Dharma Talk week of 1/28
On Monday I had 3 different friends tell me how they were involved in "Pay-it-forward" situations. One friend got to the front of a line and realized she had forgotten her wallet. The people behind her paid for her and insisted that she just "pay it forward." Another friend was behind a woman in line who couldn't pay for her coffee and she stepped in and bought the woman's cup-o-joe, asking her only to "pay it forward." Another friend of mine witnessed a similar event between two strangers.
Last week I was talking about actions speaking louder than words. I think this piggy-backs on that idea in a very real way. New York City is often described as being alive, and if you live her you know that you feel like you are part of a bigger organism. And it's because of US, because WE are here making things feel that way. Just how when you hurt your foot you are likely to experience some effects in the knee and hip, what we do affects each other.
The idea that we are able to pay anything forward to one another implies that we owe each other something. And we do all believe this to be true in one way or another. Whether you believe that we owe each other respect and simple kindness, or whether you believe that our government should provide us with certain resources, you believe something is owed to you by other humans. It's the only way we can have any code of morals and ethics at all. But we might not always have money or objects to share. So what's our currency?
I believe it's to do with the heart. The heart can be the source of all your wealth, if you choose. Whether you can lend a hand, an ear, or a dollar to someone, the intention to give always comes from the same place. Make the decision to be rich, beautiful souls.
