What is the generosity of the soul?

The human soul is immeasurable and full of beautiful qualities and depths. We meet in life different people by character, opinion and behavioral factors. There are a number of human qualities, so-called from God. Generosity is one of them. And then it becomes interesting, what is generosity?

Concept definition

It is difficult to answer the question of what generosity is in two words. The concept is extensible and supplemented by more and more new examples that expand the meaning of this word. But first of all, this is a positive quality, one might say, good. So, let's answer more specifically the question of what generosity is. This is the property of a person to bestow love, attention, material goods, to share in need with his neighbor, without demanding anything in return.

The generosity of the soul is a sign of a person's deep morality, good nature and manifestation of kindness on an unlimited scale and quantity, with the exception of expectations of a reverse action. Have you met generous people? If yes, then you probably noticed how warm it comes from them, what pleasure you get from minimal communication with a generous person. Agree that they are worthy of maximum respect and deserve gratitude. It is not for nothing that a generous person is referred to as a generous person.

Significance in society

Our society has a fairly complex apparatus of governance and relationships. But even among everyday selfish relationships there is charity, which is also attributed to human generosity. In fact, in the life of every person there are situations that he himself is not able to cope with. And then family and friends come to the rescue. But, alas, experience shows that just help from loved ones is due to the expectation of reciprocal actions, at least constant gratitude. Another course of events is not excluded, when a person from a pure heart, wishing good, gives part of his time or money. In the first case, contributions to charitable foundations are closest to the concept of "generosity".

The second example is also a manifestation of generosity. The presence of generous people in society is very important. They are like keys to God. Imagine: the society is full of stingy and selfish people. Will it welcome the help of the whole world to a crippled person in acquiring the necessary medicines or means of transportation? The answer is obvious, because this society will not get anything from this good cause, which is especially important for people with disabilities. Such a person will be left alone with his suffering and helplessness, and it is not known how much longer he will live. And on the cowardly, stingy, well, or simply indifferent (which is no less bad), this will affect in its own way. Therefore, the existence of generosity in the hearts of members of society is important.

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Misunderstandings in the concept

Very often, generosity includes mutual assistance and donations. Most often, donations are made to atone for one's sins, so these concepts are not comparable, because there is also a benefit here. Know that true unprecedented generosity is the gold mine of the soul, which is not exhausted in its deeds. Do not think that if you have given everything, you will remain a beggar. Yes, perhaps financially, but not spiritually. Spiritual reserves are replenished with each generous act. A person rich in soul does not need a lot of money. And this means that a generous soul is famous not only for bestowal, but also for low consumption.

Generosity is the voice of kindness

It is difficult to judge what generosity is and fully reveal the essence of this concept. But it is quite clear that this is a beautiful feature and an inexhaustible source of goodness, the presence of God in us. The word itself is different languages, which speaks of the centuries-old existence of this quality in people. Develop your spiritual potential and be generous!

Immeasurable and full of beautiful qualities and depths. In life we ​​meet different people in character, opinion and behavioral factors. There are a number of human qualities, so-called from God. Generosity is one of them. And then it becomes interesting, what is generosity?

Concept definition

It is difficult to answer the question of what generosity is in two words. extensible and supplemented by more and more new examples that expand the meaning of this word. But first of all, it can be said, good. So, let's answer more specifically the question of what generosity is. This is the property of a person to bestow love, attention, material goods, to share in need with his neighbor, without demanding anything in return.

The generosity of the soul is a sign of a person's deep morality, good nature and manifestation of kindness on an unlimited scale and quantity, with the exception of expectations of a reverse action. Have you met generous people? If yes, then you probably noticed how warm it comes from them, what pleasure you get from minimal communication with a generous person. Agree that they are worthy of maximum respect and deserve gratitude. It is not for nothing that a generous person is referred to as a generous person.

Significance in society

Our society has a fairly complex apparatus of governance and relationships. But even among everyday selfish relationships there is charity, which is also attributed to human generosity. In fact, in the life of every person there are situations that he himself is not able to cope with. And then family and friends come to the rescue. But, alas, experience shows that just help from loved ones is due to the expectation of reciprocal actions, at least constant gratitude. Another course of events is not excluded, when a person from a pure heart, wishing good, gives part of his time or money. In the first case, contributions to charitable foundations are closest to the concept of "generosity".

The second example is also a manifestation of generosity. The presence of generous people in society is very important. They are like keys to God. Imagine: the society is full of stingy and selfish people. Will it welcome the help of the whole world to a crippled person in acquiring the necessary medicines or means of transportation? The answer is obvious, because this society will not get anything from this good cause, which is especially important for people with disabilities. Such a person will be left alone with his suffering and helplessness, and it is not known how much longer he will live. And on the cowardly, stingy, well, or simply indifferent (which is no less bad), this will affect in its own way. Therefore, the existence of generosity in the hearts of members of society is important.

Misunderstandings in the concept

Very often, generosity includes mutual assistance and donations. Most often, donations are made to atone for one's sins, so these concepts are not comparable, because there is also a benefit here. Know that true unprecedented generosity is the gold mine of the soul, which is not exhausted in its deeds. Do not think that if you have given everything, you will remain a beggar. Yes, perhaps financially, but not spiritually. Spiritual reserves are replenished with each generous act. A person rich in soul does not need a lot of money. And this means that a generous soul is famous not only for bestowal, but also for low consumption.

Generosity is the voice of kindness

It is difficult to judge what generosity is and fully reveal the essence of this concept. But it is quite clear that this is a wonderful feature and goodness, the presence of God in us. The word itself is in different languages, which indicates the centuries-old existence of this quality in people. Develop your spiritual potential and be generous!

I continue to conduct small lessons in psychological educational program “a la family therapist”.

The value of these words of mine lies in the fact that you can get acquainted with them (and accept or not accept them into service) completely free of charge.

Well, a paid trip to a psychologist (with your family problems) will end up with the fact that these simple truths will be sold to you for quite impressive money.

What can you do to bring peace to your relationship with your partner (and in your soul)?

It's very simple - we need to learn how to manifest generosity of soul.

The generosity of the soul is when you say to yourself: “Okay, it won’t hurt me if he continues to do these stupid things. There's no way he can "shame" me. Because I don’t have that low self-esteem!”

It happens that we want to dress our partner in our own way, change his manner of laughing or holding hands, pronouncing certain words, and it happens that we aim at more fundamental things - prejudices, beliefs, tastes ...

Unless, of course, your partner is a fascist, and you can’t stand fascists, well then think about it: how did it happen that you ended up nearby at all? And now what to do with it?

But if we are talking about smaller "shortcomings", then psychologists advise to stop playing the role of Malvina and just leave the person alone.

This is aerobatics in relationships and this is the highest wisdom in life.

If you are shy...

Here is an exercise.

Get up in full height, put gum in your mouth, imagine yourself a “godfather” talking to a “six” at the entrance to an elite nightclub and say the phrase: “Yes, this man is me. There is a problem?". Practice until you get "what you need."

But unfortunately, many girls and women like the “purple-haired sissy” archetype so much that they are looking for a man just to have someone to “educate” at their leisure.

And there's a sadder one...

Often, “re-education” has a completely mean underlying reason ... Many of us need a partner only to somehow establish ourselves in society due to his real or imaginary “coolness”, external image. We sometimes have such low self-esteem, we are SO unsure of ourselves that we are afraid - as if not to be compromised next to a person wearing “the wrong hat” or laughing at “the wrong jokes” ...

Such cowardice is the saddest thing I know about people...

The generosity of the soul is the ability to accept a loved one (I would like to say - any) of the whole person.

Remember how the Pharisees, who were not generous in soul, were surprised at Jesus of Nazareth - why does he spend time with tax collectors and harlots? This same so discredits his in the eyes of society! He, who interprets the laws and the Scriptures, hasn't he really found a more decent company for himself?!

But if you know firmly your great genealogy (you are the son of the Almighty), then does this concern you?

As Professor Higgins (paradoxical and mocker) said: “I talk to any flower girl like a duchess. And with any duchess, as with a flower girl!

How to develop generosity of soul? How to properly communicate with a loved one so that peace comes in the soul, and in family relationships- harmony.

There are some simple rules that are called “acceptance rules”. Here they are:

1. Don't try to "perfect" it.
2. Do not set him as an example of other men.
3. Give him the freedom to be himself, slowly and independently, at his own pace and manner, to move towards a more adequate choice.
4. Accept not only its advantages, but also weaknesses.
5. Get rid of the attitude “I know better!”
6. Remember to express your acceptance – verbally and do it often.
7. Let him follow his convictions.
8. Let him set his goals.
9. Let him get involved in what he likes.
10. Finally... Just look at him positive sides and know how to find them, if you look at its shortcomings, it is unbearable for you.

A few words to mothers raising boys.

As soon as a child ceases to be a silly child and determines his gender, he is already a Man. Small but man.

And then, when this moment has come, all of the above rules become obligatory in the relationship between mother and son.

From now on, only and exclusively OTHER MEN have the right to teach and instruct your son. But not you, not his grandmother, not his teacher and not his sister.
Your task now comes down only to trying to find for your son such a social circle in which there will be a lot of various OTHER MEN who are ready to teach him and all these men will be adequate - by your own standards.

Semyonova N.V.

Department of Russian Studies

The generosity of the broad Russian soul

Keywords:language, linguistic and cultural analysis, Russian linguistic consciousness, cultural constant, generosity, breadth, Russian character.

Annotation:The article attempts a linguocultural analysis of the most important constant of Russian culture - "generosity". In comparison with the related concept "breadth", the key idea for the Russian language picture of the world is "broad Russian generosity" according to the "National Corpus of the Russian Language".

An unprecedented case of the generosity of the "broad Russian soul" occurred the other day in the Italian town of Cinquale in the province of Tuscany. There, a company of Russians of four people left a tip in the amount of 4.2 thousand euros to a restaurant waiter, reports citing the Italian press.(), which seems to be quite revealing. After all, Korpus is an electronic resource for linguists, it is primarily aimed at a linguistic, rather than politically engaged audience, and therefore, we can use its data for our linguistic and cultural analysis without any bias. All examples below are taken from the above electronic resource.

"Corpus" gives us the most interesting contexts for the query for the words "broad" and "breadth". wide in the semantic projection that interests us, in the Russian language picture of the world can be: character, person, gesture; can lead a life on a grand scale(or hand) and put things on a grand scale. Wed: lived Emil Teodorovich on thewide leg. All the money, and he earned a lot, spent it easily: he sewed clothes from the most expensive tailors, dined in the most luxurious restaurants, and always occupied suites in hotels. And therefore, sometimes two or three days before payday, he found himself without money.(Yuri Nikulin. Life on wheels (1979)) ; The count, from the day the club was founded, was its member and foreman. He was entrusted from the club with organizing a celebration for Bagration, because rarely anyone knew how to wide hand, it is hospitable to arrange a feast, especially because rarely anyone knew how and wanted to invest their money if they were needed to arrange a feast(L. N. Tolstoy. War and Peace. Volume Two (1867-1869)) . Sustainable combinations wide leg/arm- quite common phenomena in the Russian language and the qualities described by them are not always applicable only to a person. Russia itself is often associated with such qualities, which in this case are already assessed as sharply negative, cf.: Exceptsuch a typical problem for Russia as underfunding, our water supply also has other national characteristics. For example, the use of drinking water in the household. This is a kind of Russian paradox. Throughout the rest of the civilized world, there is technical and drinking water, which differs in both quality and price. Russialives in grand style and does not mix with water. Saving water is also not in our honor, we pour drinking water how much in vain and in the toilets, and in the baths, and in the gardens(Elena Nalimova. City without water (2003) // Rich (Saratov), ​​2003.10.02)).

However, as evidenced by Korpus's data, combinations with "breadth" and "wide" are more frequent, including the word soul. In this case, "breadth" is considered solely as a positive property and ability of a Russian person: broad soul, broad soul man, breadth of soul. For example: NotI will forget, for example, even such an incident on one of the first days of my visit to the Institute in 1942. The party history teacher Slava Vladimirovna Shchirina, having asked if I had ration cards and where I eat (oh, at that time it was the most important question!), and having learned about my disorder, immediately took out a white loaf from the office cupboard and cut off half . It is unlikely that anyone will understand now, especially among the young, what an act it was, what generosity, whichbreadth of soul! (Viktor Rozov. Surprise before life (1960-2000)). It turns out that very often in this context latitude adjacent to generosity as in the previous example and in the following: There isgreat works of art that embody the best national features of their people, carry the ideas of high humanism and nationality, keep up with his mind, wealth, latitudeand generosity of soul. Such works in the genre of opera in Russian musical art rightfully include the masterpiece of M. Glinka - his first opera "Ivan Susanin"(Mark Ermler. To the resumption of the performance (1985)); ProseF. Abramova contained a lot. It is also about our roots, origins, faith, hope, and, of course, about love - real, sacrificial, all-conquering; about “brothers and sisters”, about amazing Russian women, their simplicity, wisdom, generositysouls and greatness(“Lambushka” – IV International Theater Festival of Chamber Theaters (2003) // “Theatrical Life”, 2003.05.26)).

However, not only in the context broad soul we are meeting generosity."The National Corpus of the Russian Language" gives examples of stable conjugation generosity in the textual space with all possible semantic variations on the theme Russian latitude, cf. For example: Everyonewhoever needed his patronage did not refuse it; if someone helped, then didThis broad hand and was generally generous. Everything was grandiose with him: both the house in St. Petersburg, and the reception of Empress Elisaveta Alekseevna in the Moscow region, Ilyinsky, and his St. Petersburg evenings, which some members of the imperial family honored with their presence(I. I. Lazhechnikov. Several notes and memoirs on the article “Materials for the biography of A.P. Yermolov” (1864)); Butan hour before the opening, with the skill of Fedorovsky and his sorcery, everything in an incomprehensible way fell into place! Each of his visits to Moscow turned for us - regardless of the time of year - into a Christmas holiday. We correlated Nathan with Santa Claus, because he invariably appeared with a bag of gifts that Galya loaded him with. Latitude, generosity, recklessness were organic for him, and German prudence did not stick to him. Do not count the people who found themselves in a foreign land, whom Nathan helped in a difficult time for them ... (Vasily Katanyan. Touching the idols (1998))

Note that for Russian culture generosity is no less important than latitude. The Russian people themselves are quite clearly aware of their tendency to generous behavior and consider it their traditional feature. In this regard, it suffices to mention already well-established expressions, such as generous soul(cf. the famous Nestle brand: Russia is a generous soul!), give smth. generous hand, generous heart etc. A person who can be named in Russian society generous, is the one who willing to spend on others, not stingy (Ozhegov, 1982), i.e. a person who easily and freely gives all or part of his property to another, and therefore is most often associated with the giver of gifts. predisposition to generosity as the ability to give gifts steadily reflects the ordinary Russian consciousness. Yes, exactly from generosity in the 19th century, gift giving was accepted. New Year's Eve was called generous or generous (Vasiliev) evening(Dal 1989). There was even a special verb be generous, which meant “to go to Vasilyev’s evening (New Year’s Eve) with gangs at home, with songs, congratulating, wishing every good, and collecting handouts for this, more edible; that on Christmas Eve; caroling, and caroling songs were also called generous. The same ones who generous, called generous».

V. Dahl, defining the meaning of the word generous, wrote that it is primarily merciful, merciful for help, for gifts, for the distribution of alms, allowances(Dal 1989). It should be noted that the charitable activities of Russian merchants, known even outside of Russia, have become entrenched in the Russian language in the phrase merchant generosity. And Vladimir Solovyov described generosity as a feature inherent in the Russian person since the beginning: “ Generosity similar in appearance to generosity and disinterestedness , but has another internal basis- altruistic. A virtuous-generous person is one who, out of justice or philanthropy, shares his property with others (for since he does this out of vanity or arrogance, there is no virtue here). But at the same time, such a person may even be attached to the property that he distributes to the point of avarice, and in this case he cannot, strictly speaking, be called disinterested; it should only be said that in it the altruistic virtue of generosity overcomes the vice of greed” (V. S. Solovyov. Justification of the good (1894-1899)).

So we can rightly say that generosity fixed in the Russian mind in the form of a special mental unit - a special cultural constant, which is directly correlated with breadth, mercy and generosity. Culturologists, however, supplement this "conceptual series" and say that generosity also associated with religiosity, catholicity and responsiveness. At the same time, the most important is the close connection with the related concept mercy, since it clearly indicates the observance of the commandment “love your neighbor as yourself”, sacredly revered in Orthodoxy, which permeates the entire Russian culture. Orthodox Russian human generosity perceived solely as the highest form of mercy, love for one's neighbor(Dovlets, 2008).

An analysis of the data provided to the researcher of the Russian language picture by the National Corpus of the Russian Language makes it possible to supplement the above characteristics.

So, according to the Russians, generosity, certainly is human trait, not a trait.

At the same time, it is often considered as a property of a person who has his own "geography". Wed typical compatibility of the word "generosity" with such definitions as eastern,Caucasian, northern, southern. For example: The appearance of the head trucks caused great excitement among the yearning base personnel. But Timur Bagratovich withCaucasian generosity ceded the right of the first truck to us(Mikhail Tarasenko, Igor Martynov. Cabbage of our youth (1997) // "Capital", 1997.10.13); Heled Baklakov into the pantry. Colored wadded blankets, folding beds, stoves, teapots were scattered in the pantry. - Bery! - withEastern generosity said the man and closed his eyes, demonstrating the highest degree trust(Oleg Kuvaev. Territory (1970-1975). Russian generosity: As far as we know, the coachman is not a fool to drink. treat him with Russian generosity, and he won't be able to hold the reins(Boris Vasiliev. There were and were not. Book 1 (1988)), as well as combinations in Russian generously:to meI liked Sholokhov's unusual simplicity in getting around, the natural and simple performance of the duties of a hospitable host, confident conducting the conversation. The table was onRussian generously littered with food, and everything is so tasty that I have not eaten such a pig, or cucumbers, or fish, or jelly for a long time(Vladimir Chivilikhin. “My dream is to become a writer”, from the diaries of 1941-1974 (2002) // “Our Contemporary”, 2002.06.15)). As you can see, a Russian person prefers to attribute the property be generous predominantly eastern - in the geographical sense - people. Only a few examples represent a different “geography”: for example, “Korpus” never gave an example of compatibility with a lexeme western, but nationally identified manifestations the generosity of the Flemish and Dutch: Onethe humiliating incident stuck particularly tenaciously in my memory. It is associated with the Dynamo skating rink, already mentioned above. By some miracle, his silver dish fit into the thicket of the built-up-rebuilt center of Moscow. Here the house climbs on the house, you will not find a free spot: a rabbitry is built between the garbage heap and the garage, next to it the shoe shiner hung pasta of laces and stinked with a sweet shoe polish stink, a caper nested in some niche, and an electric welder, the owner of a blinding spark, sheds, presses on him, substations, all kinds of workshops crowd each other, pushing each other with elbows, and suddenly the city parted and withDutch generosity grants its citizens a clear expanse of ice.(Yuri Nagibin. Darkness at the end of the tunnel (1994)). On the whole, the Russian person does not ascribe the property of being generous to the West. If the "National Corpus" gives out contexts with Western "marking", then only when it shows irony, for example: Wewe can get access to Central Asia. Not to Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova, not to the Caucasus - in a word, not in the CIS, which Chubais swung with his "liberal imperialism", and even more so not in the Baltic states - no one will let us in politically, here the USA and Europe, despite all their differences will be united. But to Central Asia - please ”(“ Tomorrow ”, No. 42, 2003). I think Delyagin overestimates generosity West. In Central Asia, as elsewhere in the post-Soviet space, Russia faces stiff competition. The tidbits of property are snapped up by foreigners. The most promising economy of the region, the Kazakh one, was bought up(Alexander Kazintsev. Philip's Way (2004) // Our Contemporary, 2004.06.15).

Russian generosity has broad spatial parameters. She may be endless, boundless, boundless compare: Heresuch was the work we had with him. But always the work itself was much less than communication. He squandered it with endless generosity (Alexey Vulfov. Now only remember (2003) // "Our Contemporary", 2003.12.1)) . But at the same time, a Russian person believes that it "still must have boundaries", because if it does not "have limits", then it happens dangerous: Fewthe fact that Johann himself refused to participate in the military operation - he demanded that Zubov free from her and the Pole Yaroslav Chizhevsky, whom he simply adored for all those qualities, which, by the way, and himself with such dangerous generosity rewarded by nature. (Vadim Kozhevnikov. Shield and Sword. Book Two (1968)). Interestingly, Russian linguistic consciousness measures generosity not only horizontally according to the principle of "breadth", but also vertically - according to the principle of "depth", cf. an expression like the depth of his generosity.

It should be noted that the spatial characteristics that are consistently associated by the Russian linguistic consciousness with generosity, clearly reveal themselves in attributing the property of "being generous" native spaces: as the "owner" of this property can be mother earth, steppe and under. For example: Peasanteveryday life in the south is even more difficult than in middle lane countries. However, beauty and generosity steppes with the cries of cranes, a riot of spring flowering and autumn fruitful abundance awakens a restless thirst for creativity, develops aesthetic feelings in a person(Mashkarinsky miniatures (2004) // "Folk Art", 2004.06.21)).

In general, a Russian person, who, according to the observations of many foreigners, absolutely does not tend to observe a sense of proportion and adhere to the "golden mean" in the manifestation of his feelings and emotions, constantly "exceeds the norm" in the manifestation of his ability to generosity. In relation to the norm and measuregenerosity could be like this:

Ordinary - unusual, small - large, largest, immeasurable - excessive, regal. Moreover, it has such characteristics as:

a) "exclusivity":phenomenal, special, special, now rare, amazing, unprecedented, unbelievable, unheard of: Coming out of the tent, Andreika made a sweeping gesture and declared: “Let’s shoot from the Montecrists!” I treat. It was unheard of generosity, and the boys reverently proceeded to an impromptu shooting range, where each received, for a moment of blissful possession, a real gun and five precious bullets(Irina Ratushinskaya. Odessans (1998)).

c) "admirativity":unexpected, sudden. For example: Wegrateful to him for his school. We learned the wisdom of nomadic circus life. We have learned to treat each found funny trick seriously and carefully, the ability to use it in right moment. Softness and firmness of character, frugality and unexpected generosity (Yuri Nikulin. How I Became a Clown (1979)).

d) "uncontrollability and irrationality":reckless , unrestrained , recklessunbridled: Lily Yuryevna from the very first minutes felt his individuality, and an hour later she realized that he lives in society, ignoring its laws. She was impressed by his looseness, humor, spontaneity and reckless generosity In a word, its charm.(Vasily Katanyan. Lilya Brik. Life (1999)). Irrationality often leads generosity beyond the borders real world and she becomes inhuman, Christmas, fabulous, unearthly. For example: II'm in a hurry to leave. I can say I'm running ... Because I don't want to hear my thoughts from her. Why is everyone rushing about with some inhuman generosity Russians? As part of the last shirt, a piece of bread, in order to tear off one with passion, and let the other be bitten off to the very fingers - we have no equal(Galina Shcherbakova. Avocado pit (1994)).

The following important characteristics of the Russian generosity is her attitude to beauty: she may be delightful, marvelous, beautiful; qualification for social status:royal, noble, merchant, lordly, poor; relation to "truth/falsehood":true - false.

It is easy to see that the inconsistency and irrationality of the Russian character is quite transparently reflected in the language: characterizing his generosity, a Russian person often thinks in “polar” concepts, which is easily conveyed by antonymous pairs: ordinary - unusual, small - large, true - false.

Note that the Russian generosity has an exceptional actionality, and actionality, as you know, necessarily implies a temporary quantification, because generosity in the minds of Russians permanent, sporadic, even situational or appears as seizures (attacks of generosity). But in any case, it is perceived as an active active principle - the subject of action: it can simply manifest, act (I was affected by his generosity), roll(NotIf you want to pay, don't, just take it. You, I see, do not believe. Imagine giving! Nakatila generosity... (Vladimir Dudintsev. White clothes / Second part (1987)) or even disarm, and can speak in an "administrative manner" - shock, amaze or surprise. Wherein generosity it is also natural to be a causator, an initiator of another action: it can force(think, answer smth.). At the same time, without showing herself as an agent, she simply decorates.

However generosity- it is often the object of action: after all, its appreciate, her show it can take advantage or salute, it can flaunt and abuse. Moreover, this is an object that has exclusively positive qualities because her appreciate for her thank, reward and are grateful. For example: Not, I will pose for you as much as you need. I see how well it turns out, I am sure of the result, and we will certainly bring the matter to the end. - Oh thanks! I appreciate and your generosity and trust in me(Zoya Maslenikova. Conversations with Pasternak (2001)). In her there are sure and on her count, compare: But the word is a peculiar product. As a rule, it is both perishable and has a limited shelf life. The manufacturer of this product entitled count on thegenerosity, however, should not exaggerate its significance in the universe. A good writer or philosopher is always a historical person who left this world at least a hundred years ago.(Leonid Zorin. Jupiter (2001) // Znamya, 2002)).

Generosity is perceived by a Russian person usually in a positive context, i.e. in the context attention, hospitality, hospitality, charm, kindness, courage, beauty, nobility, generosity, piety, unselfishness, philanthropy, sensitivity, love etc. It is quite natural that the National Corpus is replete with examples in which the lexeme generosity presented in the same coordinating series with those given above. Thus, we can state that generosity in the Russian language consciousness has a high positive assessment on the axiological scale. Wed: moralthe scale of all peoples and at all times is determined by the ability of a person to love: good is everything that comes from love ( generosity, self-sacrifice, mercy, selflessness), evil - everything that opposes love (selfishness, stinginess, cruelty, cowardice)(Armen Zurabov. Return to the Future (1999) // "Friendship of Peoples", 1999.04.15)). In passing, we note that in an exceptionally positive perspective, the generosity of Russians and foreigners has always been noted, even if this property was manifested in extreme situations, compare: Mostthe city was destroyed quite thoroughly by the French before they left for the fortress, but nevertheless the Russian sailors spent their time here quite well during their long stay. The Greeks and Italians quickly agreed with the Russians. “... The desert with ruins was transformed into a cheerful abode; everything revived ... and no one thought about the shortcomings he was undergoing. It must be admitted that only Russians are left to work such miracles: generosity their flexibility in their manners, disposition to the pleasures of every role, and the ease with which they learn foreign languages, soon bring them closer to all peoples(E. V. Tarle. Admiral Ushakov on the Mediterranean Sea (1798-1800) (1948)).

However, while appreciating the very property of “being generous,” a Russian person believes that generosity not always good effects because it can turn into greed, pettiness, wastefulness, waste. And then the Russian man wonders , generosity This or foppery, impermissible pleasure, excessive luxury or unnecessary splendor. Wed: I love generosity and was also generous when he could afford it pleasure and luxury. Can I do more?(Vladimir Golyakhovsky. Russian doctor in America (1984-2001)); Where is this generosity? Can the region afford such luxury- scatter millions? Of course not. There is a lack of a certain reasonable public policy (Oleg Ratnikov. Corrosion of thinking (2003) // East Siberian Truth (Irkutsk), 2003.06.19)); Debts, of course, must be repaid, but superfluous generosity would be out of place(Vain advice (2002) // "Domovoy", 2002.12.04)); Our generosity foolishly easily develops into such a penny that a special case is required to describe it(Galina Shcherbakova. Army of Lovers (1997)).

Let's add that generosity in the Russian language picture of the world has a pronounced "anthropometric parameter": of course, Russian generosity always comes from souls and from hearts. That is why very often a Russian person, if he wants to present someone very dear to him in the most positive perspective, he will definitely present the unique definitions for himself “from the heart” and “from the (whole) heart” along with qualifications like generously:EspeciallyI often think of my mother. She was a wonderful person, kind, sympathetic, people went to her to cry out their misfortune, to consult, and she helped everyone, sympathized, pitied. And she was also an unusually gifted person, a born artist, she could copy anyone, especially children, subtly noticing and conveying the essence of character, she knew how to sing, dance and alldid from the heart, generously, brightly, widely (Victor Tokarev. We tried to give the audience hope (2004) // "Theatrical Life", 2004.02.23)). Already practically stable combinations of the type generosity of heart, generosity of heart. For a Russian person, this is the highest praise. Wed: Gonefrom the life of a man of great and pure soul, immeasurable love and kindness. Modest, honest, intelligent, he conquered all the people around him with his philanthropy, spiritual generosity and decency. (He loved life in all its manifestations (2004) // Meat Industry, 2004.06.21)); “And how many ideas! - they will no longer be implemented by anyone; these books could be written only by him, with his bright human talent, with his extensive knowledge and unifying thinking, with his severe and passionate temperament of a fighter for the purity of national culture, for the integrity of the people's soul, with his cardiac generosity and kindness...(If Yuri Seleznev were with us... (2004) // Our Contemporary, 2004.06.15)).

Material wealth for a Russian person who wants to show his property for generosity does not play a role. Moreover, he is truly considered generous who gives everything and even - it is not clear where he takes it from - more. Wed: RUSSIANalways different latitude souls and generosity incomparable to their income. So, in 1950, on the occasion of Stalin's seventieth birthday, an exhibition of gifts to the "father of peoples" was organized. There were 127,823 gifts in the funds. Among them were unique products: a carpet created by 18,000 Slovak women; Skoda, Minor, and Alfa Romeo cars; rice grain, consisting of 182 characters(Maxim Schlegel and others. Present for the President (2001) // "Arguments and Facts", 2001.06.06)).

These are the main characteristics and parameters generosity in the form in which the modern Russian person realizes it. Have they always been like this? If we turn to the history of the word itself and the concept, we will find the word generosity- fairly late development. This is indicated by at least an abstract suffix – awn. Semantic "progenitor" generosity is a lexeme generous ó ta (or more often generous ó you), recorded by Old Slavonic and Old Russian dictionaries no later than the 11th century. and meaningful mercy, compassion, mercy(Old Slavonic Dictionary, 1958)). A person was generally perceived as generous in the Slavic world merciful and gracious, capable of compassion. Property generous a person to be a giver of gifts, which modern interpreters place in the first place, is an “acquisition” rather later and, according to some researchers, associated with the pragmatic influence of Western consciousness, which began with Peter the Great’s reforms of the 18th century.

Etymological dictionaries give us an even more interesting picture: it turns out that the Indo-European base of the word is the root *(s)k(h)ed- “to split into small pieces”, “to split” (Chernykh, 2006). We observe the same root in a more “pure form” in the antonym scarce, in connection with which, for example, P.Ya. Chernykh, believes that “the meanings “generous” and “meager” developed from the older meaning “split”, “split”, “break into pieces”, and hence “impoverish”, “be scarce”" (Chernykh, 2006, p. 431). But this is history the words. What's the story concepts, behind this word?

Here we must admit that the concept itself entered Russian culture with a pronounced Christian connotation. Generous ó ta, generous ó you - in fact, were initially recognized as exclusively Divine attributes. If we turn to the ancient East Slavic texts, and they for the most part give us samples of the Church Slavonic language, then we will find that no generous ó ta, nor generous ó you almost never meet in the context of "human", "worldly". Generous ó you, a more frequently used lexeme, always testifies to the manifestation of the Divine in worldly life. If it was about the properties of a person, then in the same context where a modern Russian would use the word generous, generosity an eastern Slav would rather put charity, mercy or (less often) blessing. All these words were synonyms and fell under the semantic area "the manifestation of mercy by God or man." And just one word, namely generous ó you were different in that they pointed to the mercy of the Lord. That is why generous ó you, unlike the modern generosity, never have negative definitions: they cannot be either redundant neither redundant, nor excessive. But they boundless and limitless They can not pass away because they exorbitantly rich. Generous ó you are not quantified in any way, because their many many cannot be exhausted, and God incomprehensible precisely in His bountiful ó max.

Theologians claim that generous ó you are external expressions Divine love for a person in sending him material blessings (Klimenko, 2004). A person who is not able to deeply feel Divine love can still feel its presence through a material manifestation, which is the generous ó you. It is interesting that modern Russian people intuitively feel this feature of the ancient Slavic worldview, reflecting it in amazing phrases. generosity as intrinsic property(after all, the soul can only be felt, it cannot be seen) and stinginess of feelings as external manifestation(feelings are always expressed in facial expressions, gestures and impulsive actions).

I think that Russian generosity its modern interpretation through spatial parameters, namely through latitude, infinity and infinity, naturally perceived from the lexeme generous ó you. Saves generosity and etymological connection with wealth and many. However, the "innovation" in the interpretation of the manifestation of generosity as a property, of course, is the projection on the consequences. Generous ó you, as an attribute of God, did not have such a projection: the Lord distributes them all the time and, as a true Lover of mankind, does not care about the consequences. Man, in his imitation of Divine philanthropy, on the contrary, very often thinks about them, and therefore is able to evaluate generosity and in a negative way wasteful, unnecessary, reckless. Another difference between the modern understanding of the manifestation of generosity is its temporal quantification: generous ó you are constant and continuous, they are incessantly pour out(the metaphor of water, by the way, is the most common in the definition of generous ó t); generosity same, as mentioned above, can be evaluated as sporadic and situational. However, the most striking difference between the Slavic generous ó t and Russian generosity thing is generosity is associated by modern Russian people almost exclusively with giving and receiving gifts, a gifts. Gift as a manifestation of the spiritual world , according to modern interpretations, retains its high connotation, and present no: it is, first of all, a thing that is given as a gift (Ozhegov, 1982).

And yet, it seems that the Russian person therefore quite justifiably ascribes to himself generosity as one of the main national properties, that in his worldview he largely retains the original Slavic meanings ancient generous ó At the same time, we emphasize that, of course, a Russian person does not pretend that only he is capable of being generous, and the “National Corpus of the Russian Language” perfectly demonstrates this: after all, in its composition there are combinations and oriental generosity, and Georgian generosity, and flemish, and dutch etc. Much more important for the Russian national consciousness is another accent: generosity Russian is still perceived as an exclusively positive property any good, in his opinion, man, another thing is that a huge scope and latitude he still retains this property, and he himself realizes that the generosity of the broad Russian soul often has consequences little clear to itself and to the rest of the world.

Literature

1. BERDYAEV N.S. The fate of Russia

Semyonova Natalya Vladimirovna, Russia

Doctor of Philology, Professor of the Russian Language Department Novgorodsky State University named after Yaroslav the Wise

lektorka ruského jazyka, katedrf rusistika FF UKF v Nitre

e-mail: [email protected]

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What is true spiritual generosity? Like everything real, it is beautiful and abundant. Generosity is a component of love. After all, true love is generous.

Spiritual generosity consists not only and not so much in sharing your material accumulations with others, but also the values ​​of your soul. This is long-suffering, and forgiveness, and disinterested help.

I really liked one parable about generosity:

One day, a Persian king decided to become generous. He ordered the best architects of Iran to build a palace with a huge golden pantry with forty windows.

Soon such a palace was built, and the royal treasury was filled with gold coins, which were brought in wagons to the capital from all over the country.

When the order was carried out, the heralds announced the king's decree that from that very day he himself would distribute gold through the windows to all those in need. Huge crowds of people were drawn to the palace.

The king used to go to one of the forty windows every day to bestow one gold coin on every sufferer. Once again, distributing alms, the king noticed one dervish who every day took a gold coin and left.

The king at first thought that perhaps he was taking them for another poor man who was unable to come himself. Then, when he saw him the next day, he again thought that maybe this dervish gave gifts to others, following the principle of secret generosity. And every day the king came up with a new excuse for him, until on the fortieth day the king's patience came to an end. He grabbed the dervish by the hand and shouted in terrible anger:

- You ungrateful bastard! You have never once bowed to me, never uttered a single word of gratitude, and never even smiled.

- Are you saving this money or giving it on interest?

“You only dishonor the high reputation of the patched robe.

As soon as the king was silent, the dervish took out of his sleeve the forty gold coins he had received in forty days, and throwing them on the ground, he said:

“Know, O king of Iran, that generosity is truly generosity only when the one who manifests it observes three conditions.

The first condition is to give without thinking about your generosity.

The second condition is to be patient.

And the third is not to have suspicions in your soul.

In the subway, in electric trains, on city streets, almost on every corner, we see daily beggars, homeless people, cripples, who just do not beg today. One of the compassionate passers-by gives them money, and someone indifferently passes by. In this sense, I am no exception and I do not distribute money right and left, since I am still unable to help all those who suffer, but this is not required of me.

And now not only those who really need it, but also scammers, for whom begging is a highly profitable business, are asking for alms.

However, I want to tell you about one case that once happened to me. I was returning from work when a decently dressed elderly woman came up to me on the street, all in tears and asked me to give her money for the journey, saying that all the money had been pulled out of her purse.

I felt sorry for her, I believed her, gave her as much money as I could and moved on.

What was my surprise and indignation when the next day I again saw the same woman in the same place, telling her "heartbreaking" story to another passer-by girl. To be honest, I felt cheated and was outraged, and my first desire was to come up and tell her everything that I think about her.

But my second thought was the thought: "God is her judge. This money did not make me poorer, and it will not make her richer." I really doubt very much that fraudulently obtained money can bring happiness.

What did this story teach me - to stop trusting people, to become more careful? No. I do not regret this money and if they ask me to help, I will again help in any way I can. I know a lot of people will think this is weak, but I have a different opinion. And my second thought, which came to me at the moment when I realized that I had been deceived, was from God: I am sure that I was taught a lesson in generosity.

Every day life teaches us to be generous. Generous in love for ourselves, for our loved ones and in relationships with other people.

I think if you are faced with a choice to help another person or not to help, then you need to make a conscious decision, if you decide to help, help and don’t let suspicions creep into your soul and don’t expect anything in return: this is real generosity, and if in doubt, it’s better not give nothing and do not help at all.