Argumentative essay: No matter how much ones give to the poor doing it to impress others is not a charity.

Argumentative essay: No matter how much ones give to the poor doing it to impress others is not a charity.

  The legend and history are interwoven in “Seven Taoist Masters” novel which describes an instructing and entertaining adventure. The book   has six men and one woman masters who underwent great self-masterly journey. Wang Ch’ung-yang, the mystery teacher, was also a historical figure. Wang was known to be a great patriarch with an affinity with Zen Buddhism. It is shown in the novel that toasts philosophy and practice were taught by Wang through topics like meditation skills, cultivation of mind body and overcoming four obstacles of anger,  greed,  drunkenness, lust through the character experiences. This argumentative essay will specifically focus on the virtue of charity deeds based on the Toastmasters experiences. No matter how much ones give to the poor doing it to impress others is not a charity. This is evidenced in Seven Taoist Masters as discussed below.

According to the novel, it can be argued that charitable deeds are never made to attract public attention. Interestingly it is authentic that if an individual; a right to show compassion through showing people his or her virtue then the charitable actions have got no meaning. It is therefore essential to note that charity actions should be done with no need to impress the public but to meet the critical needs of the poor((Eva 13 -24).

According to the novel charitable deeds are seen in the Shansi province which was inhibited by Wang clan. Mother Wang, a widow of forty years, lived in maternal nature and was so kind she treated all villagers and children with equality just like her own children’s. Mother Wang was very crucial in charity deeds as she participated in availing foods and gifts to the children in the village as well as trying to comfort them when they were hurt. Due to her kindliness, the villagers called him mother Wang. Interestingly, mother, Wang was a wealthy and robust religious person, she frequently was inviting the Taoist monk as well as the Buddhist at her home for vegetarian dinners. Additionally, she regularly chanted the sutras, was also offering sizable donations to the monasteries (Kirkland 29).Charity work and support of mother Wang also attracted the villagers from the neighboring as we can see many orphans and baggers could come for help from mother Wang. But despite all these she expected something in exchange. It happens a time when mother Wang fell sick and couldn’t understand herself better, in a desolate village mother, Wang was visited by two-baggers who were in need of shelter and food. Upon seen them mother Wang claimed that they should not expect any help from her since they are young and energetic they could instead go for an honest trade and forget about living from the charity((Kirkland 20-45).

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Mother Wang charity deeds seem to be of the selected people who could in return be of importance to her in one way or the other. Interesting we can see that as she refused to offer help to the two-baggers, she could be able to support the Buddhist and toast monk with rice and vegetables. She could not hesitate anything to support the monks; even when the beggars insisted on knowing why she couldn’t help them, mother Wang was tough in expressing that, she has concerns to the needs of the monks since they in return give more to her. The Buddhist chant for her as a way of protecting her from disasters. The toast monk taught mother Wang the means of having prolonged life. But nothing she could get from the poor beggars (Eva 22).

Master Wang himself is very kind and loyal he is custodian of charity, he is extending his activities in guiding the young toast students, he is the true representative of The Tao. He lived as per the expectation of a man in the Toast culture, and he was kind. Wang Chung –yang was trustworthy. He initiated charitable projects aimed at improving the community. He actively was providing for orphans and widows. This master was also very active together with his disciples offering sacrifices at the local shrines. Most importantly Wang was providing subsidies to the state from the public tasks such as irrigation ditches, bridges, and roads. Through his series of activates, he was very much praised by the people in the society for being the virtuous custodian (Kirkland 20).Contrary Wang’s wife is a perfect example selfish person who cannot entertain charity work, from the novel it is very accurate that she kept warning her husband Wang not to interact with baggers, drunkards, and street children as they will make her lose his respect and reputation in the society. This could neither stop Mater Wang from interacting with the two-baggers who he thought they could become his disciples. Interacting with them shows his generosity and kindness in the society (Kirkland 60).

Generally from the novel, it is very critical that Wang could design charitable projects together with constructing facilities such as Ma Mansion to be used for retreat. He kept educating people that the Toast path will help his disciples to know more and get awake. He further could explain that Tao cannot be grasped by though and people should follow the correct sequence. For instance, he could be open to reveal to Ma Tn Yang and Sun Pu-erh concerning the meditation (Eva 32). In a nutshell, it is arguable that charity deeds should not be for public impression, but to meet the needs of the poor as master Wang showed it. On the other hand, individuals expecting something in return after charity work have no room in the society, mother Wang and master Wangs wife depicted this .It is therefore clear that no matter how much ones give to the poor doing it to impress others is not a charity.