Dr Liffman focuses on the large amounts that have or may be given. The essence of giving however is the volition of the giver, whether their means are great or small. Selfless giving can only be done with compassion, and the main beneficiary of that giving is the giver. Even the smallest amount given with a pure heart will benefit the world, large amounts given with ego will not.

Similarly the value of "corporate" giving can be questioned. The test of the giver is their volition and how much they give compared to their means. This nexus is broken when the decision is made on behalf of a corporation, using corporate funds.

Giving with a pure heart, without ego, without expectation, is a step in spiritual development. Is this regonised in the Swinburne centre?

Thank you, Faustino, for drawing attention to the motives for giving.
The word "giving" is the gerund form of "GIVE".
It does not include "take", thus giving should never be with the expectation of any kind of reward.
A reward which will probably arrive, however, is happiness for the giver. A pure,compassionate heart appreciates this.
Let's hope that Michael's message encourages our fellow Australians to be generous with their many attributes.

The most neglected in our community are the abled bodied but not so bright working poor.We all want to give and help the disabled,put drug addicts/alcoholics on DSP but few want to acknowledge the battler.

Our economy needs the battler to do the mundane chores which most of us see to be beneath our dignity.To have a functioning economy we need a workforce that makes the wheels turn.To do this,money must be a scarce commodity to ensure efficiency,thus productivity.

Too much of this efficiency generated by the masses ends up in the share market rewarding slothful Capitalists and through taxation is wasted by inefficient bureaucracies.

There is a fairer way that can compensate the working poor and keep them motivated and productive.Have no tax on their superannuation and lower tax on investments that they can only access upon retirement.The excesses of some of our CEOs is totally obscene.

People don't mind working hard if they can see light at the end of the tunnel.Reward those who produce.