THE GIFT OF ILLUSION
THE GIFT OF DEATH | DERRIDA, JACQUES, 2008.
The gift can be economic, political, friendship-oriented, legal, mythological, religious, magical, practical, personal or social. 1
Mauss looks at the obligations involved in gift giving and believes altruism to be nonexistent. The gift as Mauss sees it is more than a simple commodity or memento changing hands, it contains a strong moral bond. The obligation to receive the gift ensures one shows respect to the giver and in doing so aligns ones own generosity. Mauss outlines the three major obligations in the gift giving ritual. The giving: the first step in building social relationships. The receiving: accepting the social bond and reciprocating: demonstrating social integrity.2 Mauss also highlights the machiavellian in gift giving, by giving more one lays claim to greater respect.
Buddhism however recogonises a different set of motivations which exist in our giving. It to recognizes the purely transactional giving and receiving something in return, but touches on the transcendent’ when giving means overcoming selfishness’. Buddhism examines our motives and seeks to purify by being mindful of what underlies giving. It sets to detach itself from everything, including attachment to virtues and those of ‘I am a generous person.’ With Buddhism the giving of external things, material or immaterial is not of value, it is the mental and emotional state from which we act which is of greater importance.
Endnotes
1. Mauss, Marcel. ‘The Gift’, Cohen & West, 1954.
2.Mauss, Marcel. ‘The Gift’, Cohen & West, 1954.
References.
Nishitani. On Buddhism. New York: State University Press, 2006.
The Buddhists example of altruistic giving and as a way of overcoming selfishness seems cool, don't bother answering this- whats the next stage after selfishness is overcome?
ReplyDeleteHi Vanessa. What was missing from our discussion was the distinction between the value systems which have developed out of western european culture and ideas of the gift, and linking that with the ideas and economy of the gift that Derrida discussed in 'Tout Autre Est Autre'. We have a tendency to mythologise the exotic, and exoticise the east and thinking of the east. The principle of exchange that Derrida identified seems completely compatible with 'overcoming selfishness', which is a very simplistic definition. A stronger one, is MERCY. I always thought that was the foundational tenant of Buddhism. Can I also suggest that there is not enough reference to the actual reading here, perhaps?
ReplyDelete