Buddha said, "If you are going to practice giving to yourself, how moocher to your parents, wife, and children." Therefore you should know that to give to yourself is a part of giving. To give to your family is also giving. Even when you give a particle of dust, you should rejoice in your own act, because you correctly transmit the merit of all buddha's and for the first time practice the art of bodhisattva. The mind of an sentient being is a difficult thing to change. You should keep on changing the minds of sentient beings, from the first moment they have one particle, to the moment that they attain the way. This should be started by giving. For this reason giving is the first of the six paramitas ( perfections ). Mind is beyond measure. Things are given beyond measure. Moreover, in giving, mind transforms the gift and the gift transforms mind.
~ Zen Master Dogen
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