383 thoughts on “Charities exposed for Cold-calling: What is True Charity?”

1. The care of people is not something that can be switched on for one group, and switched off for the rest. Cold calling and coercion in the name of charity is abominable.

2. This is a great expose of the illusion and total lie of most charities nowadays, true charity is when we live with an open heart for the good of all, there is no self-gain involved only the purpose to serve humanity to evolve.

3. I first read this blog a while ago and have pondered on it a lot since. There is a subtle energy of bullying that comes with charities. I’ve also noticed this in requests from many people from all walks of life. The same emotional hooks and pulls with guilt and obligation can lie behind a simple request from someone. A request that comes as a clear request, with no attachment, obligation or anything emotional and where the person asked is non-imposed upon to make a true choice is lovely – both for the requestor and requestee.

4. Thank God for Serge Benhayon and his unending reflection of love and true charity. I am sure I speak for many when I say that if it was not for him the awareness and understanding of what Love, religion, God and Charity really are that i now have today would not be experienced or lived.

5. It’s powerful and very important to consider our relationship with charity and what true charity is. I for one don’t like to be imposed upon to give to a so called good cause, but I do like to give my time to support others. There is a huge difference to be realised and hopefully one day we will no longer accept charity in its current flawed state.

6. This really exposes how much we are actually aware of our choice even when we play ignorant. When we are presented with the immediacy of the world’s problems, it is hard not to feel there must be something we can do about them. We do know Brotherhood, we do know that we are not living that. And the way we use charity seems like we are trying to compensate that, but not quite choosing to embrace true brotherhood which would then call for our everyday responsibility.

7. Until I met Serge Benhayon I had not known or appreciated what true charity is.

8. Much is revealed when we look at our motivation and intention to ‘do good’ such as donating money to one cause or another. What it can allow is a buffer to not feel how we live in separation from others and cut off from what is really happening.

9. What is happening to charities for them to have to cold-call for money. If charities are not attracting money by people’s free will, maybe it is time for those charities to seriously look at themselves and decide if they are truly supporting the needs of society or if they have lost their way.

10. What you are calling out here Eunice is so true, how far have we become removed from even human decency, calling the elderly knowing that they may have dementia is just wrong. There is a lot we need take responsibility for in this world.

11. A deeply exposing article that requires self-honesty, contemplation and reflection as we have got it terribly wrong and allowed for wolves in sheeps clothing so to speak to control the industry….but true charity starts with us and when there is none of the self obtaining qualities at play… the love that can be offered can be truly healing

12. Thank you Eunice for delineating so clearly the falseness of the generally accepted form of charity and what true charity is. “True Charity is Love Blessing Love”.

13. “…. true charity is acts done, money given, time and space offered, with no investment of self of any kind – where there is absolutely nothing in it for us, but we do what we do and give what we give with, from and for love.” Most charities I have come across are self-serving for the people involved, to assuage guilt and ‘do good’ – neither of which are true charity. It would also appear that very little of the money collected actually goes to the intended, but to the CEO, workers and bureaucracy of the organisation.

14. My experience of giving to charities was always ridden with the guilt of being the one person who didn’t and how this would look like in front of my peers. As I got older I used a number of strategies to avoid charities, as there was so much cold calling that in many cases felt like harassment. This blog is a powerful testament of true charity and the work of Serge Benhayon and Universal Medicine. A true model for others.

15. ‘It takes a force devoid of true love and care to cold-call and force, harass, coerce, persuade and talk around people to donate to a charity.’ – Well said Eunice – for indeed cold calling has no ounce of love in it. Charity, like everything, should be a choice – free will for people to donate to or not – for this to be forced on people is absurd and we have to ask why a charity would pay for people to collect money. Pretty crazy.

16. How many of us can say that we have offered love, lived love, with no expectations “What is consistent is that it is a love that is freely given, with no attachments,” How many of us want a return on our investment when it comes to relationships…I have worked in the charity and volunteer sector and I know from experience that it is rare to meet someone living from a place of self-love, and so love, without wanting something in exchange. It could be recognition, bolster up false self worth, to look good, I know I am still unpicking how I want to be recognised, and I am reflecting more on purpose and not self acknowledgement.

17. Thanks Eunice, for exposing the cover ups and corruption that goes on behind most charities. A true charity can be felt as one that is there for the service of all, and also a shonky charity can be felt that whoever is on the payroll or those who seek to benefit in any way from a false charity.

18. You really hit the nail on the head for me Eunice when you say that it is not just about the giving but the Quality that comes with it. Our intentions behind the giving make a big difference and it pays to be deeply honest with ourselves about what we are really feeling when we are being charitable or asking it of another…

19. I have never bought anything from cold calling, and find it an intrusion into my personal space. These days I even get the odd text on my mobile phone selling this or that, and again it crosses over the privacy line for me. When charities start cold calling, there is clearly an intrusion that is nothing to do with true support.

20. Great expose of the tactics used by so many called ” charities” with the only thing in common being the gain for self. Thank you to Serge Benhayon who lives his life in constant service to what is truly needed, I now understand what true charity is as being something that is lived with the fullness of our heart for the benefit of all.

21. The College of Universal Medicine offers true support to a community desperately in need of it. Their courses are without doubt life changing.

22. With the Cold calling I was staggered to learn quite how much the people on the end of the phone, in the street or at your door actually make from each person who signs up and then how little the charity actually gets. I know when I questioned this I was told but at least they get something and that’s better than nothing but really it goes to show quite how mislead we have been where there is a whole industry built on raising money for charities.

23. It is an interesting question Eunice about why people give to charity and whether or not their motivation is one of integrity, or it is of pity, guilt or to feel better about themselves.

    1. Suse, I know what you mean, In my experience there is a big feel good factor. Usually there is always something a person gets in return. Even with some of the billionaires giving 99% of their wealth away they do this publicly as if then somehow they will be liked or seen as a martyr whereas true charity does not seek any recognition or any direct return. True charity benefits others and seeing another embrace themselves more is the best gift anyone can give.

24. ‘True Charity is Love Blessing Love’. Beautifully said Eunice and charities that uphold this foundation of true intention and care I feel play a necessary and important role in our present and future society to support such things as the health care system (eg palliative care, home or social support for the elderly or those with a disability) and community initiatives that support people in need and also connects and builds relationships in the general public also.

25. Charities now see themselves as big businesses and the recipients as customers, it seems their aim is to boost their income by whatever means possible, which is irresponsible because of the impact that this has on other innocent people, especially the elderly who don’t have extra money to give away to charity. Charities have a duty of care not only to those they help, but also to those that donate to them too.

26. I’ve always had an element of guilt when I say ‘no thank you’ to charity cold callers, like I’m doing a disservice to the world… but perhaps it’s the other way around in that they are doing the disservice to what it means to be a charity.

27. It seems charity is another word that has lost it’s true meaning and been used as a facade for self gain and business. Thank you for exploring this Eunice and resurrecting the true meaning of Charity in explaining the College of Universal Medicine’s intent to actually serve humanity without gain.

28. The principles of the College of Universal Medicine interests me greatly as we can surely surmise that the charity we have traditionally associated with that word are not really providing the answers to our ills. This we know by the fact that more charity seems to be needed than ever before. And yet if we don’t change our own ways of living and have the support to do so in most practical terms then we will just keep going on this merry go round of disease, abuse and corruption with political systems that make charity necessary, yet existing in a way that does not encompass the whole of the issue, which is our willingness to change from me to us and consider everyone in our every move.

29. This is such an important blog Eunice and I’d like to see it published in many newspapers including the financial times. It exposes the rot that exists behind the procurement of many charity funding – from the cold calling to the fundraising galas. What level is the what’s in it for me syndrome playing out? I know that I have done both and had similar feelings in body when I have done it and I have also bore witness and can vouch for what you share of Universal Medicine and Serge Benhayon. He is re-defining true charity.

30. Eunice this is a great blog, I see many people give to charity when a loved one dies, as a way to help alleviate their grief and an attempt to make things better out of some form of guilt or sympathy, which means the money always has an attachment to grief, sympathy or guilt.

31. It is interesting when researching to know how much people get paid when working at a charity. Some get a year long maternity leave that is paid by the generous donations and others are paid at least $25 an hour to go and collect your donations. When I see it like that, I don’t see it as a charity, I see it as a business that is not about people, but about profit and money.

32. I still feel that I get certain looks and feel judged when I chose not to contribute to whatever charity it is that is fund raising. There seems to be a lot of push and drive to get you to donate and then guilt thrown at you if you don’t which from reading your definition of charity, is far from the truth of it all.

33. When we are aware, when we know who and what is behind a charity, it is only then that we can make informed choices. I once felt sorry for others and reacted and wanted to help and probably I wanted the recognition too and I did a lot of fund raising for a particular charity when I lived in New Zealand and I was sad to read that it too did the whole cold calling thing. As a sales person myself, I know the techniques that people learn and can only imagine how damaging they could be if used in the wrong way with those that are vulnerable to being miss led.

34. True charity is not something that I knew much about or even considered in the past, but it sure is beautiful to know what it is and know the difference.

35. “True Charity is Love Blessing Love.” Absolutely!

36. This is a perfect description of true charity “there is absolutely nothing charitable about cold-calling and persuading people to part with their money. If it is not freely given with love, without force, coercion, persuasion, guilt, sympathy, resentment, need, attachment, expectation or investment, then it is not true charity.”

37. I love your example Eunice “I can recognise both within myself: times when I have done something but there was an undercurrent of resentment about it, and other times when I have freely given with zero need for anything in return. The two feel quite different in my body. The first is heavy and sticky, the second is open, expansive and free-flowing.” It makes so much sense!

38. “It takes a force devoid of true love and care to cold-call and force, harass, coerce, persuade and talk around people to donate to a charity.” This is so true and so obvious when you really stop and think about it clearly.

39. Charities are often driven by the need to continue to exist due to becoming an industry unto themselves. The actual purpose of charity, to serve, becomes lost when people are concerned with their salaries and job security.

40. I see how many charities do make people feel guilty enough to give up their money- the african experience where for decades and decades the poor have been given billions, and for what outcome?
    it doesnt work, to allow give endlessly to people who do not know how to take such charity into their lives for true change, instead its well known that much of the funds for charity are squandered and end up in the hands of criminal sectors, to buy guns not food or infrastructure. No one gains from this long term, and the abject poverty and misery in these areas continues unabated.

41. Charity and sympathy seem to go hand in hand, and often when we see charitable appeals they are accompanied by some melancholy music. Surely charity in its current money raising form can’t be the answer though as we always seem to have the need for more, and in fact more charities than ever before. Yet no lessening of the suffering, sickness and turmoil. It feels like it would be better to get honest as a human race and actually address the issues that create so much of the charities in the first place. That would be a hugely intelligent step for mankind.

42. Eunice it is so needed to get this piece out to the world and really start to lift up the carpet on charity, and how far we have pushed it to make it a money making game. You are right – it is currently based on an organisation having success when they get money, and a donator feeling success when they ‘do the right thing’ and give. But really – this comes with self, and not an ounce of love. As you share, a true example of charity has been Universal Medicine and Serge Benhayon, and the work he does purely in service to others and not laced with an ounce of wanting money. It is a very different way to to business that we can all learn from.

43. Rarely is the true intent behind charity examined or even considered. We look at the act but not the quality, yet it is the quality that ultimately determines the end result. After all how can true change be offered to another through charity if it is not coming with love

44. If we give to another to appease ourselves, to gain relief from our own way of living, we can never be in true charity. True charity knows how to be with and support another.

45. What a great and poignant article exposing the source of most of our charitable acts. I know that in the past when I have ‘given’ to charity I would do so in order to be a ‘good’ person, helping others. No trace of true charity in that!

    1. me too, i also have found myself doing what was expected of me….

46. Well said Eunice, there is such a difference between charity and true charity. One is truly for humanity whereas the other perpetrates individuals needs for acceptance and recognition for being seen to be doing good. Good keeps the world the same whereas truth moves mountains.

47. I love your definition of charity here – the integrity of purpose, intent and modus operandi are so clear: ‘true charity is acts done, money given, time and space offered, with no investment of self of any kind – where there is absolutely nothing in it for us, but we do what we do and give what we give with, from and for love.’ How world-changing could it be if this was constituted within all charities’ articles of association and trust deeds.

48. This is a very loving expose of what it means to truly give as a way of serving all, instead of what we usually consider giving. All too often it is much easier to give things, be it money or gifts, instead of giving ourselves in full. Being truly present with someone, and truly open to them is some of the greatest care that we can give.

49. I wondered that as well Karin. What is the quality of work produced when the money comes from force, coercion, just giving to avoid being harassed further, gulit, sympathy and pity? And how truly successful or supported are the people that receive such work that comes with that basis of being fueled by such tactics?

50. Thank you, Eunice for this definition of Christ – ” the Christ being the energy of the soul (of love) in embodiment, something that every human being has the potential to live.” It is fantastic to read an article that does not use the word Christ as something that separates us but understands it to be an energy that we all have, irrespective of who we are and what religion we align to.

51. It is interesting this notion of exposing self and how much of us operate out of it – the need to be recognised, appreciated, understood, met, seen, loved and then your list regarding some of the reasons why people give to charities…to feel better, alleviate guilt etc… it is quite insidious how much we operate for self-gain in this world. It can be easy to blame the ‘banks/big corporations’ etc… for being about themselves, but the macro is usually a pretty good reflection for the micro. This article is a great introduction to get us thinking about how much self is involved in what we currently do, starting with charity. And I completely agree, if you want a true living example of someone living with very little to pretty much no self, look no further than Serge Benhayon. It is possible.

52. I agree Eunice – Serge Benhayon and Universal Medicine shows a way that is not very commonly seen. It’s also great to know that donating should only be done if we truly feel the impulse to do so, and not because we might feel guilt.

53. Well said Ariana. I have been cold called and also approached in supermarkets etc.. and it also leaves me a bit cold after the transaction. But I have spoken to Serge Benhayon a few times, and I can 100% vouch for what Eunice shared. He is the embodiment of true charity – not an ounce of recognition, fully with you, says what needs to be said without a a flicker of resentment and such a holding of love.

54. Eunice a big Hear Hear from me. What a beautiful testimony to the great work of Serge Benhayon and the re-defining of what true charity is.

55. Thank you Eunice for exposing the manipulation and coercion charities use to extract money from innocent people. I know in the past I used to donate to everyone, I was in sympathy for anyone in need and felt guilty if I didn’t give them money. Until many years ago I realised this pattern was not actually truly supporting anyone and I was able to see that my sympathy did nothing for anyone and that it kept others stuck. Your last line is a beautiful reminder to take into my day – ‘True Charity is Love Blessing Love.’

56. Once you have given to a charity, they continue to hound and bombard you in every conceivable way on the phone or my mail (electronic and letters) often with hooks of possibly being able to win a new car etc.
    A favourite is to send out raffle tickets for one to sell on their behalf and you get several personal address labels included – this always feels such an imposing and binding energy.
    Nowadays, I cross out my address details and in large letters on the envelope put ‘RETURN TO SENDER’.
    After the second time of writing this on the same charity envelope – their brochure has since stopped coming through my letter box.

57. The exposed Charities resort to such low tactics and yet their stats on whichever the issue is that is to be addressed rises. Serge Benhayon’s exercising of true charity has changed the lives of hundreds if not thousands and as such like you say Eunice the rates of illness and disease within these people that have been open to receiving such charity has dropped. I know which one makes more sense to support and likewise express as when something is done in true charity it is no big deal and an ease to consider others, doing something for self comes with a lot of tension, drama and ultimately abuse and it does feel sticky and desperate. Love however is empowering and shows and exposes that none of the self approach is really necessary and is in fact a detriment to true health and well-being.

58. You make a great point Annie C. How off track are we indeed as a society when what is considered something of value or good such as charities are actually revealed to be corrupt in the way that they deal with people? We really do need to look and see what is really going on here and to see that the charities, that are supposed to be all about people are totally disconnected from people and how they want to be treated.

59. What a great expose on charity Eunice. It is quite shocking to read about the antics of people who are calling up the elderly or those who may be easy influenced, so that can extort money in the name of ‘charity’. It is quite disgusting that this type of behaviour is being seen to even remotely be ok. It is just not. But under the guise of charity it seems that people can lose all sense of what is reasonable. Thank you for also providing an explanation on what is the alternative, what true charity and charitable behaviour can look and feel like in Serge Benhayon and Universal Medicine.

60. Eunice I was shocked when I read in your powerful blog about the cold calling in charities. Sometimes I got cold callings at home and they are always not very nice – I have to admit they are really aggressive and imposing so that it is not easy to stay calm and not react to them. This is not a true way for charities to get their money as you so beautiful exposed in your blog. Thank you for not holding back and expose what is not true.

61. The cold calling from charities and then the guilt if you say no is horrible. There is always a story and reference to how they help you. I have found them very aggressive and pushy.
    Yes charities have a lot to answer for, acting this way.

62. When I first heard about Serge Benhayon I thought, ‘surely he ain’t that squeaky clean or good’, and his loving and giving way sounded possibly ‘too good to be true’ – and in a sense I was right – this is only because I had got used to a lesser way of living where I settled for ‘getting through’ instead of vitality, ‘nice’ instead of love, and ‘tolerance’ instead of brotherhood (understanding that we are all equal brothers and sisters, and living from that understanding). Serge’s living way was, and is, a reminder, both of what is possible for me in life, and what I have not done yet, from the depths of my soul – the best ‘ouch’ there is.. for it awakened that deep wisdom within me that always knew there was more to life than numbing out or just trying to be ‘comfortable’ – and that ‘more’ was my inner-heart, which connects me to the wisdom of God and the Universe in each breath that I am connected. Just divine – and I have connected to this because of a man who connected to his soul so deeply and truly that his living way inspires me to those same qualities of God within me.

63. ‘True charity is Love Blessing Love’, wow Eunice that statement alone exposes the bullying that I so often feel when I am bombarded by charities but quickly override with feelings of guilt, duty and being miserly and mean should I walk by,head down or close the door. Your article so beautifully defines what true charity is. This I can now claim as what is true and not hang my head in shame and avoidance for what I am not doing

64. Thanks for sharing Abby, it is almost a militia type attack on the donator. My other question is how much of the actual funds collected go to the cause and how much goes to ‘admin’?

65. Great blog Eunice. There are many quotable lines in your blog exposing and redefining true charity especially the last line “True Charity is Love Blessing Love”. This has deep meaning and you can feel there is no judgement. To truly be charitable, from what I have learned and observed through Serge Benhayon, is knowing that another is not lesser than you. I offer always, where I am able, and to the best of my ability, true service with no investment and attachments to anything coming back but the love that is there to support another in evolution. Charity is knowing and claiming what you can truly offer.

66. “True Charity is Love Blessing Love” This is beautiful, thank you for sharing Eunice.

67. Charities using cold calling techniques are in fact operating as for profit companies – aiming to generate as much income as possible. They may try to paint it which ever way they please but it does not change the fact that true charity lives no where near any organisation who uses cold calling and all the manipulative techniques that go with it.

68. There is a well-known charity that is trying to save the world. They have recently been protesting drilling for oil the artic and have this large display that looks like the North Pole made out big pieces of polystyrene all artfully carved and painted and looks really nice… but is made of oil by-products. Where is true charity when you can no longer see the forest through the trees.

69. To feed into the corruptive behaviour is to rob us all from true healing in our lives, when we invest in continuing research and managing symptoms we are denying ourselves access to the bigger picture at play and the root causes of illness and disease in the first place. In a world where ‘Everything is energy and everything is because of energy’ as spoken by Serge Benhayon, if we are not including energy as a foundational and predominant factor we will miss the point and miss the healing.

70. I was not aware of the recent media article you mention, but I do know exactly what it has felt like to be phoned for and asked for a donation to a specific charity.. I have always been a sniffer dog when it comes to feeling imposed upon by someone and so had usually resorted to avoiding situations, such as walking past a table and even developed a nervous tension in answering my own phone.
    What I have now come to learn is that I don’t have to override my awareness in such situations, but actually stay aware of my self and deepen my understanding in what I am seeing. True love is about holding steady, with zero judgement or outward expectation, and never holding back from calling out what is not true when it is clearly felt.

71. Charity:Another word that has been bastardised and used in its complete opposite. Eunice, you have cleared the muddy path that has been laid by the ‘me, me, me’ illness we are plagued with. Bring the truth back to charity. Serge Benhayon is a living example of the very essence that this word means. Once again living and leading our way back to love.

72. ‘It takes a force devoid of true love and care to cold-call and force, harass, coerce, persuade and talk around people to donate to a charity’.
    It takes what we are not to apply an act that is not of love.

73. Whats extraordinary about this example is that we all know how bad cold calling is. So why would a charity resort to cold calling when there is a widespread understanding of how people feel victimised and harassed in their own homes. Its when money and manipulation takes over from truly supporting those people that need support.

74. It is interesting what we do in the name of charity. To see others being made to feel guilty, of working so hard they get sick, just does not compute when it comes to true charity. Giving from the love that is overflowing, rather than giving from a need to feel better, do better, be good. We 100% need to be there for each other, just not to our own detriment.

75. Great points you have raised here, Katie. I completely agree that the state of charities nowadays is about consumerism rather than true charity. Imagine if all the current charities came from true charity, we would see an enormous amount of change happening rather than the little, if any, improvement we see today.

76. When you take out all the trimmings, ‘cold calling’ is quite simply ringing people and asking for money. No wonder they get a negative response a lot of the time. How imposing! I love what you have exposed here Eunice. It’s just brilliant!

    1. Very good point Robyn. If you take out the ‘charity’ of it all – to ‘cold call’ is to literally call up a random stranger, and ask them to give you their money. It’s crazy this form of manipulation and intrusion is accepted as ‘charitable’.

       1. And it is so asked for under the guise of it being for a ‘good cause’, but what is truly good? I don’t think that giving money with the emotional attachments that Eunice has clearly pointed out here is a truly good thing.. It’s actually harmful for everyone involved and does not support the love and harmony that is possible between us.

77. ‘True charity is love blessing love.’ What a simply beautiful way of summing it up Eunice. How wonderful it would be if we all connected to what that truly means, and then put it into action in our daily lives.

78. I agree Carmel “Cold calling is always an imposing way of approaching anybody.” I would go as far as to say that cold calling is abusive behaviour “especially when they target vulnerable elderly people.”

79. Hear Hear, well said Liane. Let the exposure begin. . . let “all hell break loose” so that we can return to “the ‘love blessing love’ that true charity brings without need or attachment”

80. Well said Adam. This is worth re posting as every word is so spot on “True charity never treats those it seeks to support as a helpless victim, nor does it seek to benefit in any way, shape or form from those it is there to assist, and nor is it invested in any outcome from its actions. Rather it seeks to deliver assistance in such a way that leaves the client in no uncertain terms that their life is their choice, and it is only through their choice that life can change.” Thank you Adam, a great delivery of the truth.

81. As I was reading your comment Katie I couldn’t help but think that we have more charities than ever before, but yet they are seemingly making little difference.

82. It’s a great point Gill…if we are after a response in any fashion, even if we don’t get one, we are invested. Even if it’s to relieve our feelings of guilt or sympathy for others. I happened to catch some TV yesterday and there were some adds for refugee charities and animal charities and they really work it to tug on the old heart strings so that we give into our feelings of guilt and then reach into our pocket to make ourselves feel better. So really, where is there true charity in this?

83. An interesting point Katie, l’d never thought of charity being ‘big business’ but it is true…

84. Thank you Eunice, what you’ve shared is a very powerful statement on true charity, and something most don’t dare speak about… to expose our accepted forms of charity for the charlatan it seems so often to be, is to risk the ire of many. Cold calling and using such techniques as you describe is one great example of what underlies this false version.

    1. Yes that was an eye opener for me, as I used to donate to a number of charities I felt were making a difference. It was quite a revelation to really feel what motivated me, and to the feeling of appeasing I felt by giving the way I was. Appeasing my own sense of discontent for not living what I knew was true and offering something that truly helped. A big ouch that’s for sure.

85. The collection of money for charity has no morals and knows no bounds.

86. I’m amazing at how many charitiy shops there are selling furniture and clothing donations these days – they are everywhere. I do sometimes feel that these shops are a dumping ground for us all to rid ourselves of ‘stuff’ we no long need or want – what would we do with all our unwanted ‘stuff’ without these shops? And do we give our ‘stuff’ over to these charity shops from a true sense of charity, or do we give it to relieve ourselves of what we no longer want and feel better about our waste in the process?

    1. That is an excellent point Sandra, “do we give it to relieve ourselves of what we no longer want and feel better about our waste in the process?”

    2. Yes Shirley -Ann, I will certainly stop and consider the destination of anything I no longer want or need – will it truly serve another, or is it destined for the bin?

87. Beautifully said Jill, I totally agree.

88. Incredible blog Eunice, thank you for exposing what is truly going on with these charity organisations. It is absolutely despicable to target vulnerable people, it is totally unacceptable to target anyone in this way in the name of charity. Reading your blog, reminded me of myself giving money to a charity organisation in the past without really considering if this organisation was one that runs with integrity and honesty. I didn’t consider what my intentions were in saying yes to this organisation, now looking back I was simply following what others were doing. I was therefore not truly giving from my heart. Pretty revealing and something for me to be aware of and fully connect to my every action and what intention is driving it.

89. Since reading this blog a few days ago, I received a cold call from a charity while at work. I let the man speak and give his rehearsed speech with all it’s hooks and plays on emotions. I politely said no and he then asked why. I told him that I didn’t like the approach, that when approached in this way it felt like bullying and that guilt was used to get me to donate. I also expressed that it was not personal and that I knew he was doing a job he had been employed to do. He was left speechless.

    1. I might try that approach the next time nikkimckee. I must admit we get so many calls like this that my response is an abrupt ‘no thank you,’ and then I hang up the phone. My mum recently had a very aggressive and persistent caller the other day who was trying to get her to make a PPI claim. Its very unpleasant to be at the end of such imposing tactics.

       1. I got so sick of getting these types of phone calls that when we moved I decided to not give out our new home number. We rarely get anyone cold calling us and it is heaven!

       2. I very nearly did the “No thank you” which probably would have been followed by “Have a lovely day” and we would have played the game out nicely. But I chose to offer the person calling something different and he could choose what he wanted to do with it.

    2. I like your tactic Nikki, expressing the truth with such clarity can leave many speechless.

       1. Good point Kim. If you have been playing dumb to the truth, or avoiding it, when it is delivered so clearly, what can you say?

    3. Nikki thats great, I’ve not personally had a charity call myself but then again there are many corporate sponsorships of charities that I had not considered the same. I love how you simply called out why you would not donate, Its a good answer to the same street fundraisers who I often try to avoid. As you say each of these people are doing their job so its a great opportunity for anyone in that industry to hear what it truly feels like.

    4. To offer truth in this way is ‘great medicine’ Nikki. I have to admit that I have been avoiding these calls by screening the numbers prior to answering. If I do pick up the call (usually by mistake) I use the abrupt ‘not interested’ approach before too much is said. What I’ve noticed is the consistent and repeated almost incessant calling from the same number if I do not answer, what an incredible waste of time and resources. Thank you for bringing my awareness to the fact that I can offer my truth and understanding. I feel it would make a great difference if we all took a similar stand.

90. Thank you Eunice for expressing so clearly what true charity is and I totally endorse what you say regarding Serge Benhayon and the College of Universal Medicine – they are the living embodiment and expression of true charity.

91. What really struck me Eunice after reading your article is how in life we set things up as being either “good” or “bad”. This feels to me like a way to protect ourselves from all that we do not want to know and feel about the world. People want charity to be “good”, to be true. We want something that reflects who we know ourselves to be deep within. Clarity, as we know it today is a far cry from the depth of love and care we know it ought to be. There is one exception that I know of and that is Serge Benhayon. His charitable work is vast. He is always available to support those who need it and his support is not about “saving” people but empowering them out of whatever quagmire they may be in. He embodies what true charity is all about.

    1. beautifully expressed Elizabeth, Serge is a living example of what true charity is as he is not interested in good, or kind, benevolence, rather supporting everyone to know the truth of their origins, and sometimes that can be a bitter pill to swallow as love shines light on the dark of what is not love, aka charities and all the ill that can lie in the administration and often misguided ‘help’.

    2. Well said Elizabeth. True charity is “…not about “saving” people but empowering them out of whatever quagmire they may be in.” This is what brings true change, which is what true charity is all about – change.

       1. Charity can be an easy option – money in a box to save people, only for them to slip back into their old problems. Empowering them to work with those problems may be harder, may take a little longer may include personal involvement, but this is where true change starts. Don’t cross the road to avoid that person in a wheelchair – talk to them.

    3. I agree Elizabeth. True charity is not about good or bad. It’s about knowing what the truth is and allowing it to have a place in the world.

    4. ” … empowering them out of whatever quagmire they may be in.” Perfectly expressed, Elizabeth. Some moves seem to be happening in the world whereby those in need are being offered a way to empowerment, a couple of examples are microbanks in India and creating water wells for villages. These are great physical empowerments and one day it is to be hoped that a deeper personal empowerment and healing will start happening.

    5. “… his support is not about “saving” people but empowering them out of whatever quagmire they may be in. He embodies what true charity is all about.” This is so true Elizabeth and his way is to never tell you what to but with a willingness to change, then all the love and support needed, whatever its form, is there. The difference is the charity offered is for another to come back and then grow and not for the benefit of the charity giver so they feel better or good about themselves.

92. I know someone who worked at one of those companies out sourced to cold call and raise money for charities, not only do they not have any care for those they cold call, but the staff that worked for them were treated with total lack of care, working long hours, with out breaks, and under a lot of stress and pressure. It does not make for a good foundation for a charity if the money is coming in by these means.

    1. It is disgusting what these organisations are doing this to their staff and to the public by cold calling. They are making charity into something that is outcome and money driven. It is totally going against what true charity is all about. It is corruption playing out under the guise of charity.

       1. Yes Chan Ly, it is all very telling when the so-called charity uses it’s people to do the ‘dirty work’, with no care or regard for them. You are spot on about the corruption playing out under the guise of charity.

    2. That’s an interesting point you make Laura. Given what you have shared I would be interested to see how the directors on these charities live? Do they walk their talk?

       1. I think we already know the answer to this… very, very few, if any walk their talk or live true charity in anyway – its all sympathy.

93. I agree the cold calling for money for charity is horrible. You are made to feel guilty and I know they tell a story to gain your sympathy.
    I assume these people get paid for making all the calls, now that is not charity.

    1. They must get paid. I regularly see groups of young people, often backpackers or university students canvassing for charities at railway stations or on busy streets in the city at peak times to maximise the number of people they have access to. Charity?

       1. Yes, Sandra, at what point did Charity become a business that could be bought and sold, like a franchise operating for profit margins and paying workers to create income. If we need and value this type of charity on what ground does our society stand.

       2. That is true they do get paid for it, as I know someone who does this for a living. There is not true charity in it.

    2. I agree Gail, ‘cold calling for money for charity is horrible’ and I find the ‘timing’ of these intrusive telephone calls just adds to the energy behind the call – the telephone usually rings with these so called charity calls during the evening. Maybe there is some theory about the timing of these calls – possibly they may believe the people on the other end of the line will be more complicit while seated at the dining table eating the evening meal with the rest of the family/flatmates/friends etc. and some food in their belly.

    3. The point you make Gail is crucial in exposing the untruth and absolute lack of any charitable aspect in most Charities, as from my knowing most people are not getting paid for doing those calls or to stop (harassing) people on the street trying to convince them to donate. It is the “lowest” job you can do at a charity, first timers are recruited into it making their way up to more “valued” tasks. If they receive any money it depends on their success rate. The job they do has no value and the time people invest is not valued unless there is any monetary benefit achieved. This exposes how undervalued their own methods are and that there is no love and care in it. People doing the job are as much abused as the people who are cold called.

    4. The sad part is that true charity is yet to see the real light of day. instead we have hundreds of self-serving organisations parading themselves as charities but really are nothing more than do-gooders trying to feel better about themselves… Sound harsh? Not really when look at the results. Billions of dollars are spent globally each year through charities and for the most part the same problems remain and repeat generation after generation.

94. The College of Universal Medicine Charity is the only charity I have every come across that is the definition of what the word originally meant; in practice is being benevolent, giving and sharing. In virtue it is a religious concept of unlimited love and kindness. Nowhere in the definition are there the words overheads, director fees or administration fees. Universal Medicine has always been about serving others

    1. Well said sjmatsonuk – I have found it hard to accept many charities who go under the guise of charity as being true charities. The amount of money that you give that actually ends up with the end cause is pitiful. When I learnt how much money some of the people on the street, the cold callers or the door knockers were making I was quite horrified. Some of the charities work on the basis that any amount of money is better than none and work on the basis of people signing up and giving year after year so if in year 1 they make hardly anything they do not mind. True charity is working for and giving expecting nothing in return. There are very few charities that work like this.

       1. James, you bring to light some very important points about how ‘Charities’ operate. Yes it is quite shocking, and a far cry from what True charity is about. The College of Universal Medicine Charity is an exemplary example of True charity, its fundamental purpose being to work for and to give to others, with no expectations whatsoever to receive anything back.

95. A great expose’ on many charities, in contrast with true charity as seen and felt with how Serge Benhayon is, as you say: “For over 7 years I have witnessed and experienced him give of his time and services freely to hundreds and hundreds of people, including myself, over and above his paid work.” His love flows freely and I agree further, it is the quality he gives it in, “his patience is unending, every individual is totally held, listened to and met with love no matter how big or small the issue is, there is no rushing to get away, no flicker of resentment or frustration, for there is only true caritas, true caring, true charity”. This is beautiful to behold and experience.

    1. I agree Lorraine. Serge Benhayon has shown us what true charity means and as a result has exposed the corruption and greed of what we have been led to believe are charitable organisations. Serge shows everyone, unrelentingly, the same dedicated and committed deep care and integrity regardless of their issue, and never does he lose interest or get frustrated or impatient. This is a man who will give up his lunch break for someone who is in need of support, and will do so time and time again if it is needed. This is true charity, with not an ounce of self in it.

       1. Yes, Lorraine and Sandra – From personal experience of the unwavering support of Serge Benhayon, I wholeheartedly and unreservedly endorse your comments about this humble, ordinary, extra-ordinary man. Serge Benhayon is an amazing role model for now and the future of true charity.

96. It is crazy when you stop and consider what is really going on and that people automatically trust charities because of this word alone and the supposed ‘good’ that is happening. This expose of the bullying that has been taking place has been going on for years but pushed under the carpet so to speak. True charity is only every about supporting humanity that involves everyone working together not making people feel less than what they are.

97. Thank you Eunice, I always felt that most charity organisations were lacking integrity in the way they approached the public with a sense of aggression and intimidation, I now fully understand and know in my body what true charity is about thanks to The College of Universal Medicine which has been established by the students of Universal Medicine with no self agendas in it only the purpose of serving humanity with what’s needed.

98. The majority of the people who work at the call centers doing the cold calling are not connected to the cause. They are in a job with quotas to fill. They have competitions on how much money they can get in a night. I used to work in a company that was a call center for many different groups – Nothing charitable there.

99. Wow, so charity has definitely taken a wrong turn somewhere – very very wrong. Never before Universal Medicine had I experienced what the true meaning of charity was meant to be… Only to be hassled into giving money away or made to feel sorry for others… A guilt trip these so called charities try and put onto people. Yet again the integrity and truth brought back to these words that have been hijacked and real meaning returned is Universal Medicine. Thank you

100. Exactly Vicky, and when you get an understanding that it is possible that only 5% of your donation will go to the cause that you wanted your money to go to, and 95% goes to administration costs etc. this is very exposing of how the system works.

101. Thank you Eunice and Johanna, wow indeed. How corrupt and removed from the original meaning of charity are most charities. “The word charity comes from the Latin caritas, translated variably as meaning eternal love, unconditional love, God’s love, love of all mankind, generous love, Christian love.” Wow! again what more needs to be said, it is all in the well-researched article. The College of Universal Medicine is definitely about sharing love.

102. There should be some legislation against the antics of cold callers, especially where the elderly are concerned. Reading this reminded me of my father, who had always been quite astute but we found out that he had paid money to companies who said they had entered him into lotteries all over the world – thankfully it wasn’t a vast amount but it could quit easily of been.

103. Eunice, thank you. I recall the saying ‘Charity begins at home’ and feel that true charity is to be loving to yourself by being responsible for the choices we make in our life. The more we are charitable to ourselves then charity for others is spread by the love that exudes from our bodies.

104. I’ve come to understand that true charity is very rare in this world. It’s about loving and true support without needing anything in return. A very different picture to the corruption and misleading tactics that you’ve exposed in this article. If the way that a charity raises money is underhanded then does that not set the foundation for the corruption in the rest of the charity?

105. From what I have experienced, most of what I have come across as charity is more like big business than true charity, as described here, and, as I too have witnessed, as lived and practised by Serge Benhayon.

106. When I look at all the so called charities that are around and the people that donate to them I wonder how many, if any, are true charities where the people involved are not in it for some type of personal gain in one way or other. For if we do this work with self in mind we taint everything with this energy. Not an easy thing to do, to selflessly get oneself completely out of the way but Serge Benhayon is the one that lives this everyday and has shown us that it is possible.

107. “it has not just been the giving, but the quality that comes with that giving” – this is a biggie, Eunice. The quality of giving is I’d say almost entirely lacking from most if not all charities. In my past experience, the truest charity has not been by any charity or ‘do-gooder’, but by people giving in true loving quality in unexpected places and times with no attachment or self in it. And my understanding of what true loving quality and charity are has gone through the roof observing, and benefiting from, how Serge Benhayon lives and gives.

108. Hi Victoria I also have met many people who work in the charitable and human services industry who are motivated by as you say ” a genuine love of people and desire to end human suffering”. But having said that you make a very important point, “When it comes to charity, we have all turned a blind eye, preferring to invest in the illusion of goodness”. And this blind eye is where the abuse and extortion we often find in many so called charitable institutions slips in, hidden by the shadows that the blinding illusion of goodness casts forth.

109. Utter hypocrisy. The large charities may have started out long ago with a beautiful ideal and quite possibly some extraordinary loving work. However, through long cycles of inefficiency, and then learning from the corporate world how to squeeze more from less they find them selves using sales trainers to pressure vulnerable people for money. All this and the amount of charity they deliver from the £1 given is usually embarrassingly small. This is so exposing of the total lack of principles that the people that run these charities have.

110. Eunice, your list of obvious and not so obvious investments and attachments that can be the driving force behind why we are giving to charity or doing something charitable is so exposing! It’s amazing to read that list and feel how much each one of those points is just about self; how often do we do something for one of these reasons whilst kidding ourself that we are being charitable or benevolent?!

111. A very needed article, Eunice. ‘Charity’ as you expose here is very rarely practiced in truth, but we are so conditioned to think that the charity we see all around us is ‘doing good.’

112. Brotherly love is something what I am still discovering in my life and I am inspired here from Serge Benhayon and the Community of people who are part of the Way of the Livingness. The more I discover, the more I can’t go into shame about how I lived before – but that would be to succumb my pride. Time to let go of the old and cold calls from this side and become hot by following the call of love.

113. What a punchy, powerful blog exposing truth. I loved reading this Eunice! Donating money to charities on purpose has not been my thing. It seems that when someone celebrates a birthday, the money goes to a charity; it is the expected thing to do and when you don’t do this as in the case of my fortieth birthday, it’s like as though I am made to feel guilty!

114. Wonderful expose..I have worked in the charity sector and what you say concerning people bringing their own personal investments and identification within the role is so true. “And so perhaps there are not too many people or charities out there who are truly giving of their time and money with ZERO investment of self.” Reading the true meaning of charity really does put this unscrupulous behaviour of cold calling into context.

115. Agree Victoria and you are making a very important point here. Everybody working on a pro bono basis for The College of Universal Medicine is 100% SKILLED in what they do. The work they deliver is no different in quality form their professional occupation. This is in contrary to many volunteer workers at charitable organizations. In the name of “doing good” people are assigned any job and nobody looks after if this person is truly skilled in this job. As it is pro bono and “doing good” this criteria seems to fall of and doesn’t matter. I came across charitable work that was not so good for the community and it clearly showed that the good was done more in the sense of doing something good for oneself to feel better than actually supporting anybody.

116. Wow, holy smokes where are we at in this world, if we have the situation where a woman has committed suicide as a result of continuous calls from charities, why this doesn’t raise eyebrows or call for a serious analysis of what is going on with charities I can’t quite understand, if there was a company that continuously called an individual and that individual committed suicide then there would be a national outcry and investigations into how we let that happen, why have we not had the same when a charity has done it?

     1. Absolutely Oliver – why hasn’t the Charities Commission (or the rest of us for that matter) called in those responsible, reprimanded them for their behaviour, and then reminded them that their whole charitable status relies on them acting for the public benefit? Removing a few charitable statuses would certainly make them take notice and force them to change this pattern of behaviour.

117. The difference between true charity and charity is being played out on the international stage right now. Angela Merkel the German Chancellor and now known to thousands of refugees the world over as ‘Mama Merkel’ refused to apply the Dublin Protocol to Syrian Refugees, a procedural requirement that would have caused delays, and instead opened her heart and doors to tens of thousands of Syrian refugees. David Cameron, the British Prime Minister played the political game, described desperately fleeing refugees as ‘swarms’, claimed Britain was the biggest donor to the Syrian refugee crisis, but refused to respond to the desperate humanitarian crisis unfolding before our eyes, until that is public opinion and political pressure forced him to. David Cameron moved by his head will be remembered for his failure to respond with love. Angela Merkel moved by her heart will be remembered for her decisive and compassionate leadership and demonstration of true charity.

118. Eunice, your article is stone rocking. It is so honest, powerful and simple, showing how true charity works and how true charity is a benefit for everybody. Thank you.

119. So true Adele, many street collectors have a veneer of fierce passion for the cause, however once connected with they are open and totally get the imposition that cold calling is. I too have had the experience you share here. It is all about connection once again.

     1. Almost every time I find this Adele. The more I let people in and am aware of any judgement, the easier it is to connect to them. What I also love about this is that it confirms for me that we are all the same! Our protection is so strong that we go around pretending we are different! Nonsense!

120. Superb expression Coleen – ‘Love blessing Love’ in the embodiment of true charity. It is glorious in the true sense, as you have also expressed beautifully. Thank you!

121. Exactly Marika and true charity is a livingness, not a campaign. When people are inspired by a lived way that is based on ‘pure love for people and humanity’ then charity is naturally there. Another aspect of living charity is bringing understanding (emphasis), not pity or ‘pump action’ giving when accosted in the street or called by telephone, just as dinner is being served!

     1. I agree Bernadette, true charity is when we live and express from a place of love and understanding within our bodies for ourselves and others.

122. Yes, because anything less than true charity cannot bring true change, it only fosters more of the same albeit in a slightly different guise.

123. Feeling emotional and sorry for someone has always been the major hook used to get some one to donate for charity. When I read the list “coercion, persuasion, guilt, sympathy, resentment, need, attachment, expectation or investment” that all seems to accurately convey the impression I had about charity prior to Universal Medicine. But really, thinking about it, who would ever want to be supported like that? I certainly wouldn’t. I hate it when someone goes into feeling sorry for me and all patronizing, or if I detect any form of resentment or they are only doing it if they are feeling guilty – yuck! I am so grateful that Serge Benhayon has shown me a different way – a way that is truly supportive, inspiring encouraging and holds the other person in absolute equality – if it was not for his example I might have still been stuck in trying to save the world in a manner that I would not dream of today.

124. Your article exposes so much and today when I read “The latter of course refers to the love that is the Christ that lives within every human being – not just those who profess to be Christian or who align to the Christian religion: the Christ being the energy of the soul (of love) in embodiment, something that every human being has the potential to live” I realised how the wool has been pulled over our eyes to think that you only have to be Christian to believe or have a relationship with Christ/God when really the love that is Christ is in all of us.

     1. Yes, indeed sarahflenley, we are under the illusion that to know God we have to belong to an institutionalised religion. This is so not the case as Serge Benhayon presents for us all to feel and know God by connecting to our inner hearts and through the way of our livingness, therefore this way of being, my religion.

125. I loved this sentence too Anne. And what a great point you make about the College of Universal Medicine not accepting donations if they aren’t in truth – it’s in stark contrast to cold calling and using harsh tactics to get money out of people, isn’t it?!

126. Yes well said Donna… and that is exactly the tact of the cold callers – they are encouraged to guilt you into donating. I used to feel really guilty too, but knowing now, and feeling how deeply I love humanity, and having an understanding of what true support is, I no longer feel guilty.

127. Great question Rebecca. If I think back to the times when I donated to a cause or sponsored something, it was 9 times out of 10 to feel good about myself. Another of life’s checkboxes that I could tick ‘Good Person – donates to charity’. Not charitable at all….!!!

     1. Exactly – perhaps its time to redefine what we consider charitable

128. Thank you Eunice for writing about such a taboo topic. Most charities feel a bit ‘off’ to me, in that there is so much personal gain involved. Cold calling and using ill tactics is just taking it to a whole new level! I remember once looking into a variety of charities and where their money went… and for several of the ‘big’ charities the bulk of the funds raised went to management salaries and then administrative costs, and only a minute percentage went to the actual cause itself. It was quite an eye-opener.

     1. I agree Brooke, I recall a well known cancer charity withdrawing their support for community support groups because they did not feel they were worthwhile. But they continued paying out funds for other things that had no direct benefit for people.

129. So true ginadunlop. Removing the self from charity is very exposing of the intent of most charities. I know it is exposing of the reasons why I have previously donated money to some charities – it was all about me and not about the beneficiaries of the charity. Therefore, no true charity occurred.

130. How very exposing of the evil behind charity. If there is any degree of self, guilt or not wanting to be seen as miserly, then there is no true charity when we give. What a beautiful example of true charity Serge Benhayon offers.

131. “To me, cold-calling people and effectively coercing and forcing them to donate is the absolute antithesis of charity”. Absolutely agree Eunice, yet time and time again I have seen or heard about instances of confused older people passing over money because they are led to believe that they have to do it for one reason or another. This is not only the antithesis of charity but an underhand and despicable practice that should be a reportable crime. It is nothing less than stealing from the most vulnerable.

     1. Yes, agree Anne, it is a manipulative form of business to gain and leave another less.

132. It is my understanding that in the corporate world, the more ‘charitable’ a company appears to be, the more people will apparently trust it, which ultimately has an impact on profit. Is this really how we want our corporations to behave? But corporations are just made up of people like anyone else, people who watch the same tv, go to the same schools, eat the same food, etc. So is the end responsibility with the large multinationals to change their ways? Or is it with each person individually taking responsibility for their place in the whole of human society?

133. It seems so simple when you say it like this Kate, and makes so much sense that it’s all our own choice.

134. Eunice I love your ending statement “true charity is love blessing love.” Cold calling is hard and cold, whereas true charity feels warm, supportive and most of all has no Self in it. I often get the calls asking for donations, and there is no warmth or love in what they are saying or representing. When I have given a contribution or donation to true charities, there are no hooks, follow up calls for more donations or me in it. I don’t need to know what happens to the money, I just trust it is going to where it is needed most.

     1. Yes great point Donna, I also notice at my local shopping centre when I walk by those asking for donation to a cause, that when I say ‘No, thank you ‘, I often feel the flicker of judgement as they turn away. There is no true charity when I am left with the intended message that I am heartless, selfish, irresponsible or something to that tune if I do not choose to donate.

135. The charities are businesses with overheads and costs they need to cover, just like any other business. Their charity status and how that label is regarded in society gives them the excuse to make such calls to people who may or may not be vulnerable to their selling tactics and persuasions. What they do is horrible, but there is a demand for it. What the donor receives in exchange is the sense of do-gooding, which can be like nectar for a spirit that is hurt by life and starved of love. I have observed myself making do-gooding actions only to later taste the rather rancid flavour of my self-serving interests. Since when did helping people become a business? Perhaps as soon as money was invented. Money is not the root of all evil, but it certainly provides the excuse for people to behave heinously. Universal Medicine is a business that is all about supporting people to come back to their true selves and to live that light, and not once have I witnessed any hard-sell or guilt tripping in any of their ventures. Perhaps this is because they are not fuelled by revenue, but by Love.

     1. Interested in your question about the role that money has to play in all of this. To me its not that money itself is the problem – it can be a very clean means of exchange and a distinct improvement in trading a bit of the pig I have reared for a haircut! No the problem is that money is sticky – our personal issues, desires, agenda’s get loaded into it and so its a great way for all that unresolved stuff to play out… which in the case of charities shows quite clearly the inefficiency, the personal agenda, and the lack of deep down principles. Its very exposing.

     2. You have nailed it with your final line Jinya, unlike conventional business, Universal Medicine is not profit-driven. That’s one of the many things that makes it unique.

136. Serge Benhayon is the leading light in true charity, fortunately through my association with Serge I have been able to re-imprint my understanding of charity by witnessing and experiencing how it is done by Universal Medicine. Before this I was disillusioned by charity as all I had observed was so called ‘charitable’ organisations ripping people off.

     1. Exactly my feeling also Marylouisemyers. I never could trust a so called ‘charitable organisation’ either as I could always feel a suspicious angle of wanting to convert, rip off, control, stand over with superior judgments and or manipulation. Universal Medicine has shown me that we can have charitable organisations that do not hold these agendas. Instead I have found a genuine sharing of skills and deep wisdom that supports people to come back to themselves. This naturally benefits everyone, the community at large.’True charity = love blessing love’

137. Interesting timing your blog Eunice, now with everything that is going in the world with the refugees. Many people want to help and charity initiatives are popping up every day. But do we truly help these people when we are coming from a need for recognition, the need to do good, when we are in sympathy or wanting to fix the situation? As long as there is self in it, there is no true support. As long as there is sympathy, there is no true equality and reflection that all those refugees are already love, just like we all are.

     1. ‘As long as there is self in it, there is no true support. As long as there is sympathy, there is no true equality and reflection that all those refugees are already love, just like we all are.’ Well said Mariette, one photo has galvanised lots of action but not many are questioning the value of much of what is being done and recognising that these refugees are equal Sons of God who need our no strings attached support not our charity.

        1. Absolutely Helen, what they need is a true reflection of who they are. In the past I have done some charity work in Peru and I can see that I only did this because I was liked and recognized for it and this made me feel better about myself. It gave me sense of purpose, of doing good while in that time, I was not looking after myself at all and in a huge lack of self-worth. Now what kind of reflection is that for those I tried to help?

138. Through the College of Universal Medicine workshops I have seen true community care in action. Not an ounce of imposition, just true care and support on offer.

139. It is so bizarre that cold calling is allowed in the name of “charity”. What on earth is loving of caring about cold calling? Any money that is collected this way is already tainted with the interference, and often sympathy that was there in the collection. Where does this then go? Onto the recipients.

140. It is true what you say Victoria, we make a CHOICE to turn a blind eye so our eyes are not as blind as we pretend and we choose to not see the evil in good as exposed here: http://www.unimedliving.com/unimedpedia/word-index/unimedpedia-evil.html in Unimedpedia Evil.

141. Even the idea of charity being false is challenging for most. In recent years there has been the challenging of some charities for how they spend the money they collect, but even this only scratches the surface of the un-truth that many charities function with. The identification of so called “doing good” is rife, and in total opposition of the true support that is honestly needed by many people.

142. Eunice this is an absolutely wonderful blog – a sheer joy to read and appreciate the love and truth that you have expressed. The only thing I have to add is in relation to your saying that the list of the ways that Serge Benhayon “has given of his time and services freely to support many across the world would fill a book” – I reckon it would fill a thousand books!

     1. Hear! Hear! Nicola, I agree. Serge Benhayon is the most charitable person I have ever met and an inspiration in showing what true charity really means.

     2. Absolutely Nicola, my sentiment exactly, and in those books would be so much charity by Serge Benhayon that we are not even aware of at present, his love and service is all encompassing and endless.

143. In the past I have given to charities out of guilt, but no longer, since I have realised the true nature of charity. Cold-calling, even in its milder form of sending unsolicited ‘gifts’ of greetings cards and the like used to make me feel guilty if I didn’t send the charity something; an emotion they used to elicit donations, which must have worked, but with what energy were the guilt-laden donations laced?

     1. Its one big choke up, meaning the more you feel guilty and stumble over your own words is when you can be coerced to give.

144. Eunice – what an incredible piece of writing this is, spoken by someone who knows the true meaning of charity through and through.
     As you say – charity is love blessing love, and yet there is a bastardisation of the word thanks to people abusing its true meaning and taking advantage of what people feel emotional or guilty about.
     Like you – I know Serge Benhayon to be someone who gives his all with asking nothing in return, and that charity I know to be true. A pure selfless act to support others with love.

145. It is so harming when people are posting on facebook for example ,what they have done for this and that organisation, because I can feel the recognition they are wanting by posting it. It is not just done and finished- no there is: look I am a good person. And this is exactly the same like you described- if you dont´t do it purely out of love and with no need for recognition, it is not a true charitable act.

     1. Well said steffihenn. I agree that when we are reminded of what another has does for us then it is definitely not finished; there is a need for recognition, an expectation, demand etc; the act was certainly not love but an act of doing ‘good’ and this is indeed very harmful.

     2. I agree steffihenn, when people are involved in charity for recognition or anything less than true love it feels horrible.

     3. So true Steffi. If it is done for need of recognition it is not true charity.

     4. Well said Steffi, imagine that was the mission statement of every charity, no recognition I wonder how rich most charities would be?

146. True charity is Love blessing Love, how true Eunice. Thank you for this powerful article explaining true charity. Cold-calling is money-grabbing and there’s nothing charitable or truly caring in that.

147. Great article Eunice- Interesting to note that the true meaning of Charity includes Christian love-“love that is the Christ that lives within every human being – not just those who profess to be Christian or who align to the Christian religion: the Christ being the energy of the soul (of love) in embodiment, something that every human being has the potential to live.”

148. True charity has no cold-calling – True charity is a hot-call, the call to be on fire again and serve so humanity – in all activities. This activity has to come from a place of fullness which can be shared, instead of an emptiness which needs something in return for what’s given.

149. Eunice, your blog has made me realise that most of our society has lost the meaning of true charity. We see people with charity collection tins at major intersections, people sell chocolates or other sugary treats in workplaces to raise money for charity, functions are held to raise money for charity with prizes such as wine or spirits, people in workplaces donate a gold coin to charity so they can wear casual clothes to work on a Friday. It’s all so ridiculous, and all it does is tick a box to say ‘yes, I’m a good person, I’ve given money to xyz charity’. I don’t see any true love in these activities, just feel good moments.

     1. I feel the same Sandra. Whilst I cannot disagree that some charities have done some meaningful work in supporting people, on the whole I find the way that charities go about things is quite nonsensical. If one considers the cost of marketing for promotions, the production of the sweets, chocolates or t – shirts to sell..wouldn’t that money be better spent directly on simply feeding / housing people? Why does society feel it necessary that to give to a charity there must me something given back to you? e.g. buying a box of chocolates or having a tree named after you. If you want to give, why not, just give?

        1. It actually feels quite corrupt to me, the more I sit with it, selling products that are harmful to people’s health and take them further away from their connection to God (e.g. alcohol and sugary products) in the name of raising money for charity. It seems to give us an excuse to eat, drink or do something that is not good for us but because it’s being done for charity, it is justified as being ok. Really? I can abuse myself because I’m doing it for charity…that is totally loveless and therefore is not true charity.

150. I felt these words in action yesterday Eunice – “How far removed have people become from what are ethically and morally acceptable practices? To me, cold-calling people and effectively coercing and forcing them to donate is the absolute antithesis of charity.” – as I left work, there were charity ‘sellers’ outside my work building basically pouncing on people as they left the building. It’s really common in the city I live in, with many charities employing young casual workers to sign people up to their charity. As you’ve so clearly called out, this is the antithesis of charity.

     1. Using the title of charity as a front to achieve one’s self interested ends. Very interesting what we think we can get away with under the umbrella of a title. It is time for discernment, time for us to feel for ourselves and stop falling for what this or that title or statement tells us. If we all did this, the true state of the world would be exposed very quickly.

151. Thank you Eunice for including the video footage from GoGen. Horrific that this kind of attitude can be accepted and followed. It makes me wonder how many other so-called charities work in this way.

152. Adele this is beautiful and very inspiring, such a good approach to open up the discussion as to where they have crossed the line of it not being ok. As you say some will be open for looking at their part in it and others will not want to take responsibility for it either. These charities that are cold calling is bullying and taking advantage of elder people and their pensions is disgusting and totally contradicts what true charity is.

153. I have been in clients homes who have dementia when these cold calls are in touch and heard the coercing pressure they apply and have taken them to social events where the raffle is held on behalf of a charity. Despite their illness and state of mind, there is no care or consideration for these potential customers, in fact the more tickets they sell could possibly result in the salesperson being given a reward also. Most charities use guilt, recognition or some form of a reward as tools to get people to give. This is not a charitable action. When one is truly giving of themselves, they don’t even consider it being charitable, simply a way of being without any need for a reward, one of true service to humanity. I agree with your meaning of a true charity Eunice, “True charity = love blessing love”.

     1. Well said Deidre, and many of us who are commenting here have been blessed by a different approach. I have been privileged to watch Serge Benhayon and Universal Medicine grow over the years, to know a little (but by no means all) of the true charity he brings to those in need of support, and be inspired to express more of that in my life.

     2. Hi Deirdre what you describe here happening with cold calls to your clients with dementia is nothing short of abuse. The taking advantage of people in this way who are in a vulnerable state is a crime. And as you say a far cry from “True charity = love blessing love”.

        1. Agreed Kathleen this is a far cry from what true charity is – amazing how far from ourselves we have got that we actually do call it charity and not the self serving agenda that it is. Don’t quote me on this but I remember reading somewhere that 95% of monies donated usually go to administration fees and 5 % actually makes it to the intended “charity”. Serge Benhayon on the other hand does more true charitable work than anyone I know. I often hear people share what serge has done for them and I wonder “how does one many fit so much into a day”, yet you never hear him say it. This man is the definition of what true good will and charity is. Just a shame most will not get to recognise what they have in front of them.

154. I agree jsnelgrove36, children are not brought up with the knowledge or understanding of what true charity really is. I was shocked a few years ago when I found out the people who go around and knock on doors or ask you in the street get £30-40 per sign up they get and that is not including what the company they work for get – usually it is not directly for the charity – so out of your yearly say £100, the charity, in the case of the people I was talking to, got less than £20. Sure over the years this would add up but it is crazy really. Yet we are led to believe the money goes to those we are giving it to. For me people working for charities at least fundraising should not be paid. But it is the sheer volumes of money which leads to all this cold calling and harassment of people – it has nothing to do with truly helping people.

155. What a beautiful re-ignition of true charity. Returning to the root of the word makes for inspiring revelation. Thank you, Eunice.

     1. It may seem obvious, but until someone says it ‘the way it is’, it can often be the case where – we forget what the truth of something like charity actually is. Well outlined Eunice.

156. Absolutely. And what a place to start…what a foundation to come back to as we break down the shackles of living in isolation from each other, the big picture and what truly serves. One small phrase that stood out for me in Eunice’s article was ‘talk around people’ when she was describing the tactics of cold calling. This gave me such a strong sense of the blinkered ignorance with which we can treat each other.

157. Thank you for sharing Eunice – indeed Serge Benhayon and Universal Medicine epitomise what true charity is – it is not about self interest or gain in any way. I love how the roots of the word are so apt yet we have somehow managed to change, twist and contort them to suit our needs. Crazy really how we can effectively abuse absolute love.

158. It is truly inspiring to see so many people who have had their lives transformed through the wisdom presented by Universal Medicine, allowing them to heal their ills, choosing to give back through the College of Universal Medicine Charity what they have been offered. It is vastly different in practice or essence to the cold calling you speak of which is awfully imposing, immoral and void of true love and the antithesis of the principles of true charity as shown and lived by Universal Medicine.

159. jsnelgrove36 this came to mind for me too. Just this week I had a friend share her daughter was doing this and how much awkwardness – let’s call it – across the family that had come from it. I remember having to do this while at school too and the fervour it created for some kids as the dangling carrot was a prize for the child who collects the most donations – perhaps innocent you might say for the child but it exposes how behind charity we manipulate for an outcome and know this can be done by bringing in a reward for self.

     1. It also made me ponder how I would handle the charity fundraisers if I had children at school. Certainly a different conversation would be required for each charity and then leaving it up to the child to decide if and how much they take part. There is certainly a way to not just go along with it as a parent because it’s easier although I can understand how once upon a time – before Universal Medicine despite the sickly feeling I have around many charities this is what I would have done.

160. I agree Donna and what you say about feeling guilty for not donating is familiar for most people. While we have a choice to not feel this way what goes unspoken is the force of energy that comes at us when we are approached in the street, at our front door or cold called – it is like we are being set up by the energy to challenge and question if ‘you are a good and worthy person?’ It is one of the most horrible feelings to have – no wonder people cross the street and hang up the phone to avoid this energy.

161. This footage of cold calling for charities is quite sickly for everyone involved and is what happens in the workplace that makes people sick. Of course we all have a choice and make a choice to participate or not in the case of individual employees and this activity could not sit with ease in anyone’s body but the individual can be largely understood. It is such an evil idea when we say to ourselves ‘I had to, my boss/work asked me.’ This strikes me as a moving line – at what point do we each draw the line when asked to go against our own values and integrity in the workplace? It is septic as one’s work can be entwined with many other factors that are being considered. For some this might be the physical survival of themselves and perhaps their family, for others it might be saying yes to please and not rock the boat at work, it could simply be the pride of not wanting to be fired or how it might look on one’s CV – there are many variances here that influence our values and integrity as employees. For the owners of such cold calling companies and the those on the board of charities themselves – again they are made up of individuals perhaps just as bound to being puppets ‘for the goal’ as the call centre staff but where does the buck stop? It stops with each individual saying no to what is unloving. This article is the tip of the iceberg of the lack of love behind many charities, this is not to say they did not begin with true intentions rather to say many have gone very astray and for many years the corruption and evil has been hidden under the facade of the ‘good’ done by charities. Thank you Eunice for caring to write – to lift the veil on charities to see what is really going on.

162. If by chance I am at home during the day I will often receive a cold call from a charity, and I hate the intrusion and emotional manipulation that is employed. On one occasion I did succumb to a small donation only to realise that my name was now on a mailing database. Fortunately by reading the fine print I was able to phone and ask that my name be removed and was advised to put the request in writing. How many older people would know they could do that? The style of call is very chatty and in my opinion, designed to make the callee feel great about themselves, cared for and then, once connection is made, the conversation assumes that of course you would donate … very hooking and manipulative, and clearly aimed at older lonely people.

163. Indeed Coleen why do we do it when all this negative emotional energy is being recycled and benefitting no one. Cold calling panders to our emotions when we are disconnected from our true feelings.

164. The corruption that has been exposed in some leading charities in recent days can’t be a surprise to us, surely? Did we really think they were immune? But it took a case of one vulnerable victim of dementia to stir up indignation in us. Just like it takes the photo of one dead child victim of the current refugee crisis to prick our consciences about migration. So isn’t the question, ‘Why do we always leave it so long to expose the truth of things?’ We only have ourselves to blame for the world in which we live when we don’t call these evils out when we see them.

165. I love how simple is: “True Charity is Love Blessing Love”. Beautifully expressed Eunice.

166. This reminded me of the evil in trying to be good, or seen as doing good. I learnt more about this recently through Unimedpedia http://www.unimedliving.com/unimedpedia/word-index/unimedpedia-evil.html

     1. I agree Simone, perhaps we need to start considering a new definition of good and evil

167. Beautifully put Adele – the true charity that comes from within – living from the qualities we hold inside. Reconnecting to this and learning to live this again is true charity.

168. I know, ginadunlop – completely mind blowing. I have never heard of a charity refusing money before because it was not given from an impulse of love. Again, The College of Universal Medicine is paving the way forth for what is possible when love is the foundation of action.

     1. I love this Simone: “The College of Universal Medicine is paving the way forth for what is possible when love is the foundation of action.” What an amazing example of true charity; an inspirational blueprint to inspire the world to see what is possible when self is removed from the equation.

169. Eunice, I love how you have debunked Christian love here with these words: “the Christ being the energy of the soul (of love) in embodiment, something that every human being has the potential to live”. Simply beautiful.

170. I agree Susan, and in my experience it always leaves a bad taste behind, if you give and if you don’t; you can’t win, because it’s not true, and we do know it, we all can feel it. The people on the phones need to be paid, and so it goes on, so we all know that, and know the money mainly goes to supporting that industry instead of the real vulnerable people.

171. I second that Rowena; Serge Benhayon has clearly shown to me what true charity is, and myself, along with many many others, I have been receiving his true charity when I needed it. I don’t know any other charity out there that would measure up to this true charity that Serge Benhayon lives and breathes.

172. Thank you for this blog Eunice, it really was very revealing.
     It was obvious by the reference of the call center training that they cared not for humanity by being manipulative in hooking people in. The trainees had a natural tendency to be fair and un-imposing, but that was taught to be the wrong approach. As you say Eunice with true charity there is no investment of self or need, and no party is left as lesser. With the cold calling, everyone along the line is left feeling less humanity. Decliners are left to feel guilty, those that donate have the burden, the call center people are stuck in the middle doing the dirty work numbing the feeling that it’s all wrong. The charity can do no true good with dirty money laced with guilt. And the whole set up is wide open to corruption.

     1. Nailed it Bernard, everyone involved in this set up is less: Decliners are left to feel guilty, those that donate have the burden, the call center people are stuck in the middle doing the dirty work numbing the feeling that it’s all wrong. The charity can do no true good with dirty money laced with guilt. And the whole set up is wide open to corruption.

173. True caring and giving comes from deep with in our hearts and doesn’t take multi million dollar organizations to operate. My sense is if we really had true charity at heart then we wouldn’t accept, tolerate, and turn a blind eye to the atrocities that humans inflict on other human beings. It’s been said true charity begins in the home so if we start with true caring we will reflect that and we might have a snowball effect. There is a bit of work to be done because we have chosen so much unloving and uncaring behavior there is already catastrophic consequences being lived by many, yet we still choose to turn away and pretend it’s not happening.

174. False charity is not only found in cold-calling, but in our daily social engagements, as you also mention, Eunice. I find this extremely disturbing, because “being good” is seen as a highly valuable characteristic fostered by societies, some religions, in our education systems, almost everywhere.

175. Fascinating article Eunice on the tactics of some charities to raise money by whatever means. It has become big business all over the world, and with that a lot of people attracted to that kind of business. It is not just money, but power, recognition, influence, ego, and other motivations that are not coming from a place of truth. Through Universal Medicine I have witnessed and experienced first hand true charity at work, UM inspires many through consistent self-less action from love that awakens the same love within others and inspires them to live that same level of love and service towards all others.

176. Great article Eunice, I really used to struggle with the whole charity thing before I then started to feel and understand the difference of what you are explaining so well. I totally agree, this is awful harassment of the vulnerable what the cold calling tactics do. People generally want to be ‘good’, and to the most part they are, but if they don’t feel naturally to give, then they are just made to feel guilty and pushed to give to eleviate that guilt. This is not supportive to anybody; except the so called ‘charity’. Thank you so much for your exposé; it’s well needed.

177. What a beautiful summary of what true charity is: “giving the whole world the opportunity to re-discover and live again the truth of ourselves” – how different to what we erroneously would normally regard as charity and how utterly simple and refreshing.

178. I agree Donna. Cold calling was awful and the guilt when I said no really hung with me. It was such an imposition.

179. It was a revelation for me too True Gem to witness the amount of emotion, aggressive ways of ‘protecting’ and the money driven campaigns. If we are to understand the world from an energetic point of view then we can see that the emotion and aggression under the guise of doing good is only adding more and more to the same pool of energy that is everything but love, harmony and brotherhood.

180. The what’s in it for me is something that pervades so much of what we do in our day to day. The charity aspect is but one space it can be found but your blog shows so clearly how it lies below the surface and can remain unnoticed and unchallenged.

     1. What’s in it for me certainly pervades the lives of most of us… It is like an unseen vacuum lurking beneath the surface of what we think are charitable and good thoughts, sucking us into an illusion of what good is. Thanks to the work of Serge Benhayon I am now beginning to see how much identification there is going on for me, and I can begin to live in a more honest way.

181. Charities are like bullies. They push you into donating and if you don’t they make you stand out and get people to judge you. There are so many charities out there now, that you could literally be donating to a different charity each day. It feels like revenue raising not asking for money to help assist in finding a cure for something or feeding starving people. Charities have lost the essence that it’s about people first. I only notice their logo and business name these days and nothing more, they feel empty.

182. Beautifully stated rowenakstewart – I concur with every word you have written. Thank you!

183. I have been contemplating the many messages in this blog about true / false charity for much of the day. I recall being exhorted to engage in charity as a child to “feed the poor children in Africa” who were less fortunate than we in the West. Nothing wrong with supporting those less fortunate than oneself, however the energy in which we participated in this activity was one of guilt. In addition, we were not wealthy ourselves and there seemed also to be a sense of encouraging martyr syndrome and have us apologise for not being destitute. This would most likely set a precedent for self disregard.
     How phenomenally different is this instructional form of charity to that of truly expansive, embodied charity demonstrated by Serge Benhayon where true ‘caritas’ is felt by oneself, lived within oneself before it can ever be offered in reflection to another?

     1. You pointed out a very important fact, if we live with disregard that is what we will take to the charity and to other people, thinking we are helping them. If we bring our own emptiness, our own need for recognition, our own disregard and lack of true self love, what benefit are we really bringing to those people?

184. Yes Rosemary – ‘bringing clarity to the subject of charity’….Charity is such a big aspect in our society yet it is correctly questioned, it does not appear to be so, something we blindly accept based on it is ‘good doing’, so we assume it has integrity, truly cares and so forth, but suspicions have also being raised towards charity organisation such as misappropriation of funds and so forth? This is not the purity of charity. As is stated
     “True Charity is Love Blessing Love”.

185. Absolutely – “Charity for me should be of equal support for all”, the key is equal support.

186. Important questions asked Rebecca – charities can make us feel we are doing something, by doing nothing other than giving a coin so to speak. It is almost like if it is a charity then it is ‘wrong’ to say no, we are not caring, there is no question to what this charity truly represents and does it come from love or self motivated reasons.????

     1. I agree Karoline, being guilt tripped into donating is not the same as wanting to make true change and therefore doing something about it.

187. There seems to be a general acceptance that if it is a charity, then it is for a good purpose, to help others, yet these charities often become institutions with complex structures and systems that become costly and the charity likely loose sight of it’s original purpose? What it even about love in the first place? If it was it would have kept the simplicity of its original purpose and held steady in that. Eunice you return the true definition back to charity!

188. This is simply brilliant, I don’t think I’ve read a blog like this where what is really going on with charity has been so simply exposed. I have not even heard of ‘cold calling’ I had to look it up, and yes it has been my own experience. What charity is truly about is genuine care for humanity, and yes Serge Benhayon lives true charity and not ever has he even asked for a donation… he is the charity in the way he lives and what he offers others in equality and with no differences.

189. That is the crux of the matter Carmel, charity has become something we do to ease the tension we feel about how we live and how our intentions are not really charitable in our whole life across the board so to speak. To give to charity in this way is to compartmentalise our life where we make one act so called good so we can blindly carry on living how we wish in other aspects without really having consideration for anyone but ourselves. I can hold my hand up and say i have been guilty of this and this is certainly not true charity.

     1. With you all the way here Stephen! What I was also feeling was that we can also donate to charities to avoid the tension we feel when life questions come up like ‘How did I get to be so lucky that I live in this country… and why did others not?’… and ‘Why are so many people getting cancer these days?’. Rather than sitting with the questions and feeling into it, we jump into action and try to ‘DO’ something about it, without really questioning the truth in our actions.

190. Your article brilliantly shows how charity has become so deeply corrupted by the agendas of a few, and to the detriment of many. Not until I had come across Universal Medicine and Serge Benhayon did I begin to know that true charity was possible. Here is an organisation and a man who act not for self but for all of humanity from a true place of love. Having been on the receiving end of this true charity as so beautifully described by you Eunice, I know that each person is deeply and equally held and that it inspires others to live and embrace this love into their own lives.

191. Very true Coleen. Forcing and coercing people into giving money is the absolute opposite of true charity – it’s surprising people still bother calling it ‘charity’ when they are getting money through persuasion, manipulation and in my mind – a subtle form of robbery. Horrendous when you think about how many millions of pounds or dollars have been raised by doing this.

192. Beautifully expressed Adele and I agree; ‘ True charity is not about what we give to others in money or materialism, it is giving the whole world the opportunity to re-discover and live again the truth of ourselves, which we deeply miss’.

193. It is great that you point out the difference that you feel in the body when you give with resentment or when you give with true caritas. That is the best guidance to take into account, I feel. We need to keep coming back to what we feel and choose what we want to have in our internal environment, just because that affects everything else we do, and every body else we meet.
     I also appreciate the tremendous honesty of you and the students of the livingness, inspired by Serge Benhayon´s utmost honesty, to not leave any stone unturned. In this case to look at and recognize in every moment if we are coming from self and what is in it for us. That level of integrity is so rare or unseen normally in the world and it is a great example and way forward for us all, if we want any true change in the world, starting with each one of us.

     1. The honesty I have seen and felt through the work of Serge Benhayon has been a massive eye opener to say the least. Honesty like “let’s not just say all charity is good, let’s look under the covers and be honest about what motives or energy is driving the charity”. It is life changing honesty and responsibility for true love that is now available for all.

194. Thank you Eunice for this powerful article and shedding much needed light on the whole subject of charity and the underhand tactics that are currently at play, which target the old and vunerable members of our society, which is completely unacceptable and as your article highlights is the total opposite of the true meaning of the word charity.

195. This article reminds me of the scramble there is in business to meet targets, charities included. Because its all about the money, organisations forget about people. They turn a blind eye to how that money has been acquired because the pressure is about meeting those targets and getting your bonus or performance pay.

     1. Very true Debra. Charities set themselves targets too – and are willing to do quite a number of things (cold calling included) in order to get the numbers at the end of the year on point.

     2. True charity is making it about people first. Sometimes we can give to others with sympathy, viewing them as helpless victims and less capable than us. We can then feel good about ourselves for helping someone “less fortunate than us”. Our emptiness and lack of worth can fuel this. On the other hand we can still be generous and support others in the same practical ways but hold them as equal.

196. A great conversation to start on what charity is all about, and it does bring up questions for us to ponder on why people give to charity. I really liked your explanation of the difference between truly giving, without attachment and the other version which had guilt and/or resentment attached. The two are worlds apart, even though they may look identical on the outside.

197. Beautifully said Alex Braun. We are all naturally charitable in the sense that we all know deep down we are interconnected with each other and interdependent beings. However we do not live daily with this level of responsibility. Could the modern day charity simply be a distorted version of this unity and a method of relieving ourselves of the tension we feel from not living responsibly towards all others every day in everything we do? I feel being truly charitable means living every day in such a way with integrity and responsibility knowing that everything we do either harms or supports all other beings.

198. Reading this makes me wonder who is really doing the most good for society? The person who is honest and says well I don’t want to donate my time or money to any charity because I just want to look after myself and my own, or the person who donates time and/or money to a charity but really has a vested interest in themselves for doing so? I’m not saying all charities are bad or that we should not donate to genuine charities. It is just that there is a very sophisticated form of selfishness and self gain behaviour going on that is masquerading itself as being ‘good’ and your blog Eunice and the recent media reports have exposed this fact.

199. This is a wonderfully exposing article on what true charity is and is not. Looking down the list of “what is in it for me” when we give to charity makes me realise that very few people in fact know what true charity is all about. It is absolutely my experience that Serge Benhayon does know and what is more he lives it every day.

200. Andrew I hadn’t even thought of it that way. But you’re absolutely right. We are exploiting one person in order to appear to be helping another. That is ludicrous.

201. So true Victoria, we do tend to turn a blind eye and invest in an illusion. I know I have certainly fallen victim to this. There is a refusal from society to uncover the truth behind what we are buying in to.

202. Yes Bernard, that’s what I felt when I read Eunice’s explanation.

203. Brilliant article Eunice – thankyou. An absolute ‘eye-opener’ on our understanding and/or ideals and beliefs around your question “What is true charity?” What I love and appreciate so much when reading this and all the other amazing blogs is how it stretches and enriches my understanding in such a powerful and inspirational way.

204. That’s an understanding we should all be aware of before we go about being ‘charitable’. Until such time as we change the approach we will not see people making the choices to support themselves! Money is not the answer only a temporary band aid that alleviates the immediate need but does not provide the foundation for true change.

205. Supporting another by reflecting the love that they are so they also can know their own riches and live in their fullness, doesn’t take any money just an investment of love.

206. Great exposure Eunice, thank you. True charity comes from the inside out rather than the outside in. When I have felt true charity it has come from the embodiment of love and held me in equal love.

207. I feel like the word ‘Charity’ has a strange bubble around it, like people are too afraid to say how they really feel on the subject for fear of being wrongly perceived. Eunice Minford, you have pop this bubble and freed this word in a way that I have seen only few people do. I love true Charity but was always so disturbed by the identification that riddles the mainstream idea of what we know Charity to be. Your article goes into the depth that I have always known and felt and exposes this extremely taboo subject.

     1. I love how you point out the pressure of when you are put on the spot.
        ‘The word already carries a heaviness with it at times and when people use it in a sentence to you, you are already feeling a pressure to do or give.’ I have experienced this many times and you explained it so well Raymond.

        1. Thank you sarahraynebaldwin and this is part of the set up. It would appear from the pressure that is applied that you don’t have a choice, you just go where you are seemingly pushed. What if we made life about energy first? Would we not feel the ‘push’ and see past it to what is truly there? We can stay in the world and take it at face value and be ‘pushed’ from pillar to post or we can feel what is truly going on and from there make ‘our’ steps. Universal Medicine and Serge Benhayon present energy first. Many, many people have also chosen to dedicate their lives to this and from there much has changed for them and all of us. Energy comes first, it’s well worth feeling.

        2. Yes Raymond, it would be a very different world to live in if ‘energy first’ was a constant in all our lives. Universal Medicine and its students are indeed living examples of this (without perfection of course). It is there to be felt in these articles and comments, how free people are with their expression, the responses are clear from what we are expected to ‘do’ and from any ideals of being ‘good’, very refreshing.

        3. Hello Raymond, I think we are slowly realising that everything is energy and it is not some hippy trippy concept but actually a very tangible science that can be studied and learned from.The Benhayon family is living proof of this for sure. Einstein brought us this long ago and it was great truth to be built upon but instead we have chosen to allow the word to be bastardised by spiritual movements that seem to water down or fluff up its true meaning. If we live by the fact that everything is energy and there for everything is because of energy, we will all be just like the shinning role models.

        4. Hello Sarah and because of the calibre of people, like Einstein that bought us ‘everything is energy’ I never really had it as a ‘spiritual thing’ although I understand what you mean. It was more for me that it was said but it wasn’t really that important. I made other things more important and therefore just discarded it as one of those great lines without really taking care of what Einstein was actually saying. Serge Benhayon has supported the ‘more care’ and now it just a fact of life for me and as you are saying science is now catching up with something we have always known. It’s not a coincidence that ‘energy’ isn’t our first thought, as this brings with it a bigger responsibility to how we are and what we do. I feel we in a way discard ‘everything is energy’ because with it comes responsibility for choices, at least that is how things have played out for me. Thank you again Sarah.

        5. Yes, that responsibility can seem overwhelming, I imagine energy is like water, its everywhere and if we could see it with our eyes I think it would respond like water, the size of the ripples would indicate what quality we walked through it in. We would prefer to pretend that we are separate units going about our own little lives.The truth is: Everything we do affects everyone, we like to think we can privately conduct things that are harmful and get away with them but it’s simply not true.

     2. Yes Karin, there has to be a reason that this institution has made itself ‘untouchable’. You don’t even know where your money goes when you donate to some of the large organisations these days.

     3. Yes Nickimckee, I have been accosted by save the marine animal activists unable to get a word in edge ways and explain that I am late to pick the kids up for school and have no time today. People should not feel bullied into handing over cash out of guilt. If everything in the world in made up of energy, as Einstein presented then what good does money laced with that energy actually do for those in need?

     4. Indeed – the energy that comes with money “donated” in such ways comes very loaded. It doesn’t make for a very charitable feeling within or about an organisation.

208. Charity is such a sticky and laced subject for those reasons you mention Eunice, and the Latin word you use ‘Caritas’ instantly feels ‘freeness’ to me and most certainly is a word to describe well the work offered by Serge Benhayon. Caritas – self-interest free, towards the true good or benefit of all.

     1. Haha – gives a whole new meaning to ‘interest free loans’ – there is no self interest and you don’t get your money back and that’s ok 🙂

209. I heard a son talking about how an elderly relative was cold-called and donated a lot of money when he had dementia. I felt really sad that someone was taken advantage of in this way. It felt no different to someone being defrauded.

     I wondered if someone justified this Machiavellian funding of charitable work with the good result justified the unscrupulous means of obtaining its funding. This doesn’t make sense to me – how can a charity corrupt itself in this way? It can’t if it is to remain doing true good as any lack of integrity will affect the whole of its operation.

210. Many years ago I worked for one of the aforementioned charities in the outbound calling team – although we only ever called people who already had a relationship with the organisation – we would call frequently to get them onto a regular donating program or to increase their regular monthly gift. The only reason we did it it was because it worked – there were people willing to give money under these circumstances – very few people gave with total detachment and from their inner sense care and the organisation knowingly banked on this. It is a very ugly practice to cold call or coerce for donations in any way but I love the fact that you have pointed out Eunice, that we as people are not discerning and only seeing what’s in for us “the feel good” factor or feel obligated ‘ the guilt trip’ which people attach to as well. Thank you for exposing this side of the delusional cycle of charity as we see it and re-defining it with the truth of Love.

     1. Very well said Otto, those whom identify themselves as the ‘givers’ and the ‘charitable’ ones, can often be more dependent on people that they are ‘helping’ than one might think. A small scale example of this is a Mother that does everything for her kids, gives gives, gives and runs around after them, driving them everywhere, paying for everything for them and ‘helping them with every problem they have. Then the kids leave the nest and mother doesn’t know what to do anymore. The ‘Giver” in this example may be the one that needs true charity as she now finds herself completely lost.
        I am not saying that we should not give to those in need but if everything is made up of energy (as Einstein has made clear) then perhaps the quality of giving/energy we give in should be more closely examined in order to determine how beneficial the ‘giving’ actually is?

     2. The mother-child relationship is a great example and can be expanded across all kinds of relationships and arrangements because, in every single case, the dependency is always mutual.

211. Eunice you have exposed the reason for the tension we feel when charities market themselves with adds designed to elicit sympathy and guilt and cold calling so that we have to actively say no to another person, or else comply and sit with the resentment. My elderly mother who lives in a retirement village is besieged by requests from charity, usually accompanied by small gifts or samples to keep or purchase, that reach epidemic proportions prior to end of financial year. These tactics and how I respond is the antithesis to the spontaneity and wholeheartedness felt when responding with ‘caritas’.

212. I was unaware that cold-calling was being done, tactically so, to the older and more vulnerable and sensitive within our communities. This is so incredibly wrong and goes against everything in my very being that knows of true love and care for humanity. It is outrageous that this occurs and outrageous that this is actually in the name of god seeing as though it is attached to some religious organisations. This is no where near the quality of brotherhood that the Jesus worked so hard for and it is no where near the level of love and care that is possible for all of us.

213. Serge Benhayon is the epitomises what true charity is, meeting Serge there is an equality, that says your amazing and glorious just like me, whatever issues one may be facing. To be met in this way is very healing to the core of ones being.

214. Great article. Thank you Eunice for shining a light on the very questionable and unethical activities that many charities practice. Thank you for explaining the true meaning of charity that is devoid of self or any personal gain. You beautifully describe my own experience of Serge Benhayon who serves and gives his time with deep love and service for humanity.

215. ‘If it is not freely given with love, without force, coercion, persuasion, guilt, sympathy, resentment, need, attachment, expectation or investment, then it is not true charity.’
     Eunice this blog exposes not only WHY we choose to give to charities and our motivation behind this but the reason WHY a lot of these charities actually exist in the first place.

216. Out shopping yesterday I was stopped in the mall in an attempt to guilt me into donating for the poor. It’s clear most people are feeling they will be pushed into giving money to a charity they don’t even know will channel the monies where people are in most need, as I saw passers-by giving the widest berth possible to the hawkers. It does feel heavy, sickly, guilt-ridden in my body to be put into a position where it is hard to say no because the donation is not truly of my own free will. And pretty much every charity I know is okay to use this technique. Money is money seems to be their philosophy. Nothing like the College of Universal Medicine Charity, who are happy to wait until someone decides for themselves, no push or pulling, to offer support.

217. Thank you Eunice for bringing great clarity to the subject of charity. True charity really does begin at home with each of us being willing to take responsibility for the quality behind our giving.

218. When I have said “No” to a cold calling charity worker, there is often antagonism or rudeness. There has often been a sense of being bullied. After giving to one charity over the phone they sold my number to a database of other charities who then all began to phone me, sometimes daily. It really felt harassing. Some would start with a spiel that is designed to falsely elevate me because I had donated once before, others used a guilt or sympathy inducing spiel. In all of these calls I always felt imposed on and often manipulated. Great to read your blog Eunice.

219. Eunice, I know what you speak of and have felt this in a lot of our bigger charities for some time now. I have found this very off putting and even more so the denial that it is happening. They believe that because it does not look like a force and the words might now sound forceful, that it is not, but for anyone who is aware of energy and can feel what lay underneath words and actions (the true intent) this is completely untrue. It is companies like these that pray on those of us who choose to remain unaware and silent, and yet at some level we can all feel it and yes it is absolutely without any sense of humanity that our so called charity behave in this way.

220. I stopped giving to charity a long time ago because it never felt like true charity to me. True charity can be lived in every moment where there is no guilt or resentment, simply an openness to be loving to myself and others.

221. In reading this blog I get a sense of my own complacency towards the organised charitable institutions, which have in fact become a massive industry right before my eyes and I never took the time to say something.

222. Eunice I was one of those people who have to multiple charities out of being attached to some of the investment listed. Simply I felt I wasn’t a good person if I wasn’t giving to those less fortunate than myself. This now has completely changed and I know what it feels like to give and be part of true charity. There is an absolute joy in giving to the work of Universal Medicine as I know this supports activities that truly support the people of this world. I also have been on the receiving end of true charity from Serge Benhayon which has been humbling and deeply healing to be gifted with.
     Thank you for writing this blog Eunice as I feel it’s offers much to be explored in way current charities operate and the reasons people feel they need to give to them.

223. I love this piece of writing Eunice exposing the often sneaky and seemingly innocent process that chugs along in the background of society under the radar and under the cloak of goodness yet all along playing on peoples weaknesses and desires to be recognised.
     And it is brave of you to author such a blog that challenges the deeply ingrained illusion of what charity is in its current form today.
     Charities that often seek to help people in seemingly dire situations sometimes miss a very crucial point, that perhaps people need to work through being down and out for themselves (I did, and it was extremely healing) as the suffering that is in their lives is of their own creation that they then need to learn to pick themselves up from to never choose again.
     Who is anyone to stop anyone else from learning that life’s lesson? False charity often interferes with the process of evolution by actually delaying it.

224. Hi Eunice, There is a lot here to consider and feel the distinction between, and you have prompted me to be more discerning of my own motives when next I have the opportunity to be charitable.Thank you.

225. A stunning piece of writing Eunice and very topical. Cold calling for charities has been on the increase in Australia as well, and I have witnessed first hand people feeling under immense pressure as they are literally coerced on the phone with deliberate statements being made about how this money is desperately needed to save lives for those less fortunate etc. There is a clear agenda to feed on people’s guilt and shame if this resides in them.
     Nothing truly charitable about that. There is no love or care whatsoever in those actions. To me it feels rotten to the core.

226. Thank you Eunice for the clarity on the true meaning of charity, I find it amazing to learn the true meaning of words as it opens them up out of the often very limited version that I had assumed them to mean. The word charity seemed to have been placed into my mind as one that represented certain companies, rather than the intent or way that the organisations operate, i.e. with love. It certainly puts a whole new meaning to the word and exposes those who truly are charities and those that do not hold that principle. From my personal experience I would rate Universal Medicine and Serge Benhayon as true charities.

227. Wow! Eunice, this is indeed an amazing blog. I assume GoGen, is a commercial business that gets paid a percentage of what it collects for the Charities and the teacher and callers alike are working for money and not volunteers? I have heard of other charities where they employ someone to collect money for them and pay them a percentage of what they collect, I guess they are the same thing? How the world is changing. An advantage of living on a boat is that have no official address and rarely do I get bothered by telephone marketers. I just have no idea how many people they impose on.

228. This is a great expose on how the world has been misled about what true charity is. Serge Benhayon has completely changed my whole view on what constitutes charity and what can be offered if it is done in truth. It is selfless and forever expanding. It is transparent and all encompassing. In my experience the work being done by the College of Universal Medicine Charity is for everyone to learn and grow and is run and administered with the highest integrity. I now have an understanding of what true charity can offer humanity.

229. This is a very exposing blog of what true charity is. I recently had a gentleman call at my door, it was winter, freezing cold and he proceeded to tell me a story about animals who had been left to die just down the road from me. I didn’t believe the story, there was something not quite right about it all. But what I did sense and asked him about, was how they are trained to get the client to feel sympathy and have a dialogue to follow which will yield greater success for signing people up. This to me at the time felt like doorstep bullying and I could see that those tactics could quite easily have worked on a vulnerable person.

230. Well well said Eunice, true charity is love and love is to let everyone free and give them space. Everything that imposes on others : such as cold-calling, doorknocking, preaching etc. , is not true charity. This is also why people can become so upset when they are unwantingly called or approached, it comes without love and is only for self from self – there is no brotherhood or true service for people in that .. Is that not what the whole “charity” is about?

231. It is so refreshing to read the true meaning of charity. This alone exposes the fact that almost all charities are not charitable at all, especially when we consider the tactics employed by so many of them. A friend that works in a bank once told me that many personal bank accounts are overdrawn by monthly payments to charities. These people often share that they have been bullied into signing up to make these payments on the street. I was horrified to hear this and it made me reconsider the charity donations I was making at the time.

     1. I also feel that the people who try so hard to convince you to donate are being taken advantage of – often they are very young students etc. and it feels like they are under pressure to close the deal at any cost in order to get paid. The charity collectors cop a lot of abuse on the street too – I saw this many times when I worked in Brisbane CBD.

232. When you feel the reasons you list Eunice it goes a long way to explain why most charity does not work and feels so forceful. Being around Serge Benhayon, the love he has for himself and other people is easy to feel. It seems every thing he lives is a form of true charity, as it’s offered for all humanity, without any need from him. Perhaps this explains why The College of Universal Medicine inspired by his work feels so different? Far from cold calling it’s answering the call of humanity with love and warmth that is easy to feel in the way it is run.

233. True charity seems to be a rare thing in todays society, yet something that when coming from a place of ‘I am love as are you’, is a natural extension. on the other hand how cold-calling could ever be sold as charity IS beyond ridiculous. Is it not more honest to simply hold out at hat? Serge Benhayon, his life and work, is the epitome of true charity.

234. Thanks Eunice for giving us the true meaning of the word charity – “eternal love, unconditional love, God’s love, love of all mankind, generous love, Christian love” – having this a true understanding cuts any guilt, sympathy or obligation from donating money or supporting a charitable cause.

235. Thanks Eunice – this is a very timely blog for me as I have found myself getting irritated by the increasing number of cold call phone calls that I am getting from charities at all times of the day, wanting donations. You have made a great list for further reflection on the underlying intent behind donating to charity in whatever form this may take. As I read it I could feel a bit of uneasiness stirring within myself so recognise that there is room for further work for me to do regarding my true intent behind my own forms of charity.

236. “To me, cold-calling people and effectively coercing and forcing them to donate is the absolute antithesis of charity”. I could not agree more Eunice and cold calling on elderly and vulnerable people is the height of dishonesty. In her later years my mother had dementia and she would donate to anyone who came to the front door as she did not understand what she was doing and she felt that it was compulsory. As you say “How far removed have people become from what are ethically and morally acceptable practices?”

237. “If it is not freely given with love, without force, coercion, persuasion, guilt, sympathy, resentment, need, attachment, expectation or investment, then it is not true charity.” When I read this statement I realise how many ‘charities’ would go out of business if this underlay their vision statement and ethos. I would say 99% of charities use some form of guilt, persuasion, sympathy etc.. to run their business. There are many interesting questions that you ask the reader Eunice – reflecting on this I know that I have often given out of guilt, wanting to make myself feel better etc….and it does not come freely and without an agenda. And I know when I have been truly open and giving without any form of self, it does feel completely different and much more free.

238. I’ve noticed more and more ‘charities’ being more imposing on people by having a ‘minimum’ donation, or preferring to set up an automatic payment with your bank. “There is no investment or need for self in true charity, but this isn’t the case with the ones that come knocking on my door.

239. “True Charity is Love Blessing Love”. Exactly Eunice as both charity and love can only be true if there is not an ounce of investment in it. Everything that has an aim, a rule, or looks for a gain is not love.

240. You expose something hidden amongst us, Eunice: the need to be seen as a good person doing good things, and how that need is played upon. No one wants to not be seen as good. No one wants to be seen as uncaring. But our need to be approved of by others is the door through which walks exploitation by those who have an agenda.
     Having worked in charities for the past five or so years I know that they are started with a true intent: correcting an ill within humanity. Righting a wrong. But soon livelihoods and employees come into the picture, and it becomes more complicated. What was once an intention to correct something that was amiss, becomes a reason for the charity to exist and keep on existing. The solution to the problem that was originally identified takes a back seat and the fight against the problem becomes the focus, and in fighting a battle people will sometimes use any means that they can to keep on fighting.

241. I recently heard a radio program where the interviewer was asking questions about the tactics of charities when they send unsolicited mail. They too target the elderly who often feel pressured, obliged, or just plain guilty if they don’t send money. The interviewee was a representative of a charities regulation body when asked how charities can knowingly place this huge pressure on people he defended the practice by saying that they have the legally necessary opt-out boxes on all mailing, however, as pointed out by the interviewer, these are hidden in the small print – invariably missed, so where is the integrity in that.
     I don’t stand in judgement of these practices, more that this is a reflection of where we are at in society with regard to charity. And I don’t mean society as this big faceless mass of people, I mean where we are at as individuals within that. These charities are doing no more or less than most of us do when asked or motivated to acts of charity. We put ourselves first (I know I do). Serge Benhayon was the first person I ever met who is a walking, talking example of true charity – completely self-less. He has been quietly causing a revolution bringing true charity to the world. He inspires me every day to live more of who I am so I too can bring this to all I do in true service – true charity.

242. Eunice, your sharing on what charities are doing is very revealing. The word charity plays on us at many levels as you have described and I have been party to many of them. To be able to give absolutely from self is huge and something I need to feel into. Thank you for bringing this to my and the world’s attention.

243. Dear Eunice, what an incredible piece of writing. It’s not very often we read something that speaks to us deep inside, but as I read your article I could feel every word as though everything you have written came from deep inside me too. It has made me look at the ways that I hold back giving and sharing freely, when it is all there to be shared. This is what writing Truth can do – make us look at what we might not want to look at, so that we can move on and heal any ill ways, for the good of all.

244. Eunice this is a powerful piece. Thank you for raising the subject and exploring the difference between true and false charity. I work in the elder care sector with people that are extremely vulnerable and find themselves the prey of callous and fraudulent individuals, companies and charities. I have witnessed cold calling and written demands for cash particularly with regard to clients with dementia. I’ve also witnessed in one home the menace of fraudsters using very convincing tactics to impersonate bank and police ‘officials’. When it comes to charities, this my experience with one of my clients. This client received an excessive number of emotionally charged ‘begging’ letters every day. The pressure placed on the client to respond, and the feeling of guilt she experienced when she didn’t, was enormous. Fortunately, this client, had a carer living in situ and supportive and loving family, conversations were had about these abusive intrusions and a decision made to take control. They chose a limited number of preferred charities to support and sent the rest packing. This reduced the number of letters coming to the house. Then there were the cold callers. I witnessed how difficult it was for this client to say No to persistent cold callers and put the phone down. I fielded calls for her, to the disappointment and anger of cold callers insisting I hand the phone over to the house holder. At first this client thought my methods hard and impolite, then saw how effective they were (fewer calls) and now fields calls herself and can say ‘NO’, with a look of amazement each time she does so. This examples shows that the most vulnerable elders are those that live alone, without advocates or supportive family networks, to field calls and take control of the situation. Charities that prey on the elderly and vulnerable are despicable and deserve the public exposure they are now receiving. Legislation to stop these abusive practices is long overdue.

245. Thank you Eunice for bringing clarity to what charity is. Cold calling as such I have never liked it is not very inviting nor is it really about the product or the customer, but always about the money. And even when it comes to charity it looks like that what we have made of it is not true charity anymore but also a somewhat money making undertaking.

246. Charity actually is a very big business and as far as I can follow it here through German press it is quite glamorous and looks like doing something ‘good’. But the points Eunice emphasizes why we want to give money to a certain charity would be very honest to check. I myself can amdit that the pull to do it has come from a feeling of guilt. Not a very charitable attitude. It is a business – at the end you get something for your money.

247. I find it shocking to read that so called ‘charities’ are actually imposing and manipulating people that might need an little (or a lot) more extra care. To me it’s no so much that the cold calling is such a bad thing, but the way it’s done. With the sole purpose to get as much money as possible. The respect and care aren’t there. Too me this is absurd. How great is it that this is exposed. If charities are getting less money that they might have gotten in the past, they are offered a reflection about themselves. People do want to invest money or energy (which is the same, money is energy put into action) but only if they feel that it is serving in any way. Irrespectful if this is serving their personal need or a global need, it’s always up to each and every individual. We’re way lost as a society that we treat our vulnerable brothers and sisters this way. For me personal, this is also a reflection for me, how I’ve never wanted to see the Truth and if I saw it, how I did not chose to speak up, express how I Truly felt about things like this. It’s time to stop, reconsider and get back to our senses! Literally. Start feeling again.

248. The feeling that is often felt on the phone when receiving one of these calls is guilt when we feel that it is not true to pay a donation. It is almost like the expression of our truth, what we truly feel inside about the call is made to feel less in the face of ‘charity’ and the reality of many that the charities support. But I know that many of these charities are actually corrupt and they are not willing to admit it.

249. There is an energy of force behind every cold call even if no forceful tactics are used. A voice can be so sweet and gentle but still carry the unspoken energy of ‘hand over your money’.

250. I had the same privilege as you, Eunice, to learn about and see first hand true charity at work through the living example of Serge Benhayon. The never ending amount of love he offers to all people, to every single person he meets is not found anywhere else in this world. He is the personification of true charity and because of his example I can be love giving love back.

251. Hi Eunice this is such a great topic to discuss – I have witnessed so many people who live without care and responsibility in many areas of their lives and then feel that they are being a good person or somehow that this doesn’t count because they give money or donate their time – everything we do matters and has an impact on all around us.

252. Wow, this is what I call a powerful blog. True charity is to be freely given to all mankind that they too may know who they are, which is just like all of us, pure and divine love. Thank you Eunice for exposing charity, a false form of charity that is, which is purely based on self, investments and money. The only true form of charity that I know off is what comes from Serge Benhayon and Universal Medicine.

253. I recall some years ago subscribing to a charity because I though it would tick a box and make me a good person because I am helping others. There was no attachment after I signed up, the money came out every month and life went on. Besides a few brochure updates of what the organization was doing, I had no idea about who they really were, where the money actually went and how much of it went on to the projects that I subscribed to. I came to my senses and cancelled my subscription. Your blog Eunice got me to feel deeper into the charities and the whole money taking and making set up. The helping of others is often a facade to make money. All the money that has been donated over the decades and the world and its people are still struggling, nothing has changed. It is great that this is starting to be exposed for what it is. Nothing charitable in it at all.

254. My experience is as you have described it Eunice, and more. The workers can be quite intimidating and misleading in their questions in order to get what they require. It makes no sense to me how people are being paid a wage or commission to coerce vulnerable members in our communities into donating. The questions you have listed in order for us to check in with regards to the energy in which we give are very thought provoking. As you have said – ‘ True charity is Love blessing Love’.

255. Charity has become one of the bastardised words in our modern times. It has become associated with doing good and feeling better about ourselves as we have at least done something about the awful plight we are in. But this is a far cry from the unconditional love it was intended to be, giving without an ounce of self. This is something that I have unfailingly observed in Serge Benhayon and Universal Medicine.

256. I have been pretty uncharitable myself when I get people representing charities cold calling me in the privacy of my own home, it always feels like a massive imposition and very far from what true charity is. I feel as human beings we can carry a lot of ‘stuff’ about charity, it’s a loaded word, therefore it’s enlightening to read your clear and exposing blog Eunice. Like you I can identify the two different streams within me, an open-hearted giving with nothing in it for me, and times when I have done something because I feel I ought to because it’s the ‘right’ thing to do. No more, ‘caritas’ begins at home.

     1. It certainly is loaded with our guilt and take this away from me for most of us when giving to charity. I love reading Eunice’s account and the latin meaning which is utterly beautiful.

     2. I can relate to this too Josephine, it does always feel like a massive imposition, a coercion and nobody likes to be coerced. I love how Eunice Minford has laid out very clearly the ways charity has been interpreted to be and the way it truly is, back to its original meaning.
        It is true, there is a very different feeling to giving for the many reasons we think we should, and giving with an open heartedness that just knows it is the thing to do.

257. The College of Universal Medicine really is a charitable institution, where people are not doing things out of guilt, or wanting to be good.. but simply living the truth of who they are and sharing their tools to live their amazingness in this world. These people have been inspired by Serge Benhayon who has shown more than immense dedication to supporting others to know they too are amazing.

258. What a post! I am blown away by what has been revealed here. At one point in my life I donated to charities because I felt that I had to try and fix what was wrong with the world but now I look back and see that I was actually avoiding responsibility for my own choices hoping that ‘throwing some cash’ at something would make a difference. I later found out that one of the charities I supported was completely fraudulent.

     Serge Benhayon is a true inspiration when it comes to love and charity and he has inspired my to embrace responsibility.

259. I found what that you listed here Eunice very interesting – very often we don’t think about our intentions when we donate to charity, in some form we think it must be automatically ‘good’, but even this question: “do we feel better about ourselves for having given to a charity?”, shows that even with the best intentions if it comes back to it being about ourselves, it is not true charity.

260. I worked with an elderly couple who had these ‘cold calls’ all of the time and would be on the phone trying to say no for some time before finally hanging up feeling guilty that they didn’t have enough money to give. It is a crooked system indeed Eunice. The College of Universal Medicine and Serge Benhayon have made it very clear they will accept no donation that does not come with ease and freedom from the person giving it, it is not asked for, more given by those who see and support the incredible work being done with the community by this man and this charity.

261. Awesome article Eunice, thank you for exposing so clearly, just how imposing it is when charities come knocking on our doors. When I open the door to find someone wearing an identity badge and carrying a clipboard I feel myself contract and harden as if I have to justify why I am not going to donate to their charity. How wonderful to instead meet them with the simple truth of what they are doing and explain how that is simply not charity.

262. As always Eunice, straight to the point with great clarity. Serge Benhayon has inspired deeply and shown me how to ‘get myself out of the way’ of the old structures of ‘what is in it for me’ and my life and all I interact with from Love equally so has enriched my life beyond measure. Your closing sentence says it all –
     “True Charity is Love Blessing Love”.

263. All very true Eunice. From my observation, a lot of people who raise money for charity or donate have in some shape or form, their own hidden agenda. In middle school I remember the teachers saying things like, ‘whoever raises the most money for ……. will be featured in the newspaper!’, or ‘we’ll give a prize to whoever has the highest sponsorship’. Sadly I believe this behaviour plays out with adults too; giving to charity comes with the label ‘a good samaritan’, and often that is what a lot of people want next to their name.

     1. Ah yes – the ‘badge of honour’… I almost forgot that in school they used to literally give out badges to those who had raised certain amounts of money.. It was something like a bronze badge for £15, silver for £30 and gold for over £50 or 60. Kids then got to wear those badges on their uniform, and others sometimes tried to steal them from them because they wanted the shiny ‘good pupil’ badge for themselves.

264. Eunice thanks for sharing ,I am so sick of getting calls that I think are from customers whilst running my busy small business only to find out its charity cold calling me for donations. After being caught out and obliging before it gets worse they keep calling raffles to raise money etc , I was only feeling today when I politely said no thank you to another time wasting call that I must speak up next time and ask not be called again due to it being a huge imposing thing ,quite rude in fact to asked for money and so regularly .
     I also agree I have never seen someone give as much as Serge Benhayon gives to the many many people who ask for his help, in Australia , Asia and Europe and so patient, present, it’s truly amazing to witness.

     1. I agree Greg jordan – the initial polite call or request by letter, becomes a torrent of further calls for more, more, more…and the expectation is there to keep digging deeper into your pockets to do so and then the next stage of selling raffle tickets on their behalf, or at least hooking you in to buy them for yourself and ‘win’ some prize. Any charity letters requesting donations I now cross through my address and ‘return to sender’. This has stemmed the tide somewhat.
        “After being caught out and obliging before it gets worse they keep calling raffles to raise money”

265. The word caritas holds all as you have stated Serge Benhayon does, I have experienced this true charity and am blessed for knowing him and feeling his immense care and love for all humanity.

266. Over the course of my life I have given to charities because of many of the reasons you list above Eunice and let’s not leave out the giving to a charity because it provides a tax benefit. The list is endless. This was really good to read and feel how I have contributed to charity.

267. Cold-calling to coerce donations has always seemed like the antithesis of charity to me. The College of Universal Medicine charity on the other hand offers by way of sharing affordable volunteer manned adult education programs and more, is what true charity is – without any agenda.

268. I know there are a lot of charities out there that operate on those things Eunice. Charities are driven by sympathy, and trying to do ‘good’. and cold calling is just the antithesis of everything that is truly charitable you said it yourself. It feels horrible to be called and asked to donate to a cause. There is a lot out there to make us feel ‘bad’ if we don’t donate or less because we keep our money to ourselves but this is rubbish. Not everyone is in a financial position to donate to charities.

269. Great article, Eunice, exposing the corruption that sits behind the title of ‘doing good’. Your words “if it is not given freely with love… then it is not true charity” ring so true.

270. I know that feeling of being rounded up on the phone, or as is very common now in Sydney, on the street by a person spruiking for a charity. Even today I will sometimes feel the guilts, although I am well equipped to say “no”. A lot of the people who do this work really know how to generate guilt and pity – neither of which have anything to do with love. How do people who are not so strong in will cope? Many I am sure say “yes” as I used to, just to be left alone. Then the resentment creeps in.. not money given freely and zero love of mankind.
     College of Universal Medicine is so very different. The courses it offers are life changing, given by those who donate their time and care to ensure that others can benefit from the teachings they have received. Inspired by Serge Benhayon, the man who has mastered true charity.

271. I recently saw an organisation donate to a charity because they wanted to be seen as doing something for the community. The organisation then dictated to the charity all of these conditions that they would like met so that it would reflect well on their annual report, they wanted to say they helped x% of people find employment etc.
     What was interesting to watch was then the charity ‘selected’ candidates who would best meet the outcomes set so that they could get ongoing funding. It was no longer about what the needs of the community were and how these could best be supported but it was all about- which clients could make them look like they were a successful service provider so that they could receive more funds to do more of the same.
     It was all just self-serving and never genuinely about people and supporting people.

272. Great summary line Eunice “True Charity is Love Blessing Love.” This is the epitome of what Serge Benhayon lives and reflects and all that the College of Universal Medicine represents and inspires in others.. True charity, true love… and in this, true charity that offers no less than love for all…

273. This is such a intrenched culture, globally.

     I experience this sort of hard hitting fund raising frequency at my place of work. They come up to you expecting you to donate, as when I observe everyone around me is donating. I think most of the people don’t really know what they are donating to but do it from the pressure exerted upon to them and the personal investment of being seen to do the charitable deed.

     I frequency decline to donate simply because I don’t know enough about the charity, but to my surprise recently when I said no I would not like to donate the man became very cross, even a bit angry. His tone became harsh and stated some reason why I should donate and walked off.

     1. This is a very good point Kelly, until charity has no personal gain in it what so ever it will never be true charity.

     2. Hi Karin I also feel a lot of people experience of tension to ‘give’. What spell are we under when even the cheapest cheap skate may even be convinced to share a few pennies.True charity is giving or receiving whiteout any push or need for anyone. The call is simply felt by those who can support.

     3. It is definitely about sticking to your guns to what you can feel is right, wrong and true and not true.

     4. There is one every week at my work. That is a great point Lindellparlour, what about the individual donating?

        Can they actually afford it?
        These are the question that are rarely asked by the person asking for a donation. It is a very delicate subject because most people have an issue with money to begin with.

     5. Well said Karin. It’s feels so evil and wrong that these acts go on and are allowed. . We have been tricked in a big way!! Just goes to show having the will to know truth will bring an understanding to undoing all that is not truth. Universal Medicine has brought me this understanding.

     6. I have occasionally experienced this at my front door Luke Yokota. When the person cold calling has started to put some subtle pressure on, becoming more insistent and then obnoxious when saying ‘no thank you’ to them. It can feel quite threatening, rather like someone attempting to hijack you at your own home.

274. As with all things in life we can find ourselves being presented with a true way of being or find ourselves witnessing ‘boiler room tactics’ for self gain. Cold calling is void of love and is only concerned with self gain and shows a total disregard to the people it targets. Contrast these tactics to the truly loving and supportive College of Universal Medicine Charity. It doesn’t have an ounce of self in it and is all encompassing of everyone and everything. The two are starkly different and this we can all feel. It’s great to see the laws are being looked at to stop the conniving and desperate cold calling ways to raise money. There is always another way, a way to do things with love. Universal Medicine has lead the loving way and has shown us through its own loving and successful charity that when anything is done with the seed of love for all of humanity, amazing transformations and stories unfold. I love how you wrote, ‘we do what we do and give what we give with, from and for love’. Beautiful.

     1. The College of Universal Medicine is leading the way in what true charity is.

275. I am truly shocked that their is such a thing as “cold calling”. I knew something like this must happen as my nanna got quite a high number of calls of people seeking donations. It is very disturbing that we just not engage in such practises but that we actually have a term for it and are refining the process to become more “successful”.

     1. Yes, yet it is something that we have created within this era. This just goes to show humanity is slowly devolving away from love and integrity. We see the past ways of societies’ ways of life as barbaric and loveless yet the ways we operate today as a society is just as, if not more, barbaric than the past. The only difference is the way we operated in the past was quite open, where as today we are more underhanded in how we go about things, this suggest we are also devolving when it comes to honesty.

276. Charity is a business. A tough one. The constant pressure to raise money has a strong influence on all other activities for each charity and, as they are dealing with ‘free’ money, there is a temptation to treat it as such.
     In addition, a lot of money is given from guilt and the money comes with that energy, making it hard to deal with, it is not earned, making it again hard to handle.

     Charity is a tough business. What’s love got to do with it, with it…

     1. Well said Christophschnelle, charity is a business and it is a tough one. Pushing to make money using the cause as ransom. I feel what you say about guilt is also very true, the majority of the money given to charities comes from guilt. Guilt and sympathy. It is great that Eunice has started this conversation and perhaps it will offer us another way to see and approach charity in the future.

     2. Yes Christophschnelle thank you for exposing this. When money is NOT earned it is often not handled with the same respect and clarity that money that IS earned is handled.

     3. I appreciate your comments here Christoph – tuneful point made so well –
        caritas – eternal love – generous love – etc – whereas charity today has become a tough business offering jobs to struggling people who end up compromising their own integrity to earn money.

     4. Charity certainly is a business – I know of a ‘non for profit’ business and although it is not about fundraising it is about sales – much needed sales to keep the whole thing desperately afloat – why? simply to preserve the jobs of those people invested. It is very ugly and there certainly is no true community service on offer.

     5. I agree Christophschnelle, because it is ‘free’ money and not well earned, responsibility with how it will used is not there. Adding guilt to this as well, this money then comes loaded! What true support will this actually provide?

        1. I agree Rik, and it would be normal for those in the charities to react – either by loading themselves up with guilt and trying to move impossible mountains or by reacting and completely behaving without respect towards the source of the money and the money itself.

277. That ‘there is no rushing to get away, no flicker of resentment or frustration’ from Serge, despite him having such a visibly super-full life is inspiring.

278. Well said, Eunice.

279. “True charity is love blessing love” – I love how you have couched this Eunice as it totally imparts the fact that we are all equal – none of us lesser or more than another. This empowers us to view one another as love first leaving it impossible to go into emotions around someone who has held themselves above or less than they truly are. On another note, I remember a number of years ago a colleague of mine telling me how she volunteered at her church each weekend as they provided basic literacy and numeracy courses for those that needed it. When I responded positively at the same time I could feel what was coming next. She flinched a little and communicated that the only reason why the church did this was to try and get converts – I have to say I rather felt disgusted at the corruption of what I felt true charity to be – in this case the not so hidden agenda that is as the heart of this so called giving . You have summed it up beautifully here Eunice and to have first hand experience of what true charity is and can be, through the living example of Serge Benhayon, is a blessing I am very much appreciative of.

     1. Well said michelle819 – “This empowers us to view one another as love first leaving it impossible to go into emotions around someone who has held themselves above or less than who they truly are”. The power and awareness of love – emotional behavior does not truly support charity but feeds the ‘lesser life’. Charities need to define themselves first and foremost through what love is not emotion.

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