Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai, Costa Rica, February 6, 1991
(Originally in English)

Many people just give gifts without even liking to give. They just give because Christmas is coming, because it is the New Year, or because she is my mother, because she is my daughter, because he is my friend, because he is my husband, etc. And people just buy any kind of thing sometimes. And that's very burdensome, for the buyer as well as the receiver. Because you only receive like a skeleton, without any soul, without any affection in it. And we all know this. And it's bad! It's not a good habit to exchange gifts, even though it is Christmas or New Year's, if we have no love in it, if we don't do it with sincere well wishing, or sincere affection. Mostly, people don't do it with love. They are too busy to have affection. They are too busy to think about whether they should put in affection or not. The affection has gone out the window. When Christmas comes, most affection's gone.

It is a very good custom to express our feelings through gifts. But sometimes, if we have our full heart in it, even one rose is enough. Otherwise, people just want to show off their generosity, and buy a big bouquet, and still it doesn't mean anything. Therefore, sometimes, I often hear people outside say, "Ah! Christmas is coming; it's a terrible time. I haven't bought this for that person. I haven't bought that for this person." It looks like a burden. It's not a feast of love. And it's not an occasion to celebrate our bonds of friendship. But it's a burdensome time. It's a very tiresome period of the year.

People do it just to discharge their obligations toward each other. But they do not really understand the significance of the season, and of the actions and gifts. That's why it makes such a boring job, to go shopping at Christmas or New Year's. All rush, rush! So many things to do, so many cars to drive or ride in, so many gifts to wrap, and all kinds of things. It's very difficult to have affection in such a rush. Therefore, you know, at Christmas time, people just stuff each other's houses with all kinds of nonsense, all kinds of unnecessary toys and stuff that normally we would not even think of buying for ourselves. And sometimes, people make a joke, or maybe it's a true story, that sometimes you find your own gift coming back, returning back to you after a circle of friendship. And you just have a good laugh. And sometimes, this gift is the very thing that you wanted to get rid of, and it came back to you full circle.

So, maybe sometimes some of you are disappointed that at Christmas I don't write you any cards. Or when a beautiful cute daughter is born, I never buy you anything, or give you any presents. But I really can not think of these things any more. I don't know what to buy for you. And I don't really know if you need it. Now, if I ask you, "Do you need it or not?" you will say, "No! No! Master, I don't need it." And I know it's true, too. Because you cannot fool me about these things. So, why should I bother to go to the department store and run up and down many staircases looking for a cute little thing. And maybe you don't like that color for your daughter. But just because I gave it to you, and it's your Master's, you have to wear it on her, to show off. And maybe the button is too tight over here, or too large over there, and you force the child to suffocate inside the dress, just because Master gave it to you, for a lot of blessing, or something, I don't know what kind of nonsense, and then it's just burdensome for you. But I don't do this kind of thing. That's all. Not because I don't love you or your daughter. I just think you can take care of yourself. If you needed it, you would come to me and ask. Except in an emergency, if you came here, and you had nothing to wear, or you were cold and there were no shops around, and it was too late, or something, I'd probably give you my clothes to wear, but that doesn't mean it's an obligation. It's full of love. There are no expectations. With anything I give you, you can be sure that I have no expectations. Not receiving gifts from people just denotes that we should be always content with our lot, and never expect people to run after us with their attention, showering on us their material substances. We have to always be content with what God assigns to us. That is the meaning of not receiving gifts. It doesn't mean that you should refuse anything that people give you with love, or from your mother or your relatives, or such things. Just be natural. Just use your discrimination!