IX: 26

Chapter 9, Verse 26

"Any offering...
A leaf, a flower,
A piece of fruit,
Or a cup of water
I will appreciate
If it is given
With a loving heart."

Swami Satchidananda:

It's the heart behind the offering that counts.  It's not the amount or the elegance of the gift.  It's the heart that God looks for.  The same goes for your practices: chanting, Puja, Mantra, and so on.

How much of your heart is really in it?

What good is it if it is heartless?

Jesus:

Beware of the scribes, who like to go about in long robes, have the best seats in the synagogues, the places of honor at feasts, and who make long prayers.

And he sat down opposite the treasury and watched the multitude putting money into the treasury.  Many rich people put in large sums.  Then a poor widow came and put in two copper coins, which make a penny.  He called his disciples to him and said to them...

Truly I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all of these others, for they contributed out of their abundance; but she out of her poverty has put in everything she has, her whole living. (Mark, 12:38-44)

Paramahansa Yogananda:

Jesus was not only observing the people and the amount of their offerings, but with his intuitive perception he was also analyzing their motivating spirit.  He called to the attention of the disciples the action of the widow, because her generous spirit made her tiny gift shine before God.  Jesus cited the incident as a beautiful illustration of a divine principle...

Although the poor widow put only a penny in the temple treasury, her devotion magnified the offering.  In the eyes of God, she gave far more than all of the rich and indifferent people who gave a greater amount but without devotion in their hearts.

Those who made impressive contributions were disbursing only a token of their abundant riches, at no inconvenience to themselves, while the widow, notwithstanding her own needs, gave to God's cause all that she had.

In Oriental temples, flowers, fruits, and monetary donations are given as offerings to God.  These help to maintain the temple, and God himself receives the devotion that rises from sincere human hearts expressed in those gifts purely offered as spiritual oblations.