World Wide PURR 4 GENEROSITY OF SPIRIT DOESN'T HAVE TO WAIT FOR CHRISTMAS

I wondered a little about Confucius' choice for this week's PURR. I wasn't sure what I would blog about or exactly what was on his mind with this particular topic. But then I went over to his blog and took the time to read and re-read his intent with the subject, which, now, is PURRfectly clear. It's what I have felt all my life and how my parents raised me - the more you give the more you get. Love isn't love until it's given away and so on. I've lived my life like that. Sometimes I think it was a bad thing for me to do because I would have more - right this minute- as I sit here in my kitchen. But, as I look back, I don't know how I could have lived any other way. Whenever someone has needed something - I gave, even if it meant that I would be without. What was so magical is that I was without only momentarily and not permanently.

So Confucius here's to a furry wise cat. And, Confucius, this one's for you:

 On Giving

An excerpt from "The Prophet" by Kahlil Gibran
Then said a rich man, "Speak to us of Giving."
And he answered:

You give but little when you give of your possessions.
It is when you give of yourself that you truly give.

For what are your possessions but things
you keep and guard
for fear you may need them tomorrow?
And tomorrow, what shall tomorrow
bring to the overprudent dog
burying bones in the trackless sand as he follows the
pilgrims to the holy city?
And what is fear of need but need itself?
Is not dread of thirst when your well is full,

the thirst that is unquenchable?

There are those who give little
of the much which they have-
and they give it
for recognition and their hidden desire
makes their gifts unwholesome.
And there are those who have little and give it all.
These are the believers in life and the bounty of life,
and their coffer is never empty.
There are those who give with joy,
and their joy is their reward.
And there are those who give with pain,
and that pain is their baptism.
And there are those who give and know not
pain in giving, nor do they seek joy,
nor give with mindfulness of virtue:
They give as in yonder valley the myrtle
breathes its fragrance into space.
Through the hands of such as these God
speaks, and from behind their eyes
He smiles upon the earth.

It is well to give when asked, but it is
better to give unasked, through understanding:
And to the open-handed the search for
one who shall receive is joy greater than giving.
And is there aught your would withhold?
All you have shall some day be given:
Therefore give now, that the season of
giving may be yours and not your inheritors`.

You often say, "I would give, but only to the deserving."
The trees in your orchard say not so,
nor the flocks in your pasture.
They give that they may live,
for to with-hold is to perish.
Surely he who is worthy to receive his
days and nights, is worthy of all else from you.
And he who has deserved to drink from
the ocean of life deserves to fill his cup from your little stream.
And what desert greater shall there be,
than that, which lies in the courage and the
confidence, nay the charity, of receiving?
And who are you that men should rend
their bosom and unveil their pride,
that you may see their worth naked and their pride unabashed?
See first that you yourself deserve to be
a giver, and an instrument of giving.

For in truth it is life that gives unto life-
while you, who deem yourself a giver are but a witness.

And you receivers- and you are all
receivers - assume no weight of gratitude,
lest you lay a yoke upon
yourself and upon he who gives.
Rather rise together with the giver on his gifts as on wings:
For to be overmindful of your debt, is
to doubt his generosity who has the
free-hearted earth for mother, and God for father

Kahlil Gibran's book, published in 1923 is especially relevent and helpful

for these times and is a wonderful gift for yourself or a loved one.

Week 15 of Purrs 4 Peace details are as follows:

* Week fifteen’s appointed time is Sunday, September 20, 2009.
* Participants should purr for three minutes commencing at 3 p.m. EDT (U.S.) which is 8:00 p.m. (20:00 hrs.) BST in the U.K.
* The cat’s human staff should assist their cats with the project by stroking and nuzzling the cat at the appointed time.
* Please post your cat name and the country you purr in at www.confuciuscat.blogspot.com as a COMMENT if you are participating in this historic project. (posting a link to your own website-if you have one-is encouraged.) Or let me know by message on twitter or facebook.
* Posting purrs on facebook ( Acolytes of Confucius Cat or as friend to Alley Mason) and twitter (@ConfuciusCat) is encouraged, since it inspires purring in others, but not required. On twitter please use #purrs4peace in your tweets.