Our Worst Fears Have Been Confirmed

[TTCUSM]

In 2010, the Charities Aid Foundation came out with the World Giving Index, which tries to rank countries based on the amount of charitable giving they engage in. The ranking can be found on Wikipedia.

Unfortunately, India ranked #134 out of a total of 153 nations polled. Could this low ranking be related to the Hindu belief in karma?

 

[Riverwolf]

How is this "our worst fears?" I mean, this is far better than, say, if we learned that Pakistan and India had fired nukes at each other.

Besides, my theory is that this actually has to do with the fact that most of India's population is simply not in any state to give to charity.

 

[TTCUSM]

How is this "our worst fears?" I mean, this is far better than, say, if we learned that Pakistan and India had fired nukes at each other.

You're right about that.
However, this does confirm common stereotypes of Sanathana Dharma (upper castes using the principle of karma to justify neglect of the poor).

 

[Riverwolf]

You're right about that.
However, this does confirm common stereotypes of Sanathana Dharma (upper castes using the principle of karma to justify neglect of the poor).

That's a stereotype? I knew it was a common misunderstanding on the law of karma, but...

And like I said, that doesn't confirm anything. Perhaps upper castes are doing what they can on the same level as other people, and there are simply too many people in poverty.

 

[TTCUSM]

That's a stereotype? I knew it was a common misunderstanding on the law of karma, but...

And like I said, that doesn't confirm anything. Perhaps upper castes are doing what they can on the same level as other people, and there are simply too many people in poverty.

Surprisingly enough, Buddhist-majority Sri Lanka ranks #8 on the index.
What's even more surprising is that Pakistan and Bangladesh rank below India, even though charity is one of the 5 pillars of Islam.

 

[Riverwolf]

Surprisingly enough, Buddhist-majority Sri Lanka ranks #8 on the index.

Then perhaps Swami Vivekananda was on to something when he said that Hinduism could not exist without Buddhism?

 

[Wannabe Yogi]

In 2010, the Charities Aid Foundation came out with the World Giving Index, which tries to rank countries based on the amount of charitable giving they engage in. The ranking can be found on Wikipedia.

Unfortunately, India ranked #134 out of a total of 153 nations polled. Could this low ranking be related to the Hindu belief in karma?

I have always found Indian's to be very giving. Any time I have been to India complete strangers have invited me into to there homes and feed me. This just has not happened to me any where else in the world.

 

[TurkeyOnRye]

You're right about that.
However, this does confirm common stereotypes of Sanathana Dharma (upper castes using the principle of karma to justify neglect of the poor).

World Giving Index? lol...

I don't think this confirms much of anything, to be honest. One thing to consider is a given population's capacity to give. Another is how the information was compiled. It's based on donations and volunteering to an organization (official organization, in other words). Doesn't seem to be any mention of how worthy these organizations are. Let's not forget those who "give" as a means of a simple tax write-off.

 

[TTCUSM]

I have always found Indian's to be very giving. Any time I have been to India complete strangers have invited me into to there homes and feed me. This just has not happened to me any where else in the world.

Could it have something to do with your ethnicity?
There are stories of African Americans being treated poorly when they visit India.

 

[Onkara]

You're right about that.
However, this does confirm common stereotypes of Sanathana Dharma (upper castes using the principle of karma to justify neglect of the poor).

Personally I cannot see how Karma would affect a nation because a nation does not have a soul or a subtle body.

If you think it might be caste related I would recommend researching into self-image, politics and global relationships. Otherwise how can we explain the countries below India?

 

[LuisDantas]

Again, sorry for intruding in this DIR. It happens too often. I'm like that, but I mean no disruption.

I just want to say that the making of such a listing is by necessity a very reducionist proccess. There are way too many ways by which the number assigned to any specific country may be of little meaning. India, for instance, is to the best of my understanding a country with not the best of structures for recording charitative assistance, and has a culture that quite possibly does not go out of its way to make such efforts known by whatever operatives participated in that research.

Then again, as Riverwolf already mentioned, giving away is only possible to the degree that people have the resources to share. I am not aware of where exactly India is placed by that metric, but of course that greatly influences the placement of same in such a scale, or at least it would in a perfectly fair world (which this one is not).

My bottom line is that you shouldn't lend that listing too much importance. It is not that finely tuned a measure to begin with.

 

[Onkara]

My bottom line is that you shouldn't lend that listing too much importance. It is not that finely tuned a measure to begin with.

Hi Luis
I agree with you, it isn't possible to accurately record money transaction with people in the street for example, where those requiring charity might well be found.

Again, sorry for intruding in this DIR. It happens too often. I'm like that, but I mean no disruption.

On a side note, I don't think anyone, at least of all you, need to apologise or hesitate in taking an interest in DIR specific topics

 

[Madhuri]

How is this "our worst fears?" I mean, this is far better than, say, if we learned that Pakistan and India had fired nukes at each other.

Besides, my theory is that this actually has to do with the fact that most of India's population is simply not in any state to give to charity.

What he said.

 

[Satsangi]

More than half of Indian economy is in "black" money. There is no record of the charity given with this kind of cash. Hence, the low "official" numbers.

Regards,

 

[ratikala]

namaskaram

More than half of Indian economy is in "black" money. There is no record of the charity given with this kind of cash. Hence, the low "official" numbers.

Regards,

Agreed , and one has to ask how this survey is conducted , is thia a survey of the incomes of charitable organisations ? in which case would the Donations given to temples actualy be counted ? for example many temples colect and distribute , using some of the money colected through the temples to start social programs etc
charity here in the west has become a business , in India it is a duty , some still respect this , but how many , we will never know , pluss there is still a lot of poverty in India therefore giving is not so easy for many , but if they have food they will share it with one who does not .

 

[Aupmanyav]

You're right about that.
However, this does confirm common stereotypes of Sanathana Dharma (upper castes using the principle of karma to justify neglect of the poor).

Sanatana Dharma says give all of it. Most people are selfish and misers. India need to give more.

 

[Aupmanyav]

There are stories of African Americans being treated poorly when they visit India.

We have our public behavior norms. Actions of many Europeans and Africans do not confirm to that,

India, for instance, is to the best of my understanding a country with not the best of structures for recording charitative assistance, and has a culture that quite possibly does not go out of its way to make such efforts known by whatever operatives participated in that research.

We have a tradition that hidden giving (gupta dana) is the best. If one gives and advertises, then it is ego.The saying goes "Gupta dana, maha dana" (secret giving, best giving).that is why the alienation.