While this may sound strange, the poor should practice giving as a way of freeing themselves from poverty. What can a poor person give? How can his condition be improved by giving things away? But even poor people can benefit others by working very diligently. Through diligence they will acquire what they do not have and they will gain what they lack. In the Mahaprajnaparamita Sutra, Nagarjuna Bodhisattva uses the analogy of a thirsty person who, being wrapped up in self-concern, does not know how to find water. Someone with a strong intention to bring water to those around him will very diligently look for water. Because of this altruistic intention he will tend, to find more water than someone concerned only with his own thirst. Similarly, the poor are more likely to find wealth if they work diligently to benefit others. The Daoist sage Laozi said that one can gain the most by giving everything to others.

Giving Without Characteristics

Giving without characteristics means giving freely, without self-oriented motivation. It includes the gift of wealth, the gift of the Dharma, and the gift of fearlessness. The wealth that one may give freely without characteristics, includes material wealth, time, knowledge (including speech), and one's own body. Giving material wealth, including money is fairly obvious, but giving one's time and knowledge are also ways of practicing the first paramita. For example, for a very wealthy person to give a little bit of money may be less meritorious than for a poor person to give a lot of their time and knowledge. Giving one's body includes one's strength and energy, but it also includes literally giving part of one's physical body, such as offering skin to burn victims, or donating organs for transplant. You can be an organ donor while alive, or after death. But when you are alive, you would want to consider carefully before donating any parts of your body.