dana

Dana (generosity)

Dana (generosity) is the basis of all spiritual work. Dana is a Sanskrit and Pali word meaning ‘generosity’, ‘giving’ or ‘gift’. It is directly related to the Latin word donum, and the English words donor and donation. At the time of the Buddha, his teachings were considered priceless and thus offered freely, as a form of dana. The early teachers, monks and nuns mainly, received no payment for their instruction, and in turn the lay community provided as their dana the basic needs of food, clothing, shelter and medicine. Today this is still the case in Southeast Asia, where all meditation centres and monasteries provide instruction free of charge, as well as the food and accommodation.

In the Theravada retreat centres in the West all teachings and meditation guidance is also offered freely. Monastic and lay teachers often rely solely on the generosity of others for their livelihood, and whatever donation you can afford to give will support their efforts in helping many people through teaching the Dharma.

The act of giving itself is of enormous benefit for the giver, for it opens up the heart, helps us let go of attachment and places value on the well-being of others. It generates a thought-moment that is free from greed and anger, and is full of loving-kindness.

Dana plays an important role in the spiritual life of Buddhists. It is the first of the ten paramis, or qualities of character that we can perfect in our lifetime. When the Buddha would give a discourse, he would almost always begin with the importance and benefits of generosity.