“Generosity is the most natural outward expression of an inner attitude of compassion and loving-kindness.”
This quote is by the Dalai Lama. Compassion and loving-kindness are two of the themes about which he often speaks and writes, emphasizing that those qualities are essential for us to have in order to make our world a better place.
There are tangible and intangible forms of generosity, both of which matter very much. For any decisions we make, we should always try to discern the guidance of our inner voice, including as to the forms of generosity we are called to do.
Some tangible forms of generosity are donating money to help support charitable organizations, the performing arts, and causes we believe in. We can also donate clothing and household items to organizations that make them available to people in need. Volunteering our time, energy, and skills is another tangible form of generosity.
Some examples of intangible forms of generosity are being nonjudgmental, having empathy, expressing concern, and treating others with respect. We are also generous when we listen to others, giving them our full attention.
We can become more generous people in the sense the Dalai Lama refers to by trying to be aware of prejudices we might have and by taking note of the degree of our self-centeredness. Gaining this awareness is the first step toward making changes.
The more of us who make those changes, the better our world will be. And this will result in more people being the recipients of compassion and loving-kindness, which is as it should be.