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•Dana and Punya (Lesson 1)

Theme 4c

-To understand what is meant by the terms

-To be able to explain the ways of giving and relationship between the two.

•“Dana” and “Punya”

•Dana roughly translates as ‘giving’ but it is better understood as the virtue of generosity, charity or giving of alms.

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•Dana can be a formal religious act as well as something practiced by all Buddhists every day.

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•Punya roughly translates as ‘merit’. It is through the accumulation of merit that a person can secure a more favourable rebirth.

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•Dana is stated to be the easiest (although not really easy!) of the 3 ways that a person can gain punya. The other 2 ways are, to follow the virtuous living set out in the Eightfold Path and through mental development (meditation)

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•So, if punya is linked to favourable rebirth and dana is a way of gaining punya. Dana is going to be a pretty important practice…

•Extract from Bikkhu Bodhi – what does it tell us?

“The practice of giving is universally recognized as one of the most basic human virtues, a quality that testifies to the depth of one's humanity and one's capacity for self-transcendence. In the teaching of the Buddha, too, the practice of giving claims a place of special eminence, one which singles it out as being in a sense the foundation and seed of spiritual development. In the Pali suttas we read time and again that the "talk on giving" was invariably the first topic to be discussed by the Buddha in his "graduated exposition" of the Dhamma.

Whenever the Buddha delivered a discourse to an audience of people who had not yet come to regard him as their teacher, he would start by emphasizing the value of giving. Only after his audience had come to appreciate this virtue would he introduce other aspects of his teaching, such as morality, the law of kamma, and the benefits in renunciation, and only after all these principles had made their impact on the minds of his listeners would he expound to them that unique discovery of the Awakened Ones, the Four Noble Truths”.

•Why do you think the Buddha emphasised giving?

•Why do you think the Buddha emphasised giving?

•Purifies the mind of greed – extinguishes the poison!

•Purifies the mind of attachment – emphasises no self, emptiness and interconnectedness as well as impermanence

•The Rigveda and Bhagavad Gita, ancient Hindu texts speaks of “Da” which is the root of the Sanskrit word ‘Dana’. They explain that virtuous living involves giving to worthy people without any expectation of return.

•The Rigveda in particular talks of the guilt we feel when we do not give. This guilt upsets the mind (making meditation impossible)

• It is clear then that the belief that generosity directs rebirth more favourably is one the Buddha would have grown up with.

•Also, Dana is a ‘pillar’ of the Sangha…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cKH3O0F-ST4

What can you remember about the formation of the early Sangha?

Did they always have a fixed place to live? Think and discuss…

•Q1. Does it matter what kind of giver you are?

The Buddha taught…

"He who himself enjoys delicious things but gives to others what is not delicious is a donor who is a slave to the gifts he gives. He who gives things of the same quality as he himself enjoys is one who is like a friend of the gift. He who satisfies himself with whatever he can get but gives delicacies to others is a lordly giver, a senior and a master of the gifts given.“

What do you learn?

•Q2. Does it matter what or how much you give?

The Buddha gives a list of fourteen items that are fit to be given for charity. They are:

robes, alms food, dwelling places, medicine and other requisites for the sick, food, drink, cloths, vehicles, garlands, perfume, unguent, beds, houses and lamps.

What does this tell you

What do you think the Buddha taught about the amount you give?

•Q3. Does it matter who you give to?

In the Buddhist scripture, a disciple asked the Buddha who they should give gifts to in order to bring the greatest result.

The Buddha replied that what is given to the Sangha bears great results. Here the Buddha specifies that what he means by "Sangha" is the community of those noble individuals who have entered the path and who have established themselves in the fruit of ‘saintship’ (ahratship), and who are endowed with morality, concentration and wisdom.

Why? Let’s consider a metaphor…

•Q4. Does it matter how and why I give?

Giving with faith, especially when offering alms to the monks should do so with due deference and respect, taking delight in the opportunity one has got to serve them. It is a reaffirmation of faith in The Buddha himself.

One should also give at the proper time to meet a dire need. Timely giving is most valuable as they relieve the anxiety and stress felt by the needy person.

One should give with altruistic concerns, with the sole intention of helping another in difficulty. In the act of giving one should take care not to hurt oneself or another.

Giving with understanding and discretion is praised by the Buddha. If a gift contributes to the well-being of the person it is wise to give. But if the gift is detrimental to their welfare it may not be wise to give.

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