The following cards (#13-30) are additional spiritual principles and practices that can be essential in recovery.
Dog sharing food with raccoon
Ba’al Shem Tov, the founder of Hasidism, gave a description of hell and heaven that perfectly compares the traits of self-centeredness and generosity. Hell, he explained, was similar to a huge banquet table loaded with delicious food. Unfortunately, the people sitting at the table could eat none of it. Attached to their hands were forks six feet in length, which they couldn’t get to their mouths. Heaven had the same sort of table and forks, but here each person fed the person directly across from them. We are generous when we willingly share our resources, including our time, energy and attention. What is given with generosity has value and meaning to us. Sometimes our hearts are moved, and we give easily. At other times, our fears and biases hold us back. Although there’s no need to become impoverished or overburdened, we can practice giving during such times to challenge our ego’s resistance. These actions may eventually soften our heart, allowing us to experience the warmth and joy that result from unconditional altruism. It is not the magnitude of any deed that will shape our character, but the decision to consistently choose a selfless rather than selfish response.
Real generosity means not only giving something practical that will be of help to someone, it also means changing something in yourself.
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