The modern lifestyle in urban areas is taking its toll and the tradition of offering food to monastics, beggars, homeless and deprived people is dwindling. Giving is mainly determined by the conditions of the Ego and pure generosity becomes a rare act.
The consuming market dictates the wasteful behaviour not only on an individual but also on a collective level. Food is still mainly packaged in predefined quantities, thus leaving consumers with no opportunity to buy only as much as they actually need.
This leads to the establishment of unconscious habits related to food: overproduction, excessive consumption and development of wasteful behaviour. Every day, shops and middlemen throw away tons of fruit, vegetables or bread. The consequence of such an approach is far-reaching and its negative effects go beyond short-term financial gain.
Profit seems to be more important than the well-being of disadvantaged people, and also effect of over-production on ecology, pollution, climate and global health is generally taken with ignorance. The justification that such an approach lowers the unemployment rate is merely an excuse used to manipulate basic components of the ego: fear and desire.
However, the consuming attitude is sometimes broken, and the rest of the food is donated, shared or offered. Although this is rarely the case, and is done by only a few people, these deeds become even more valuable and show even more clearly that generosity always finds a way.