The Significance of Dana

As was said by the Lord Buddha:

“Evañce, bhikkhave, sattā jāneyyum dānasamvibhāgassa vipākam yathāham jānāmi, na adatvā bhuñjeyyum, na ca nesam maccheramalam cittam pariyādāya timmheyya. Yopi nesam assa carimo ālopo carimam kabamam, tatopi na asamvibhajitvā bhuñjeyyum, sace nesam pamiggāhakā assu. Yasmā ca kho, bhikkhave, sattā na evam jānanti dānasamvibhāgassa vipākam yathāham jānāmi, tasmā adatvā bhuñjanti, maccheramalañca nesam cittam pariyādāya timmhatīti.”

-Dānasutta, Itivuttaka 26, Ekakanipāta, Tatiyavagga

“Bhikkhus, if beings knew, as I know, the results of giving & sharing, they would not eat without having given, nor would the stain of miserliness overcome their minds. Even if it were their last bite, their last mouthful, they would not eat without having shared, if there were someone to receive their gift. But because beings do not know, as I know, the results of giving & sharing, they eat without having given. The stain of miserliness overcomes their minds.”

-Giving, The Buddha’s Sayings, Section One, Chapter Three

The practice of giving (Dana) is a fundamental and basic human virtue that brings much merit when done with good intentions. As noted in the above stanza, Lord Buddha says that the result of giving is so fruitful that if we fully understood the value of it, we would not eat without sharing even if it was the last morsel. In the Suttas (Lord Buddha’s teachings), Lord Buddha has emphasised the importance of Dana time and time again. The practice of giving is the first of the three bases for developing merits and gaining happiness in this birth and future births. 

The three bases of meritorious activity are:

1. Giving (Dana)

2. Moral Conduct (Sila)

3. Meditation (Bhavana)

Dana is also the first of the Ten Perfections (Dasa Parami). One who aspires to attain Nibbana must cultivate the ten perfections. 

You may think that you need to be wealthy to give what you have, but this is a wrong notion. Lord Buddha encouraged everyone to give - even the poorest man - because you do not lose when you give, instead you gain an immense amount of merit that will bring you happiness, good health and wealth for many births to come. If we truly understand the value of Dana, we would always be thinking of an opportunity to give.

How should we give?

In order to yield the most merits from giving to others, a gift should be given:

• In a manner that does not make the recipient feel humiliated or embarrassed. 

• With respect, kindness and empathy - a good and selfless heart. You should be happy and mindful as you prepare a gift, when you give the gift and when you reflect and remember about the good deed. You should not expect anything in return.

• With one’s own hand. Getting someone else to give on behalf of you, because it is inconvenient for you to do it yourself will not help you overcome your own craving and attachment to worldly desires.

• Because it is something the recipient will find useful. You should not give items that you only want to get rid of, that are unpleasant for you, or things that you do not need. You will earn much more merit by giving items that are precious to you by overcoming your attachment to such items. 

• In a manner that will make the recipient feel like coming again to you to bear the fruit of your generosity.

When you practice giving in the manner described above, it would be possible to overcome the root causes of unwholesome deeds - greed (lobha), ill will (dosa) and ignorance (moha). Further you would be able to alleviate qualities such as craving, stinginess, jealously and anger. When you give with pure and honest intentions you feel a sense of happiness and fulfilment unlike any other. 

Who should we give to?

In the Dakkhina Vibhanga Sutta (The Discourse on the Analysis of Gifts) of the Majjhima Nikaya, Lord Buddha explains to Venerable Ananda that there are fourteen groups of recipients that we may give donations to. The fourteen groups are ranked based on purity and virtue, starting with the most supreme:

1. A Samma Sambuddha (the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha)

2. A Pacceka Buddha (a Buddha awakened for themselves)

3. An Arahant

4. One who is on the path to Arahanthood

5. A non-returner (Anagami)

6. One who is on the path to non-returner

7. A once returner (Sakadagami)

8. One who is on the path to once returner

9. A stream enterer (Sotapanna)

10. One who is on the path to stream entry

11. A non-Buddhist ascetic who is free from sensual desire

12. A virtuous person 

13. A non-virtuous person 

14. An animal

In the sutta Lord Buddha explains that the more virtuous and moral the recipient, the more merit you will gain when giving a gift. Lord Buddha says that giving to any of the first ten in the above list will yield incalculable, immeasurable returns. So dear reader, are you already thinking to yourself about an opportunity to give?

We are lucky to have been born as human beings during the time of a Buddha Sasana (a time when Lord Buddha, Dhamma and Sangha exist). As human beings we can understand the value of giving and we can give mindfully. At home or at the temple, we offer pooja items to Lord Buddha – such as food, water, candles, flowers, incense sticks. When you keep Buddha poojawa you are offering gifts to the most supreme and virtuous recipient possible - the Samma Sambuddha. You should understand that this yields immeasurable merits that will bring you happiness, good health and wealth for eons to come. 

Furthermore, giving to the Sangha also brings an abundance of merits to you. Lord Buddha has taught us that we should offer the following items to the Sangha: 

1. Civara Dana - Robes to wear 

2. Pindapatha Dana - Food 

3. Senasana Dana - Dwelling places

4. Gilanpasa Dana - Medicines 

When we give an item, we gain the most merit when we do not have attachment to the item or to the recipient. An example of attachment to the recipient, is when we favour someone over another and only give to our favourite. In the context of giving to Sangha, Lord Buddha taught us that we gain much more merit when we offer gifts to a group of Sangha representing the entire Sangha Order. This is known as a Sangika Dana. By offering gifts to one or multiple monks, but keeping the entire Sangha Order in mind, we overcome the feelings of attachment, infatuation and desire. 

What should we give?

The practice of giving (Dana) can be classified into three groups: 

1. Gift of Buddha’s teachings (Dhamma Dana)

2. Gift of fearlessness (Abaya Dana)

3. Material gifts (Amisa Dana)

Of the three types of Dana, Dhamma dana is greatest gift and will result in the most merit for the giver. We can participate in Dhamma Dana by organising sermons, by helping publish and distribute Buddhist books or bby eing a teacher at a Dhamma school. Below is a stanza from the Dhammapada:

Sabbadanam dhammadanam jinati

sabbarasam dhammaraso jinati

sabbaratim dhammarati jinati

tanhakkhayo sabbadukkham jinati.

The gift of Truth excels all (other) gifts.

The flavour of Truth excels all (other) flavours.

The pleasure in Truth excels all (other) pleasures.

He who has destroyed cravings overcomes all sorrow.

-Dhammapada Verse 354

Abhaya Dana, the gift of fearlessness, can be practiced by doing loving kindness mediation and by observing the five precepts. By doing so you will not live with fear of any harm. You will also not cause others to fear you. Abaya Dana is the practice of sharing positive energy by thinking good thoughts and doing good deeds. Lastly, Amisa Dana is the act of giving material items. We should always give appropriate items that we know the recipient needs or will value. 

Do not ever hesitate to give

If you ever feel miserly, reflect on Lord Buddha’s words from the Kula Sutta, Samyutta Nikaya: 

“I recollect ninety eons back but I’m not aware of any family that’s been ruined merely by offering some cooked almsfood. Rather, rich, affluent, and wealthy families—with lots of gold and silver, lots of property and assets, and lots of money and grain—all acquired their wealth because of generosity, truth, and restraint.”

Whatever adverse situation we are faced with, let us not have any qualms about giving!