Alms Giving (Donation)
From TheBuddhism.Net
This means “giving”. Giving alms eliminating greed is a great meritorious deed.
One automatically gets longevity, beautiful complexion, comfort, strength and wisdom by giving alms. But, giving alms in the hope of getting them is like lending money in the hope of getting an interest.
Alms giving dominates in the classification of meritorious acts.
Giving something which belongs to himself liberally, in compassion or as an offering is a noble human act. The person who gives (the donor), do it with kindness seeing others’ sorrow, or, do it with admiration seeing others’ good qualities. Thus, his greed dies away. The person who receives (the donee) is rid of his sorrow and is happy. Therefore, the mutual harmony in the society exists.
Adantha damanan daanan – Daanan sabbaththa sadhakan
Danena piya wachaya – Unna manthi namanthi cha
“Giving alms disciplines the incorrigible.It is a great quality which accomplishes all great hopes. Donors and the soft spoken rise while the donees and the receivers of kind words obey them.” were Buddha’s exact words.
Feeding, clothing, sheltering and caring when ill, of the parents, wife and children, relatives, employees, friends, neighbors, the poor and the visitors; bringing up one’s children and educating them for a better future; paying one’s employees good salaries; treating the poor and the visitors appropriately, helping the poor in their careers; are donations that exist in the general society which are meritorious not only in this life, but, in the next lives too.
Alms Giving :
The first of the Ten Perfecting Qualities (Dasa Parami
Dhamma) which helps to attain Buddha-hood.
The first of the Ten Meritorious Deeds (Dasa Punna Kriya)
The first of the Ten Principles of Buddhist Governance (Dasa Raja Dhamma)
The first of the Four Types of Hospitality (Sathara Sangraha Vasthu)
A Highest Blessing (Mangala Karuna) since it assists in the well being of a
person both in this life and the next.
It eliminates greed and beautify one’s mind; thus, called “Chiththalankara”
(beautification of mind)
It has the quality to prepare the mind for enlightenment; thus, called “Chiththa
Parishkara” (Preparation of the mind)
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I would like to donate please. I have tried on several occasions to donate from my debit card. But unfortunately PayPal has refused, can you send me the bank details
Dana in Pali means generosity or giving. Rinpoche have always encouraged us to do dana offering or perform virtuous deeds of generosity. Sangha Dana offering, the giving of charity to the community of monks. Offering food or requisites is one of the ways you can practise dana and support the sangha. The act of giving itself is of immeasurable benefit of the give. as it opens up our heart, and places value on the well-being of others. It does not matter what we offer the size or value of the gift is of no importance. The act of giving itself is the natural expression of a loving heart and generates a thought-moment full of joy and loving-kindness. Alms giving dominates in the classification of meritorious acts.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing,
The perfection of giving is the antidote to one’s deep attachment, for us to give to others we must have something to offer to others plus it means we can afford to give something away how wonderful! And when we can think that someone else needs this thing more than I do, then it helps us to overcome our selfish mind. And I feel when we give it also helps us to counter hatred and anger, as we cannot give if we feel negative emotions like anger and hatred. By giving to the three jewels we collect merits and propensities to become enlightened which is wisdom which opposes ignorance. hence the practice of giving opposes the three poisons, anger attachment and ignorance 🙂
Giving alms or Dana to the Sangha is one of the most meritorious deeds a Buddhist or anyone of another religion can do.
Why? Because giving alms to the Sangha will help the Dharma in many ways. Just to name a few:
1) One allows the Sangha to not worry about mundane things and thus they can concentrate on their Dharma practice
2) One directly encourage and support the monasteries
3) One directly encourage and support the growth of the Dharma
4) One shows good example to the people around them
5) One cuts down attachment and miserliness
6) One creates the causes to gain wealth and prosperity so that they can continuously offer to the Sangha.
7) And many more.
Now one can give Dana to the Sangha any time! Previously, we often have to travel to where the monks are to give Dana or at least look around for a friend that is going so that we can pass the Dana to them to help us offer on our behalf. Fortunately, through Kechara we can make Dana offerings so easily: http://blog.tsemtulku.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/etc/dana-offerings-for-tsem-ladrang.html
Don’t have to wait for our yearly visits to the holy sites any more to make offerings… we can do it every month! or even everyday!