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Traditional wisdom tells us that the act of charity is the duty and responsibility of each and every individual. However, it also acknowledges that the world cannot function properly unless people focus on themselves and try to improving life. These two suggestions seem contradictory.
If you have to do charity, then how can we justify focusing on ourselves? Ancient Hindu wisdom discourages individuals from contributing more than one fourth of their income toward charity. People advised that they must retain three fourth of their income for their own personal use and for the use of their family.
Come to think of it, nobody respects an individual who is unsuccessful but wishes to do charity. Rather, people respect billionaires who are trying to do their best to give back to society. A person like Bill Gates requesting people to contribute to charity will have a more authoritative voice as compared to a pauper who talks of charity.
Whether we like it or not, the world respects those who have money and those who have attained self sufficiency. Once you have reached the stage, it is time to give back to those people who are unlucky enough to need help. It is very easy to become arrogant after you become successful. You can argue that each and every individual should look out for themselves and should not expect help from others. However, such an arrogant approach is going to sow the seeds of your own downfall.
When assessing oneself, one should demand nothing but the best. When assessing others, one should be charitable and should be prepared to forgive faults in others. This is how charity works.
