A spiritual seeker often finds books, articles, blog posts, and lectures which emphasise the importance of giving. This message just cannot be avoided. People are encouraged to give their money, their time, and their efforts to certain worthy cases, needy individuals, and spiritual organizations. Quite often, they are advised to give tithe - that is, ten percent of their income. We've become so accustomed to these words, that we rarely try to understand the overall concept of giving.

In order to support their theories on giving, some teachers quote the Bible, while others refer to the universal law which says "give, and it shall be given to you". Sometimes, giving is viewed as acting upon some kind of contract with God, who promised to reward cheerful givers with financial abundance. But isn't it true that some of us knew people who were faithful tithers for many years, but still did get their "reward"? These cases might indicate that some key elements were missing in theories on giving, and we need a bit more balanced perspective.

At the same time, people who teach on giving might condemn "consumer mentality", "greed", and "selfishness". It even seems that they are making others feel guilty. "How dare you to take so much to yourself!" "How dare you to use more resources in a month than a third-world family uses in a year!" Words like this don't ring true to me either.

Although I do believe in wisdom and moderation in using the natural resources, I am not a radical environmentalist. Much of environmentalism looks to me a fear-based doctrine, and I think that fear stops the flow of creative energy. Environmentalism assumes that energy resources and/or our abilities to use them are limited, but my opinion is that we only begun to explore the vastness of the universal treasures. It is not really wise to extrapolate our current tendencies and to predict a doomsday. The history proves it, time and again, that the humanity always comes to a new level of technological or social development when a crisis is about to happen. Several hundred years ago, the main source of energy for various human needs was wood. There could be a natural concern - what will happen when all the forests will be cut off? But the fact is, we don't cut wood for our ovens or fireplaces anymore. We've discovered better energy sources and invented ways to use them for our benefit. Why don't we trust that the human genius will do the same thing at the next stage of our progress? Reduced energy consumption, as some people suggest, won't change the situation much, but new inventions will do it.

So, I would recommend to let go any guilt feelings about taking and using the resources we really need. This is a necessary part of our life.

Giving and taking are two sides of the same natural process of the energy flow. We all participate in this process. We cannot live and not to give, and at the same time we cannot live and not to take. It has to do with our universal connectedness. We should not separate giving from taking - neither in our mind, nor in our words and actions.

The challenge for all of us in not to "give more" or "take less", as we are instructed, but to be conscious about our giving and taking. And we may start our journey to greater awareness by not giving or taking anything under pressure, because of fear, guilt, and habit.

It is possible to give as a matter of habit. We do it all the time.

It is possible to give because of fear. Some individuals are afraid that they will lose God's favour if they won't give. Others are more concerned by what others will say in that case.

It is possible to give because of greed. Some people, as we mentioned earlier, try to use giving as a shortcut to greater prosperity.

Should we mention other people who give in order to boost their self-esteem? Should we mention those who are trying to "buy" love and attention of others by their giving?

At the same time, it is possible to take with wrong motives. We might grab hold of something we don't really need because we are fearful and insecure, or because we've been manipulated into acting in such a way.

When we will clear our consciousness from all these negative states, it will become much easier for us to move along with the energy flow of giving and taking.