Why is it that joy of giving is experienced by some and not others? For this we must try and understand what giving really envisages. No action by itself can be termed as right or wrong, good or bad. No action can be understood by studying merely the outward motions. It is the attitudes and motives which give it its true meaning. Therefore giving is to be understood in the light of the attitudes that we hold.

There are two main attitudes governing our actions. The attitude of taking and the attitude of giving. With this as the basis of giving most people in the world would fall under the category of takers. There is rarely a person who gives with an attitude of giving. Most of the time we give with an attitude of taking. Thus we are deprived of the true happiness which comes from giving.

A true giver is one whose motive is to benefit the other person. There is no thought of oneself. Such a person truly enjoys the sense of supreme happiness and satisfaction that springs from such action.

A lady complained that it was no use doing good to others. All her life she claimed to serve her family and give to charities. But no one really cares, she moaned. She grudged about everything and everybody. She found no satisfaction and happiness is life. Further investigations revealed the glaring fault in her attitudes.

All her giving was merely an investment for her own personal ends. Extremely possessive and dominating by nature she wished to win over others in exchange for the grand charities. All her giving carried a heavy price tag- that the receivers forgo their independence. When she faced resistance she blamed others for ingratitude. Such giving naturally could not yield any joy. All the giving is nullified by the attitude of taking that accompanies it.

Motives attached to giving not only obstruct one's own happiness but also burden the receiver. It puts the other person under the pressure of an obligation. In social circles receiving usually pressurizes us with the undercurrents of expectations it carries. It is easy to receive from a saint. It is because his giving is pure and genuine. Giving is for giving sake. It is always peaceful to be with nature, because nature is a silent giver and expects nothing in return. Flowing rivers, fragrant flowers, green meadows all have a charming effect on us. Thousands go to nature to receive its bounties.

Motives like name and fame, gifts and fame, gifts and honors, contaminate our giving. Consciously try to remove these from the mind. The purer the giving, the purer the happiness it begets.

Once Swami Vivekananda came to a town. A continuous stream of visitors poured in from morning to meet him. They listened to his discourse. Many had questions to ask, advice to be sought. Swamiji's face beamed with a smile of welcome. He patiently heard everyone and answered their queries. He was engaged most of the day as more visitors kept coming while others left. It was late in the afternoon when all the visitors had departed.

A meek person, looking of humble birth, who had sat watching through the morning, came forward. His rags revealed his poverty. But his face was bright as that of a pious man. He fell at Swamiji's feet and stood before him with folded hands. Swamiji smiled and asked him what he wanted. "Swamiji," he said, "you have been busy since morning. You have had not even a piece of bread or a drop of water. You have had no rest. You must be extremely tired. I wish I could serve you some food. But I am an untouchable. Can I offer you a cup of milk? Or, I can get some flour with which you can prepare some chapattis?"

Swamiji looked at him intently. How pure and full of love was his heart. Tears welled up in his eyes. "This is true love! Pure and selfless." He thought to himself. "It is Divine. What use is acquiring knowledge from books? What use is scholarship or spiritual aspiration if one does not possess such love as is in the heart of this man." Needless to say Swamiji asked him to bring food from his house. The man thought that Swamiji was joking. But Swamiji assured him of his earnestness. The man's joy was immense. He ran home in excitement. He brought some food which Swamiji ate heartily.