Gifts
From TheBuddhism.Net
Three kinds of gifts are mentioned in Buddhism, namely:
1. Amisa dana (The gift of material things)
2. Abhaya dana (The gift of life)
3.Dhammadana (the gift of truth)
*Amisa dana or the gift of material things is practiced by people of all religions and is very common, food, clothes, houses and medicine are given to poor people or refugees through various religious and social organisations. It is, no doubt, a good thing to satisfy the hunger of the starved and the thirst of the thirsty. This type of donations is highly recommended in Buddhism and is called the Amisa Dana. (The donations of material things)
*Next comes the Abhaya Dana, or giving life to those who are in danger of life caused by fire, water or enemies. Sometimes we hear of people who are on the verge of death due to lack of blood. To donate blood and save another human life or any living being, is indeed a great thing. Donation of eyes and kidneys is also highly appreciated and they come under Abhaya Dana donation of life.
*Dhamma Dana – The last one of the Dhamma Dana or the gift of truth or the doctrine is said to be the highest of all donations on the earth.
The gift of truth means to teach and explain the doctrine to the people, to deviate them from the wrong path and guide them on the right path, to introduce what is moral and immoral, to organize discussions and seminars on the Dhamma, to write and print books already written and to establish reading centers for the propagation of the Buddha’s teachings.
(This Article was taken by “Buddhism – Path To Peace“ facebook page)
Please support us so that we can continue to bring you more Dharma:
If you are in the United States, please note that your offerings and contributions are tax deductible. ~ the tsemrinpoche.com blog team
Thank you for the wonderful sharing, a great opportunity to understand in detail and the way of generosity. This is recognized in all religions, that it is more blessed to give than to receive. Giving comes very naturally to some people and unhappy if they could not. In general a very good and meritorious thing to give.
I have learn to know the difference between the moments which are wholesome and the moments which are unwholesome. The teaching of Dharma in this article will be having some effect for those who have not heard of before. If everyone put the teachings into practice, there is no doubt that we will realize the benefits. Hope to try my best to help others whenever possible and whichever I could.
The three gifts/dana in Buddhism are equally important, beautiful and amazing ,it plays a part in our daily life. All the gifts will change a life of someone nor matter big or small with right motivation of giving. The Dhamma Dana or truth of gift excels all other gifts and is said to be the highest of all donations on the earth.
With just one act of kindness giving a gift/dana we can inspire others to go out and plant seeds of happiness. Our greatest gift is the ability to share our blessings; it’s what makes life meaningful. When put into practice it will be very meritorious for the giver and the receiver …that’s truly Dharma
Thank you for sharing
Of all the gifts, the best is still the gift of truth, as it helps us get closer towards enlightenment and helps us to overcome suffering. The gift of truth can never be taken away from us and can benefit us lifetime after lifetime. It is the supreme gift that we can offer to anyone.
The wish to give, true selfless giving (like Tsem Rinpoche), rarher than the act of giving is a state of the mind. One may give material goods, teachings or protection, but giving any of these without proper motivation does not lead to the perfection of giving,as said! Do not simply give so that others will like you, or think highly of you, but do it for the welfare of others. Before any act of giving, it is said that we should form a correct motivation, and afterwards dedicate the merits of the act. It is advised that for a pure attempt of sincere offering made to the Guru, one will achieve the sublime wisdom omniscient mind – as “one pore of the spiritual master is more sublime than all the merit accumulated by offering to all Buddhas and Bodhisattvas of the ten directions”, as they are the manifestations of one’s own virtuous friend. True teachings especially of Dharma is said to be the greatest gift, if one gives with no wish of payment or rewards. Always give with respect and the fruit will be happiness and an increase desire to give, resulting to especially the greatest merit one will ever have!!!
The old adage, “It is better to give than to receive” is very apt. We all want a good life and to be happy but we often don’t create the causes for it. These three different methods of giving show us how we can give to be happy. We have received all three gifts from Tsem Rinpoche and the best way to return Rinpoche’s kindness for us to apply the priceless Dharma which he has freely and generously given us. How we can repay his kindness would be to contribute to Rinpoche’s work. Rinpoche has been supporting monks whenever he could, ever since he went to Gaden Monastery. Read about what Rinpoche did here and how we can contribute: http://blog.tsemtulku.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/buddhas-dharma/new-offering-of-monk-robes.html
I personally think that these three gifts in Buddhism are equally important and beautiful.
In Amisa Dana, to give food to the hungry and water to the thirsty so that they live, that is also a gift of life to me. In today’s context where material goods take up a huge part of our daily lives, we need to learn to give up a part of what we might not need so that the deprived gets what they need most.
As for Abhaya Dana, it is definitely amazing to be able to give life to others. Even if one is fit to give life, it takes a lot of courage for him/her to do so.
The Dhamma Dana is said to be the highest form of giving because to me the essence of it is that “You give a man a fish you feed him for a day. But to teach a man to fish, you feed him for a lifetime (or more).” To teach someone to differentiate the good and the bad, the moral and the immoral, you educate them on the teachings of Buddhism and allow them to practise the three gifts of Buddhism. The giving goes on.
I’m going to say what i can understand from the short post Rinpoche has posted.
Giving is one of the main pillars of different religions in the world. Different people have got different propensity to give based on the circumstances they are in.
The Dhamma Dana is said to be the highest of all donations on the earth because it is the highest form of giving because Dharma can bring you from life to life infinitely and from bad to good.
However, Amisa dana and Abhaya dana is equally important because,
(1) without food and clothing, can a person concentrate on learning dharma without worrying for his/her next meal or constant suffering from cold and heat?
(2) When a person is feeling unwell, can he/she also concentrate on learning dharma?
And hence, i believe these 3 types of giving are interdependent and are equally important as people who had received Amisa dana and Abhaya dana should alleviate their short-term suffering for eternal happiness through receving Dharma Danna. Thus, all givers from material to truth wish to lessen the suffering of sentient beings and are all to be admired.
Giving gifts is a very good practice and is one of the paramitas and generosity especially giving with sincerity and unconditional. Give without expect to receive anything in return. No one gets poor by giving because most would give according to what they can. On the other hand people loves to receive gifts as well especially the greedy me. I now learn to give and in my context all three are very important depending on the conditions of the receiver. Some beings may not be human and would need other needs such as stray cats and dogs and I am recently most touched by Brother Charlie@MBF act of Amisa Dana. He bought cat food for the stray cat at the carpark at MBF. When one needs of Amisa Dhana and Abhaya Dana is taken care of. We should give the most important gift which is Dhammadana it is only throught this gift that one continue to transform and create imprints for them to receive life after life. Even buildings and the earth benefits from it. I hope MBF can have their Lamrim recitation to benefit the entire environment and the region.
Thank you Rinpoche for Sharing this with all of us.
Giving gifts is very good, because it is making us to practice generousity, giving.
When a person is down, he is helpless, providing any aid to them will be the best gift for them for that moment, when he is sick, medicine will be the best gift for them, when they have financial problem, money is the best gift, etc. All these gifts are good, because it helps them to come out from the difficulty, it release their suffering, but that is just temporary and different people will need different gifts.
But there is one gift that suits everyone in this world, no matter who you are or where you are, you still need it, that is Dharma, Dharma is teaching us the truth, Dharma is teaching us the exit from this sea of suffering, That will be the permanent liberation, that will be the ultimate happiness which everyone wanted or needed. If we want to give, just give the best we can.
Every one is capable of Amisa dana (The gift of material things) donation.
However, not everyone is able give the gift of life ( Abhaya dana) even if they wish to. For example even if one is inspired to follow Elsie@MBF footstep to donate blood regularly, if one is afflicted with chronic disease like hypertension or diabetes and is on medication, one is immediately disqualified from this form of giving.
Dhammadana (the gift of truth), is the greatest gift of all but it is not an easy gift to give as one needs to be learned in order to give. Furthermore, the intended receipent of this gift may not be a willing recipient. As Rinpoche has said, “Dharma is not easy to listen to… because some people take it as criticism. But Dharma should not be just feel good only for the moment but for deeper contemplations.”
As a parent who constantly wishes to incalculate Dharma into my children’s life, I realize without the skillful means to deliver this gift of truth, even with the purest motivation and intention, sometimes it will not go well with the recipient. Hence, in order to maximize its benefits, not only it is important for one to learn the Dharma, one need to acquire and master the skillful ways in its deliverance.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing.
To me, You are the true embodiment of Amisa & Dhamma dana. You are always so giving and is a perfect example for us to look up to and learn. Also to put into practice on a daily basis into our own mundane lives.
We should live and contemplate on how we can be able to integrate a more enriching life not for ourselves but for benefiting others.
Instead of always doing the same daily “routine” of waking up, working, how to earn more in monetary aspect, splurging on oneself, lazing etc.
Stop & contemplate, old habitual has to be ended in order for a new better transformation to occur.
& when we put what we have learnt from Dharma into daily actions, it will provide a more happier, meaningful & enriching life.
As for Abhaya Dana, Elsie@MBF is an example for me to learn from, she goes for blood donation drive on a regular basis without fail. Very inspiring.
Thank you once again Rinpoche & Kechara & MBF for letting me have the opportunity to get in touch with Dharma in my current lifetime.
May we all start from this very day how to transform ourselves into more giving people & also how to think more of others & less of ourselves.
It is also stated in the Lamrim(Liberation In the Palm of Your Hand,)in the Perfection of Giving, that giving of Dharma is one of the highest forms of Giving. “Generosity with the Dharma is better than other forms of generosity”. Besides the forms of giving Dharma stated here, even reciting, for example The Lamrim out loud enough for the beings(seen and unseen) around you to hear, is a form of giving of the Dharma. Hence it is very meritorious to take part in the Kechara House monthly Lamrim recitation retreat.
Giving the Dharma or sharing the Dharma can also be done informally, as when you skillfully weave Dharma into a conversation with friends. Taking part in the Monday night 10pm blog-chat on a Dharma topic on this blog is also sharing and giving the Dharma.
All three gifts are important for different moments of the life, and gift the truth – Dhammadana is as the highest form of giving, I believe with this gift it not only granted/give the person one life but many lives – truth to realise the sufferings of life and ways to get out from the sufferings. Therefore, Guru who gives teachings, is important, should be respected.
Just as Tsem Rinpoche said, “W/o dharma there is no Buddha. W/o Buddha there is no dharma. W/o the guru there is no Buddhas & Dharma. I take refuge in Guru.”
Thank you for my Guru who loves me with all three gifts, who not only cares about my present but also my future lives. Thank you.
Thank you for the sharing Rinpoche! All these gifts are wonderful and it might change one’s life completely.
It is proven that those who live to give are much more happier than those who are selfish. This is a good practice, it not only helps the receiver but it also helps yourself I’d like to believe. I really like Amisa Dana, Rinpoche has always told us it helps us be less attached to material things. Giving food to the hungry or water to the thirsty can change ones life even if it was just one time. Rinpoche has experienced so much suffering to know how it feels and wants to help those who are in need or to prevent people from feeling that suffering.
I agree Dhamma Dana is to be the highest of all donations, when born without being told we can be easily sucked into delusions of material things being more important than anything else. Without the Dharma I don’t think I would be aware of whats right and whats wrong. It is what most people who seek spirituality find most helpful in finding peace. It changes ones life physical and mentally, it changes their perception in life I feel.
The highest gift is definitely Dhammadana. It is the gift that will change people’s lives for the better… make them more peaceful and even start the path to enlightenment.
Our Guru is giving us the best gift of all… on top of that, Rinpoche has been giving us gifts (Amisadana) and even saved many people’s lives (Abhayadana).
For this very reason, sometimes it makes me wonder really… how some people get all buffed up with the little things they give to Dharma when they have received so much. Again it is because of their limited view that everything is measured just based on what they can see materially. Compared to what the Guru has given us that is alike a Diamond, there is really nothing that we can give back of equivalent value except for our sincere practice and transformation. Even if we donate millions of dollars to the temple, but with no transformation from within, it would be like a coal in a fire pit…
May all of us transform to be great givers of the Dhammadana in the near future.
All the gifts/dana mentioned are truly beautiful! I feel that to be able to give in any form is the best gift of all. Since young, I had this habit of giving the best I can even though sometimes it may not be the best. But to be able to see that little smile from the receiver makes me feel really happy. To know that there is a little difference that I have made for that person. If we cant afford to give material things, we must practice Dhamma Dana. The best and highest giving of all as mentioned and I agree!
I feel that the best gift is Dharma Dana. With dharma it can help transform someone’s life and future lives. Rinpoche is very compassionate to start this blog so that we can access and receive dharma teachings directly from Rinpoche through the blog.
Wonderful extract. I believe the highest form of giving or generosity is the Dhamma Dana and the reason because if the Dharma is imparted with sincerity and kindness, it can change the course of people’s live and even their future lives. Only the Dharma has the greatest potential to alter people’s destiny because it is based on higher truths as expressed by the Buddha’s teachings. Therefore, we have to appreciate a lot of what Rinpoche shares with us here in his blog and in his YouTube teachings as everything is Dharma despite how they may look to us.
I have been practice the three gift mentioned, the feeling is gaining instead of losing. I felt happy when somebody was being gifted by me, when they feel happy, I felt happy too. Hope this practice can be a part of my daily life naturally.