will come.' It allows us to sense the joy today - the joy of giving.
All we need to do is give out the love in ample measures to others. It just returns to us. Giving love is the only way to be fully loved. When we acknowledge the greatness of others' achievements, and their great qualities, again, that recognition comes back to us. They recognize us, because we are ready to recognize them.
In the same way, if we wanted to have enough in our life materially, financially and emotionally, we just need to share the things we want generously with others.
Some would give more physically by giving their time. Some would give more financially by giving money away. The people who give more (time, money, kindness, love, ideas) have more of these things because that's the balance. And balance is the natural law of life.
Just remember the rule of the game
Rule one: never hope to get anything in return when a thing is given.
When we have the anticipation that giving involves 'getting' something back, we become unhappy when we do not see the thing returning to us fast. We may even feel unhappy towards the one who gets the gift. And having a negative feeling for someone is definitely not a right state of affairs! So we can know the real pleasure of giving when we are doing it with the awareness that we are actually doing it for ourselves - we are doing it for our own pleasure!
Losing to succeed, giving to receive.
It may initially feel like we are losing out. Yet at some level we know that getting without giving is not a sustainable life model. And we've known that from the very beginning. That's why tithing has been such a natural part of the lives of many successful people. And they didn't always do it publicly so it wasn't done to gain a better reputation. It was just because that was the way it was.
Just take a look around. 'Simple' forms of life on the earth do it routinely. The bumblebees fertilize the flowers in return for the honey they take from them and ensure that the flowers bloom profusely. Habitually. That is the rule. They do not do it consciously. That is why they maintain nature's balance, without even trying.
Giving is just a part of who we are, the same as having; nothing more or less. No complications, no strings attached; just letting go.
The gist of getting more can be summarised into two steps: Give first, and do not hope to get anything in return.
When we let go and give wholeheartedly, what we need will be given to us. Automatically.
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