Giving does not have to be material or financial; in fact, it doesn’t have to cost anything at all. We can give meaningfully and generously of our time and/or energy. Think about it: time is a precious resource—most of us feel like there aren’t enough hours in the day to finish everything we want to do. So sharing some of our time with those who need it can be a true act of generosity and a great source of merit. There are countless ways to give our time and energy to those who could use some help at a difficult time in their lives.

Another form of generosity consists of the giving of attention. I see this on two levels. One is the deep inner attention of meditative training, of paying close attention to ourselves. The other is the quality of being fully present and paying attention to the people we are with. In giving our full attention to people as an act of generosity, the meditative training allows us to be consistent and intentional. Without giving ourselves the gift of training our mind in concentration and mindfulness, we may find it incredibly difficult to be present for our friends, partners, and children. Our mind is all over the place, stuck in planning the day’s activities, trying to remember something important that we meant to do, or lost in resentments, still rehashing a difficult conversation we had at work. So yes: meditation can be an act of generosity.

Taming the monkey, through meditation, is a great gift to oneself. It is perhaps the most generous thing we can do as we set off on the path to true happiness and freedom. And with the ability to pay attention—with the monkey finally at ease enough to sit still for a while—we can be fully present for others.