Charity begins at home: Selfish or a Selfless Motto? : My Perspective as a Sikh

Ever since the publication of ‘Religio Medici in 1642 by Sir Thomas Browne, a phrase from the book that ‘charity begins at home’ has instigated disputed views about its origin. However, the full statement by the Physician Author states, ‘Charity begins at home, is the voice of the world; yet is every man his greatest enemy’.
The statement can be fully understood by observing the individual references to ‘charity’, ‘at home’, and ‘everyman his greatest enemy’.
The term Charity has travelled long from its Latin origin to its adaptation into the English language, yet in every language, this word denotes love and benevolence. Charity is a thought that expresses itself as an action of care, love, kindness, and sharing without ulterior motives.
While the connotation of charitable act is not motivated by self-absorption, it grows out of self-care.
You need to love yourself with the same honesty as your children, for example. This is not being selfish when self-care is aimed at developing character and raising positive vibrations within.  
I believe that ‘at home’ represents one’s whole entity and disposition. For example, instincts are borne in the room of thoughts, thoughts exist in the chamber of mind, and consequent karmas grow in the hall of conscience. All these areas exist under one roof of a big ‘home’ called the ‘collective entity’. When every thought and action is moulded by moral consciousness, charitable character is born. Regular and unbiased introspection builds a virtuous disposition. Such self-awareness is the most benign self-care and a fundamental responsibility towards your own self. So, love thyself to learn to love thy neighbour, be kind to yourself to practise goodwill towards others, be generous to forgive yourself before letting go of any act by another, and help yourself to learn from your mistakes before dispensing advice to anyone else. This is how I believe that charity should begin at home.
This settled, let’s proceed to the second half of the statement: ‘Yet every man his greatest enemy’. In my view, it can be interpreted in two ways. First, every person is an enemy of himself (or herself). Second, every man (and woman, of course) is anti his own kind, i.e. mankind. So, what kind of mindset could be responsible for such negativity? My answer: a lack of self-awareness in both cases.
Low self-esteem generates self-loathing; belittling yourself to see others through magnifying focus. Hence, ‘every man his (own) greatest enemy’.
On the other hand, self-obsession produces loathing for others. Negative proclivities in a misanthropist’s mindset or narcissistic attitude provoke thoughts of mistrust in and hatred for others, which cannot possibly be charitable. Self-absorption grows out of greed; to always take and never give. Hence, ‘every man his (mankind) greatest enemy’.
Life should not be in a selfie mode, nor a camera for others alone. Even though one must retain individuality, life is not solitary confinement. Equally, learn to live ‘with’ others, not just ‘for’ them. We become our own enemies when we don’t balance life.
When we identify our individual self as part of the greater community, called humanity, our desire shall begin to reflect selflessness through self-awareness. The collective desire to save the planet, love the animals, help others, etc. are charitable desires evolving out of self-recognition. A proclivity for the well-being of ‘all’ also includes yourself. Remember that selflessness does not mean self-neglect.
Meditation or introspection- religious, spiritual or ethical- helps to self-cleanse the thoughts.
In their daily prayer the Sikhs repeat, ‘Sarbat da bhala’, which means asking the Nirankar, the Almighty, for the wellbeing of ‘all’, including yourself, as part of all creation of God.
The universe is the most sublime charity created by the Akal Purakh – the all-doer; so mankind can learn and follow in His footsteps by striving to build a better world.