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Published on September 16, 2007

Cat says 

I left rather sad when i read the news of the death of Anita Roddick, founder of the world-famous Body Shop retail chain, for whom I have huge admiration. Apart from being a pioneer campaigner of green issues before it became chi chi to do so, she was also a great supporter of charities. She once said, "I don't want to die rich."

The rich in Britain have been described as being less forthcoming when it comes to giving. However there are those who share Anita's passion for charity. Richard Branson, David Sainsbury and Thomas Hunter are noticeably generous when it comes to charity.

On the other hand, the culture of philanthropy is more embedded in America than anywhere elsewhere in the world. Andrew Carnegie, Eli Lily, J Paul Getty, JD Rockefeller, Oprah Winfrey and Ted Turner all set up foundations to release their wealth to those who need it.

Of course the greatest giver in history is the world's current richest man, Bill Gates, founder of Microsoft. Through the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Gates has already pledged $26 billion to good causes, setting a great example for the rich all over the world.

Oprah Winfrey famously said, "What material success does is provide you with the ability to concentrate on other things that really matter." One can only hope that people in a more fortunate position financially could all think like Winfrey. 

Tragedies often bring out philanthropy in people. Many people donated generously from all over the world after the tsunami in 2004. I remember seeing a humble taxi driver at the Thai Red Cross headquarters donating all the foreign-currency notes he had. It might not have amounted to much, but when it comes to philanthropy, every penny counts. 

I recently read an interesting article on the Asian way of thinking when it comes to charity. The writer said it involves two main beliefs.

The first, arising from Hinduism and refined by Buddhism, is basic sympathy for the poor. Hindu thinking honours charitable activity as part of the worthy life, which will eventually free the soul from karmic bondage, allowing a higher reincarnation.

Buddhism promotes compassion as a part of the soul's release from enslaving desires. The writer believes that, throughout Asia, practical acts of charity flourish as a reflection of these religious impulses. 

The writer also reminds us that Confucian philosophy is the foundation of Chinese civilisation. Therefore Confucian thinking provides the second Asian principle for charity - that family and community are more important than the individual.

Personal success is highly praised, but it must lead to support for others. Making sacrifices on behalf of both ageing relatives and the younger generation is a desirable quality. This leads to a strong work ethic and generous spirit toward selected people. 

The writer believes that the challenge of Confucian thinking is its narrower focus on the recipients of charity. Many in this tradition see no need to give to the poor, who will not work as hard as they do.

Given that a third of the population in Thailand survives on less than US$2 (Bt64) a day, when we next decide to splash on a new designer handbag, we ought to think how many children we may be able to educate or feed instead.

I am certain most of us would feel much better donating the money to care for the less fortunate than simply satisfying our vanity. 

Nat says

 I make merit by praying at the Erawan shrine about once                                                             a week. The god Brahma has been very good to me,                              and I want to express my thanks by going to his shrine and paying respect.

I also make merit at my local temple, along with the rest of my family, when we sponsor prayers for my late grandparents. 

On my birthday I make merit by waking up at the crack of dawn and giving alms to monks as they go begging every morning. When I find I have some extra money I make merit by donating it to a local Aids charity - like many gay men of my age, I lost friends to the crisis in the late '80s.

Most of the time, however, I make merit by leading as good a life as possible, by being kind to others and being mindful of all my actions.

The concept of making merit is a broad one and is sometimes puzzling to non-Buddhists. The short explanation is that, in the continuing cycle of samsara - of birth and rebirth - we rack up merit or demerit in the course of living our lives. The amount of merit we end up with effects our karma, what happens to us in our subsequent lives.

So, as a Buddhist, I try to make as much merit as possible in order to offset any demerit I may have committed and to have a good life. You see, it is all up to me.

"Where does charity come into all this?" a Western friend once asked.

Charity is one of many meritorious acts that we can do in the course of racking up merit.

"But you're doing it only for yourself, aren't you?" my friend asked in an almost accusatory manner. "If you're doing it for yourself, you really aren't being charitable. Being charitable is giving to those who are less fortunate without any hope of reward."

I would beg to differ, however. In such cases, isn't my friend being good so that, when he dies and is judged by God, his life is assessed favourably? That sounds to me like he's doing charity for his own ultimate benefit. What's the difference?

The difference is that more people in the West do great acts of charity than we do in Thailand.  There are no Warren Buffets, Bill Gates, Peggy Guggenheims or Lilla Acheson Wallaces in Thailand. Nor are there Rockefeller Foundations, Ford Foundations or World Wildlife Funds.

The only people who give on such a large scale in Thailand are the Royal Family, who support numerous charities and have many charities in their own names. I admit that few people seem to want to emulate them.

Our billionaires don't seem to be doing anything like Warren Buffet or Bill Gates, who are both giving away most of their fortunes to charity by setting up foundations.

Admittedly, there are the exceptions, most notably Khunying Chodchoy Sophonpanich and her Magic Eyes Foundation. In general, however, no one is making billions in Thailand only to give it all away.

I think this has less to do with merit and our concepts of charity than it does with our concepts of affiliation. We don't generally donate to charitable causes that involve people we don't know. 

And that, unfortunately, is our failing as a society. I give to Aids charities because they address a tragedy that touched my life. I leave it up to phu yai - superiors - to take care of a wider circle of people.

It makes me feel I should do more for others. Think of the merit I'll be making then.

Want an opinion on something? Cat and Nat can be contacted at

NnaSWild@aol.com.