Letter # 45: “The Secret Gift Giver”

If there was a Nobel prize for giving gifts secretly it must go to Santa Claus. Born in the 3rd century CE, on the south west coast of the region that now Turkey, his name was Nicholas – “victory of the people”. Also the patron saint of seafarers, Nicholas was never officially decreed to be a saint but his legend spread among the faithful.
Legend has it that he helped a poor man who could not afford to marry off his three daughters. As Nicholas was too modest to help publicly, and also he didn’t want to cause the poor man humiliation, Nicholas went to the man’s house at night and threw three purses full of gold coins through the window into the man’s house. Nicholas wanted nothing in return. The gift was free.
Such are the actions of true devotees of the Lord. Santa Claus’s ideas and actions are re-enacted with greater force each Christmas. The cynics might see it as commercialism but I see that Santa is thriving, fatter and happier than ever.
The word “deity” is related to the Indian word “dev” which means “to give”. The psalmist sings: “These all look to you to give them food at the proper time” (104:27). The Koran says that Allah is the Beneficent, the great benefactor.

I say, God is the greatest secret gift-giver. Life is free and the universe comes free, but we men charge each other. Saint Nicholas loved God, and in turn God gave him a generous ability to give to humanity.
Lord Krishna says: “Samo ‘ham sarva-bhutesu …” which verse translated in full reads: “I envy no one, nor am I partial to anyone. I am equal to all. But whoever renders service unto Me in devotion is a friend, is in Me, and I am also a friend to him.” BG 9:29
Being humans, we can’t become God, but we can become better devotees in order to serve better our fellow man. “Prabh ke sevak sagal udharan…” sings Guru Nanak. The full verse means “God’s servants are capable of saving all, capable of removing others sorrow and pain.” Asht 14; p148
Yes, Santa Claus shows us how to keep on giving meaning to life.

God Bless; Allah Hu Akbar; May The Forces Of The Universe Bring You Harmony; Hare Krishna; Radha-Swami; and Nanak Naam Chardi Kala Tere Bhane Sarbat Dha Bhalla.
I wish to express my gratitude for your comments, which inspire me to carry on writing. Please forgive my fallibilities in presenting this material. Also, feel free to send this message on to someone that you might think would like to receive it. If you do send it on, my only request of you is that you send it as it is, in its entirety, and to not alter or modify any of the text, references or authorship information. Thus you will help to give credit or liability to where they are properly due.
Jas Bhopal
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“Practicing goodwill makes for a good life."

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References: "The Holy Bible" Online version; "The Koran" (As translated by SV Mir Ahmed Ali 2005 ISBN 0-9761870-0-0); "The Bhagavad Gita As it Is" by Srila Prabhupada (ISBN 0-89213-268-X); "I Am That" Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj ISBN 0-89386-022-0; The Dhammapada ISBN-10:1-84483-344-5; The Sacred Sukhmani ISBN 81-7205-098-4; Wikipedia.