Generosity with Characteristics | The Six Paramitas

We practice generosity with characteristics when we have a motive for performing a generous deed. For example, we can give as a form of repayment for something received. We may feel indebted even though the giver does not expect anything in return. We may even do charitable work or make donations in the name of that person. We may then say that we have fulfilled our indebtedness. This kind of giving is good and may be counted as generosity.

I have a disciple who attended a seven-day retreat with me in Taiwan. Afterwards I asked him why he came to the retreat. He replied that his wife was extremely good to him, and he asked her what he could do to express his gratitude. She told him the best thing he could do for her was to attend a Chan retreat with me. So he told me his motive for coming to retreat was to repay a debt to his wife. You could say that this is practicing generosity with characteristics because it was a good deed with a motive.

Generosity with Characteristics and Intention Generosity with characteristics and intention is giving with the intention of being recognized, being reciprocated, or earning spiritual merit. (Spiritual merit is experienced only after death, in a heavenly realm.) While these types of generosity are a little self-serving, like investments, they are still good and better than not giving anything. Then, there are people who are miserly, yet expect others to be generous to them. This is like constantly paying for things with your credit card. Somewhere down the line, the account must be repaid with interest.

The paramitas are antidotes for mental afflictions, and the cure for greed and miserliness is generosity. Miserly people may feel that they benefit themselves when they get the upper hand, but in reality they are harming themselves. Their strong possessiveness prevents them from receiving the rewards of helping others.

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