As we continue to march toward Thanksgiving and the holiday season, a recent experience marks the importance of "giving" as "thanks."

As some of you may know, I recently started a part-time job at Publix Supermarket. It is a wonderful opportunity to get to know other peoples' habits and quirks. In so doing, I learn more about myself via my reactions to those who may not think like me.

Lately, we cashiers have been encouraged to ask the customers to contribute funds to the local food bank. Every customer I ask has a different reaction. Some give a lot while others give nothing.

I had one customer who sneered at me when he blatantly refused to contribute to the food bank. I thought I had his "number." He was absolutely a Scrooge in my mind.

I said nothing and moved on to cashing him out. As I was about to do so, he handed me a $20 bill and said, "put this toward the order of the guy behind me." I was left speechless. He certainly proved my theory about him all wrong. This man wanted to contribute, but in retrospect it seems that he just wanted to know where his money was going. He was no Scrooge at all.

Giving Thanks: The Yoga Principle of Gratitude

It is in our actions that we show gratitude to others and to our own lives. Yoga takes gratitude a step further by defining it as selfless service. In his translation of The Bhagavad Gita, Easwaran (1985) construes the yoga of giving as selfless service or karma yoga. Thanking others through giving.

It is this little Publix story that demonstrates the yogic principle of selfless service. That is, giving to others and expecting nothing in return. The next guy did actually donate to the Food Bank!

Karma Yoga: The Yoga of Giving

Giving in yoga means taking "selfless action." So contributing to the community in some way (example: the local food bank, helping an elderly person shop, or buying Pampers for a baby in need), is all considered karma yoga.

Free Online Yoga Nidra

I plan to do my own karma yoga by offering a free online yoga nidraclass on Monday, December 11 at 7:30 pm online via Zoom. To me, yoga nidra is the ultimate relaxation tool that has a myriad of positive outcomes. Register here.

References

Easwaran, E. (1985, 2007). The bhagavad gita (translation), 2ed. Blue Mountain Center of Meditation: Tomalos, CA.