Mr. Bill Gates, an exemplary humanist
I am from the generation of Mr. Bill Gates. I am one year younger and we are both Scorpios. I grew up watching him mature into his many and varied accomplishments. But in addition to his phenomenal contribution to technological advancement with the Windows program, based on the stroke of luck of having managed to acquire the QDOS operating system.
Said operating system would later be purchased by Bill Gates for Microsoft for $50,000 and would become the basis of his empire. It was known as PC-DOS to IBM products, where it came pre-installed. However, MS-DOS would be the most popular name by which it would be known throughout the world.
From then on, his Microsoft company did not stop growing and billing. But Bill did not lose his balance, his successful marriage to Melinda Gates stabilized him, de-stressed him, turned him into an affectionate and responsible man and father of a family. Above all he humanized him.
It was thus under the influence of Melinda that Bill understood that the usefulness of the accumulated money has a priority destination, a vital mission: to serve human beings at risk, unprotected and with fewer resources. That was how he surprisingly donated 90% of his large fortune to charitable causes. And after a few years he got it back.
According to Forbes magazine, he ranks number 5 on the list of the richest men in the world. The Microsoft co-founder has a net worth of $132 billion, according to Forbes. It is worth mentioning that for many years he occupied the first places in the list of the richest men in the world, however, over time Jeff Bezos, Elon Musk and even Carlos Slim snatched his place.
Gates and Buffett, the world’s 4º and 5º richest, launched “The Giving Pledge” in 2010, a campaign to encourage the world’s billionaires (only those with a billion dollars or more) to donate half of his fortune -alive or in will- for philanthropic causes.
When Bill Gates and Warren Buffett planned the project, they may not have imagined that, two years later, 90 billionaires would agree to donate their wealth.
“Going forward I anticipate donating virtually all of my wealth” to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, which will cause me to drop or eventually drop out of the rankings of the world’s richest men,” Gates wrote on Twitter as part of a thread where It explained the details of his recent donation.
“I have an obligation to return my resources to society in ways that have the greatest impact to reduce suffering and improve lives. And I hope that other people in positions of great wealth and privilege will also step up at this time,” he added. in another tweet.
Immediately, Gates added that he intends to increase his annual donation to 9,000 million by 2026, which is 50% more than pre-pandemic levels. He explained that the increase was due to the effects of various “global setbacks” such as the pandemic, the invasion of Ukraine and the climate crisis.
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation works to eradicate diseases such as malaria, improve education and health infrastructure in many Third World countries.
It is estimated that, in 2020, it was the second largest charitable foundation in the world, with a budget of 49.8 billion dollars and the backing of investors such as billionaire Warren Buffett.
Regarding religion, Gates opined: “The moral systems of religion, I think, are super important. We have raised our children religiously. They have gone to the Catholic Church that Melinda goes to, and in which I participate. I have been very lucky, and therefore it is my duty to try to reduce inequality in the world. That is a kind of religious belief. I mean, at least it’s a moral belief.”
On whether God exists, she said: “I agree with people like Richard Dawkins that man felt the need for creation myths. Before we really started to understand disease and weather and things like that, we were looking for false explanations for them. Now science has filled part of the realm – not all – that religion used to occupy. But the mystery and beauty of the world is overwhelmingly awesome, and there is no scientific explanation for how it came to be. Saying it was generated by random numbers seems, you know, an uncharitable view. [laughs]. I think it makes sense to believe in God, but exactly what decisions in your life you make differently because of it, I don’t know.”
Bill Gates is a deeply humanistic and charitable man. He cares about the life of his neighbor at high risk. He would rather spend his fortune on vaccines and save lives than go to Mars. This says it all about the priorities we all need to take care of.
Personally I believe in God and I try to do my best to serve my brothers in difficulties. I sincerely appreciate the existence of people like Bill and Melinda Gates, who give on the daily battle against disease, poverty and the lack of education and resources for development, everywhere on the planet where it is needed.
We all need to catch his example. Buddhists and yogis teach and give courses on compassion for the world. But it’s people like Gates who make the difference, who practice true Proactive Compassion.
From the hearts of all the Buddhas who were, are and will be, may Mr. Bill and Mr. Melinda enjoy good health, prosperity and wisdom in all their days, as well as their family and loved ones. Know that God holds you in high esteem. Never neglect the good path you have already laid out.