Daswandh: Giving to Charity; One-tenth of your earnings!
"That Sikh obtains much honour in the world,
who earns by the sweat of their brow, and from that,
gives one-tenth to the Guru." - Bhai Desa Singh- Sikh code of conduct
Charity shows compassionate and kind behaviour, a person of God loves God’s creation and has a duty to help the weak and needy. Caring for others is an essential part of sikhi. Helping the ill; disabled and general humanity has been imparted into Sikh ethics from all of the Sikh Gurus. Sikhs are instructed to give a minimum of 1/10 of their earnings to a charitable cause. This instruction is of a great importance for Sikhs and is even stated in the Sikh code of conduct. Sikhs in the times of the Guru’s used to bring their incomes to Guru Ji; which in turn helped in the Langar (free community kitchen). In the times of Guru Hargobind Ji; Sikhs used to bring arms and horses which helped in the battles against tyranny. Helping in projects which cause the betterment of society, make up a core part of the Sikhs character. Sikhs have given many sacrifices (fighting just wars) in the past for the betterment of humanity. In this day and age where there is so much suffering; if we can’t give our lives, the least we can do is give money to charities that help others. Love, kindness, compassion and charity are the virtues of the God loving people.
O Nanak, those who lack the Lord's Glance of Grace cherish neither charity nor the Lord's Name.- Ang 15 Sri -Guru Granth Sahib Ji
Let the first be truthfulness, the second honest living, and the third charity in the Name of God.- Ang 141-Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji
The self-willed manmukh does not remember the Name of the Lord, does not give in charity, and does not cleanse his consciousness; his body rolls in the dust.- Ang 596- Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji
In the dark night myriad stars shine.The houses are lit by lighting the lamps but still the thieves also roam about for the purpose of stealing.
The householders shut the doors of their homes and shops before they go to sleep. The sun with its light dispels the darkness of night.
Likewise the gurmukh making people understand the importance of nam (meditation), dan (charity), and isnan (ablution) sets them free from the bondage (of life and death).
The pleasure fruit of gurmukhs is the company of holy persons through which animals, ghosts and the fallen ones are salvaged and liberated. Such beneficent persons are dear to the Guru. - Bhai Gurdas ji vaara Pannaa 16
Dont be Greedy
Sites of some charities:
www.sightsavers.org
www.littleblindpeople.com