People — ordinary, everyday people all over the world — willingly open their hearts and their wallets to fill up the donation boxes at thousands of shrines, mosques, temples and churches, day after day.
A few of the world’s richest people have gone a step further than that daily or weekly short walk to a nearby temple. They have pledged almost all their money to charity, leaving just a fraction for their heirs.
Philanthropists Bill and Melinda Gates now tour the world, more to oversee the charitable work of their Foundation than as representatives of Microsoft. Warren Buffet, one of the world’s richest men, has pledged 85 per cent of his fortunes to charity. That’s a lot of money to give away to charity! The Gates live modest lives. Buffet still lives in a five-bedroom house he has had since decades and drives himself to work.
“I want to give my kids enough so that they feel that they can do anything, but not so much that they do nothing,” Buffet says about leaving money to his heirs.
Just last month, Azim Premji from India announced Rs 51,000 crore for charity during the time of the COVID-19 crisis. That is a lot of money. On the other end of the scale are thousands of volunteers who are doing their bit to help during the COVID crisis as well. There are 90-year-old grannies stitching face masks and school children all over the world helping the elderly cope with daily tasks in extended lockdowns.
Pull out the balance sheet of any big temple and you will see people giving generously — and cheerfully. The abode of Lord Balaji, the Tirupati Temple is the richest Hindu temple trust in the world and managed a bounty of almost Rs 2,800 crore in the last financial year. This is all money that comes in as donations from devotees. This is apart from the jewellery, grain and other offerings that people gift to the temple. The temple owned jewellery worth Rs 50,000 crore in its vaults, including antique jewellery, some five years ago. The figure must now be more.
The Old Testament refers to tithing in the Books of Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Nehemia and Malachi. But in the New Testament, Jesus Christ emphasises justice, mercy and faith, rather than just tithes. Christ, in fact, was critical of the rich robbing the poor, and then easing their conscience by giving away a tenth of their wealth in tithes.
Sometimes, we hear stories of underworld dons attempting to atone for their sins by doling out a fraction of their loot to the poor. This, however, violates both the letter and spirit of tithing.
There is the dasvandh in Sikhism —besides their regular practice of sewa and helping and contributing to the langar or community kitchen run by the gurudwaras — the zakat in Islam, and references to generous giving in almost every faith including Buddhism, and Jainism. New age beliefs such as reiki and pranic healing have their own versions of tithes, terming it as acts of loving kindness. Pranic healing master Choa Kok Sui, for instance, would ask followers to donate at least 10 per cent of their income to the needy. He would recommend sowing in the name of God — the good karma then comes back to you multiplied many times.
Bangalore-based Guru Shri Nimishananda said once in an interview, “People think charity means donating money or clothes to the poor. This is charity, no doubt, but even if you’ve wiped a single tear or removed a little pain, you’ve made a difference.”
And that’s what tithing is all about. Begin with what you can donate — even one or two per cent of your income is a great start, but give with respect, love, gratitude, and feel honoured that you have been given a chance to serve your fellow men.
It’s not just money; you can give of your time, knowledge, or simply teach. There is no greater joy in the world than seeing someone go for higher studies, or swing a better job with a bit of help from you.
While there are any number of miraculous stories posted on the Internet on the joy and rewards of giving, there are also detractors who say the poor should work hard to better their lot and not depend on others. A site dedicated to spread the joy of giving, also lists some 30 excuses people quote for not giving or for postponing that decision by one more year.
The late Claude Rosenberg, a Stanford University business graduate and American philanthropist ran the New Tithing Group, an outfit that began persuading the rich that they could significantly increase their charitable work, by giving while also shrinking their tax bill.
Rosenberg was also the author of Wealthy and Wise: How You And America Can Get The Most Out Of Your Giving (Little, Brown). The book details how wealthy people can afford to give more to charity through sound budgeting. Incidentally, their research showed that the middle income group gives away a bigger chunk of their savings than do wealthy people!