When I was a child, my father would get up every morning and walk from our house to our farm nearby. He would often carry a handful of wheat flour and would stop and sprinkle a little flour on the ant hills that he saw along the way. One time he told me, “I’m feeding many souls with very little.”
In Indian thought, small acts like this are called a “punya” and it is believed that you gain merit from even the smallest of good deeds. The action does not need to be large to have an impact. It’s about what is in our heart when we engage in any activity, no matter how small.. Depending on where our attention is, that kind of vibration is coming out of our being.
We are all capable of doing good. I remember one time we ran out of water at the Ashram. A neighbor saw us struggling and offered to share his water with us. He had never come by before and didn’t know anything about our center – he just had the notion of being a good neighbor. Now, many years later, he may not even remember this act of generosity, but I do. When we remember the kindness of others, vibrations go out to them in the form of our blessings.
So when we do some good deed out of the lightness of our heart and without any expectation, the impact can be great. If there is relief experienced by any living creature, there is a vibration of their gratitude that comes to touch us.
Most people believe that they need to do something big in order to have an impact. It’s not true. If our mind is concerned with doing something grandiose to make a mark in the world, it’s easy to get discouraged. We also don’t give importance to the small opportunities of doing good deeds and we miss out.
A generous heart takes the welfare of all into consideration and accommodates others’ needs. Such people are inspirational. Moments may arise when you feel taken advantage of. When the reactive mind comes in, you can feel your chest begin to tighten. This is the time to take a step back and let your heart expand. Generosity of heart is ultimately victorious, prevailing in all situations.
The light radiating out from your heart illuminates the world. When your behavior comes from a place of love, you feel good, and that goodness spreads to others. When kindness flows from you, everyone around you feels it—then in turn, everyone around them feels those vibrations. This is how the light spreads.
Stay in that remembrance, that there is always an opportunity to do good.
