#true generosity

[bethanydelleman]

The Widow’s “Mite” or Where Can you Find True Generosity in Mansfield Park

I was just reading in my annotated copy that when Mrs. Norris says she contributes her "mite" she is referring to the story in the Bible of a widow who gives two small coins and because it is such a high percentage of her income, she is the most generous. Mrs. Norris actually has an income of 600 a year, lives rent free (probably), and has no children so she's fine and lying about being so generous.

We see other acts of “charity” from the Bertram family, such as Tom buying Fanny the same present over and over from his apparently ample allowance as an eldest son. Sir Thomas takes over Fanny’s care but houses her in what would probably be considered a servant’s room and its heavily implied that her education and possessions are far below what they should be because it’s a half-hearted gift at best.

Contrast this with Fanny and William. William uses what little money he has to buy his sister an amber cross, which makes it the most valuable gift. Mary talks about how she barely remembers how many things Henry buys her because he is always buying her presents. I don't think she's fibbing here, it's probably true and shows the low intrinsic value of these gifts because they are easy for Henry. The biggest "gift" would be if Henry actually moved to Everingham with Mary (as she requested), but he won't do that because it's too big a sacrifice. Henry is unwilling to sacrifice for his sister, but William is fully ready to.

Fanny also shows herself to be truly generous. When she goes to Portsmouth she has 10 pounds. She uses a portion of this to buy a silver knife for Betsey and solves a longstanding argument. She uses some more to subscribe to a circulating library which is for both her benefit and Susan's education. Both of her gifts are from a very small pool of money and it seems like the rest goes towards her purchases of food (she sends her brothers out for buns because she can't eat at home). Fanny did give from her small wealth. 

We also know Fanny was involved in individual acts of charity even when at Mansfield. Her room contains some projects of chairty and she has given before to the very poor (she thinks about this before giving the new silver knife to Betsey). Fanny, in contrast to Mrs. Norris, has always been giving her mite.

[headlessnow234]

True Generosity - Headless Now Poetry Headless Now Nonduality

true generosity, the world given with every glance and no effort to achieve the view. It's allimmediate, everything, with nothing missing....

True generosity:

this true generosity, the world given with every glance and no effort to achieve the view. It’s all immediate, everything, and what seems missing doesn’t yet belong. This is the birthright of simply being, my privilege of existence, and I take none of it for granted.

for all that’s given – I am grateful.

it’s all so perfect, that my breath is drawn from the nearness of air, and in release it belongs again to the world, circulated for the need of other forms of life. Breath is truly my continuation in some invisible way – that I breathe now the very same elements of all who came before, and others in lifetimes yet to come, will breathe my soul again.

it seems, in some essence, that I continue.

so I find myself too part of this generosity – a circulation of breath, my body once more returned as earth, and shared again as some aspect of the world. It’s a true rebirth. Everything I am, in some important sense, will continue through so many ways. This is the essence of belonging, that every part of me is recycled dust, elements, energy. In this generosity, I am given too, not a breath wasted, nothing that doesn’t somehow serve the whole.

it’s true generosity.

and I am of service to the world, as it is given so freely to me I return it’s favor by my very nature, again with no effort needed. To simply be – is to give. I am generosity of spirit and form, not just of breath and body, but in formless capacity as well. Selfless, I serve to hold the world. It’s the generosity of belonging, every aspect, no matter how small, lending itself in continuation of the whole. This is the real sense of what I am – a lending of emptiness and form for life to be continued.

a selfless generosity.

~

Peace, Eric

[headlessnow234]

true generosity, the world given with every glance and no effort to achieve the view. It's allimmediate, everything, with nothing missing....

True generosity:

this true generosity, the world given with every glance and no effort to achieve the view. It’s all immediate, everything, and what seems missing doesn’t yet belong. This is the birthright of simply being, my privilege of existence, and I take none of it for granted.

for all that’s given – I am grateful.

it’s all so perfect, that my breath is drawn from the nearness of air, and in release it belongs again to the world, circulated for the need of other forms of life. Breath is truly my continuation in some invisible way – that I breathe now the very same elements of all who came before, and others in lifetimes yet to come, will breathe my soul again.

it seems, in some essence, that I continue.

so I find myself too part of this generosity – a circulation of breath, my body once more returned as earth, and shared again as some aspect of the world. It’s a true rebirth. Everything I am, in some important sense, will continue through so many ways. This is the essence of belonging, that every part of me is recycled dust, elements, energy. In this generosity, I am given too, not a breath wasted, nothing that doesn’t somehow serve the whole.

it’s true generosity.

and I am of service to the world, as it is given so freely to me I return it’s favor by my very nature, again with no effort needed. To simply be – is to give. I am generosity of spirit and form, not just of breath and body, but in formless capacity as well. Selfless, I serve to hold the world. It’s the generosity of belonging, every aspect, no matter how small, lending itself in continuation of the whole. This is the real sense of what I am – a lending of emptiness and form for life to be continued.

a selfless generosity.

~

Peace, Eric

[headlessnow234]

True Generosity - Headless Now Poetry Headless Now Nonduality

true generosity, the world given with every glance and no effort to achieve the view. It's allimmediate, everything, with nothing missing....

True generosity:

this true generosity, the world given with every glance and no effort to achieve the view. It’s all immediate, everything, and what seems missing doesn’t yet belong. This is the birthright of simply being, my privilege of existence, and I take none of it for granted.

for all that’s given – I am grateful.

it’s all so perfect, that my breath is drawn from the nearness of air, and in release it belongs again to the world, circulated for the need of other forms of life. Breath is truly my continuation in some invisible way – that I breathe now the very same elements of all who came before, and others in lifetimes yet to come, will breathe my soul again.

it seems, in some essence, that I continue.

so I find myself too part of this generosity – a circulation of breath, my body once more returned as earth, and shared again as some aspect of the world. It’s a true rebirth. Everything I am, in some important sense, will continue through so many ways. This is the essence of belonging, that every part of me is recycled dust, elements, energy. In this generosity, I am given too, not a breath wasted, nothing that doesn’t somehow serve the whole.

it’s true generosity.

and I am of service to the world, as it is given so freely to me I return it’s favor by my very nature, again with no effort needed. To simply be – is to give. I am generosity of spirit and form, not just of breath and body, but in formless capacity as well. Selfless, I serve to hold the world. It’s the generosity of belonging, every aspect, no matter how small, lending itself in continuation of the whole. This is the real sense of what I am – a lending of emptiness and form for life to be continued.

a selfless generosity.

~

Peace, Eric

[southafricantvads]

Mugg & Bean | True generosity