One of my friends is enormously rich. I told him once—“Why don’t you donate something for a noble cause?”

He replied without the least hesitation, “Noble cause must earn nobly. Then the cause will look chaste. Public donation helps a mission turn unfaithful. In course of time it is nothing but just begging alms—taking advantage, putting pressure.”

I didn’t go deep into it. After some time I said again, “Well, what will you do with your immense treasure? How much men need to live healthy?

Yes, health brings wealth. And wealth expects us to be wise enough. Then why do rich people spend lavishly, indulge in mirth and merriment?

They are not supposed to do so. They should have guided themselves properly. They could easily support a mission maintaining its status, ought to have something to assure any constructive work without being selfishly motivated.

Then? What makes the difference? You talk of what I have been suggesting. You try to illustrate the same picture.

O yes, by all means. But not exactly that. Someone sought for donation and I gave, it’s not that simple. It should have come from the core of my heart. It’s to be spontaneous.

Unless I seek how you’d come to know about it? It is simple. You go on doing your duty in and around your locality. Your good behavior, earnestness, honesty etc. will gradually get publicity.

Along with others you form a Society or Trust. May you be unanimous in what you intend to do. Be it an orphanage, an old age home or women empowerment, you step out slow and steady. Why should you raise funds from outside? If you can involve local people, there will be least chance for corruption.

In that case nothing could be done in one life. True indeed. But if you’re in haste, you’ll fail to control others; others will also in jeopardy in the question of controlling you.

Why? There should be understanding among us. Again, on life is sufficient. You’re to do what you’re designed to. The rest will be done by others who come next. It’s an art and there’s no controversy in all that we know “Life is short; art is long.”

Leave it. Let’s come to the point.

Yes, mind that, more money means more pressure. A cleaver monk becomes a cunning fellow. With donation if a mission expands all of a sudden, there will be every chance of getting exploited. It will appear as an open field of satisfying others adjusting with their vested interest. Saints would turn demoralized, as poor (mentally) as ordinary men. They’ll enjoy life in a bit different way. There will be no question of any renunciation. Since they are not a family member, they will have the least responsibility about the common people.

No, no, basically they have sacrificed their lives for the well-being of humankind. Please listen. It is better not to be a member of such a marvelous enterprise.

Say, mission.

Yes, they are running after name and fame. Ultimately, nothing but shame! Shame!!

Stop it; you’ll be slain for such embarrassing analysis.

No, I am not going to tell anybody. It’s just as you wanted to know. Did I say to you such things ever before?

Really, what makes the difference? Leaving our family in the lurch, we are defeated everywhere by same-side goal. How measurable our life is!

Don’t worry. “Charity begins at home” has great implication. Let us do our duty, look after our family and friends and keep our eyes open. The rest will be done automatically.

How is it, please? You talk like a believer?

You are correct. It’s a long chapter. Unless you depend on someone, you will simply fail to win the battle of life. Don’t make a mistake. I won’t suggest any name in reality. We should cultivate within and realize someone in the core of our heart.

I didn’t like to proceed further. My friend possibly understood that. He softly said, “Leave it for future. Let’s enjoy this evening with a cup of tea thinking there’s many a slip ‘twist (between) cup and lip.

What does it actually mean, my dear friend?

Let’s consult the dictionary. Yes, it’s a proverb, which means “many things can go wrong between the start of a project and its completion, nothing is certain until it has happened.”

My beloved friend tenderly concludes, “Do we need anything more to explain? Then let’s start begging donation from door to door in our locality. Not an amount of money but honest and sincere mind, capable of doing well to our society. Let’s form our group”

Oh, fantastic! Tea was served. We sip, speechless.