The Law of Giving and Receiving

31 May The Law of Giving and Receiving

Thy infinite gifts come to me only on those very

small hands of mine. Ages pass, and still thou

pourest, and still there is room to fill.

— Rabindranath Tagore, Gitanjali

The second spiritual law of success, the Law of Giving and Receiving, is based on the fact that everything in the universe operates through dynamic exchange. Every relationship is one of give and take because giving and receiving are different aspects of the flow of energy in the universe. If we stop the flow of energy, we interfere with nature’s intelligence. We must give and receive in order to keep money, or anything we want, circulating in our lives.

Currency, our word for money, derives from a Latin word meaning “to run or flow.” Money is a symbol of the life energy we give and the life energy we receive as a result of the service we provide to others. Like a river, money must keep flowing; otherwise it begins to clog and stagnate. Circulation keeps it alive and vital. If we stop the circulation of life energy, if our intention is to hold on to our money and hoard it, we stop its circulation back into our lives.

The intention behind our giving and receiving is the most important thing. When the act of giving is joyful, when it is unconditional and from the heart, then the energy behind the giving increases many times over. But if we give grudgingly, there is no energy behind that giving. If we feel we have lost something through the act of giving, then the gift is not truly given and will not cause increase.

The Law of Giving and Receiving is simple: If you want love, learn to give love; if you want attention and appreciation, learn to give attention and appreciation; if you want material affluence, help others to become materially affluent. If you want to be blessed with all the good things in life, learn to silently bless everyone with all the good things in life. The more you give, the more you will receive. In your willingness to give that which you seek, you will keep the abundance of the universe circulating in your life.

Abundance has material expression, but what is really circulating is consciousness. Even the thought of giving, the thought of blessing, or a simple prayer has the power to affect others. We are bundles of thought in a thinking universe, and thought has the power to transform.

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The best way to experience the Law of Giving and Receiving is to give a gift to everyone you come into contact with. This doesn’t have to be in the form of material things. The gifts of caring, affection, appreciation, and love are some of the most precious gifts you can give, and they don’t cost you anything.

One of the things I was taught as a child is never to go to anyone’s house without bringing a gift. You may say, “How can I give to others when I don’t have enough myself?” You can bring a note that says something about your feelings for the person you’re visiting. You can bring a flower, a compliment, or a prayer.

Whenever you meet someone, silently send that person a blessing. This kind of silent giving is very powerful. Give wherever you go, and as you give, you will receive. As you receive, the more your ability to give will increase, and the more you’ll gain confidence in the miraculous effects of this law.

There is nothing you lack, because your essential nature is one of pure potentiality and infinite possibilities. You are inherently affluent no matter how much or how little money you have, because the source of all wealth is the field of pure potentiality that knows how to fill every need.

Giving and receiving are nothing other than the flow of life — the harmonious inter-action of all the elements and forces that structure the field of existence. The exchange of energy is a process that has its own timing, organization, and beauty. Your life unfolds in the same way. Everything that comes to you isn’t something you earn, but a gift freely given by the universe, which means it comes from a deep awareness of what you need.

Think of all the things that have been freely given to you without your having to ask for them. Just experiencing gratitude allows you to participate in the Law of Giving and Receiving. Nature supports your every need and desire, including your need for joy, love, laughter, harmony, and knowledge. Seek these things first — not only for yourself, but for others — and all else will spontaneously come to you.

To Experience the Law of Giving and Receiving:

• Give a gift to everyone you encounter, be it a compliment, a flower, or a prayer. This will begin the process of circulating joy and affluence in your life and in the lives of others.

• Gratefully receive every gift that life offers you. Be open to receiving, whether it be a material gift from others, a compliment, or a prayer.

• Silently wish everyone you encounter happiness, joy, and laughter. By giving and receiving the gifts of caring, affection, appreciation, and love, you will keep wealth circulating in your life.

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Excerpted from The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success. Copyright © 1994 by Deepak Chopra.