~ The Practice of Dana (Generosity) ~
"In the practice of generosity, we learn to see through our attachments".
Sharon Salzberg
We live in a transactional culture – one based on exchanging goods, services and money. If you go to a restaurant for dinner, you expect to pay for your meal. If you have a job, you expect to receive a salary. If you do something nice for someone, you may expect they will do something nice for you in return. Indeed, our interactions with others are often influenced by thoughts about what we will get in exchange.
Theravadin Buddhism sees things rather differently. For the past 2,600 years, it has operated on the principle of dana, which means generosity. With dana, there are no expectations, no strings and no rules. Dana is not a transaction or an exchange, but rather a gift given freely from the heart.
Dana is regarded as an important spiritual practice and a virtue in Buddhism because it confers so many benefits on the donor. Not only does it lead to an opening of the heart, it also reduces desire, greediness and anger. In short, it makes the donor feel better about themselves. Buddhists also believe that there are positive karmic effects that result from dana.
Ever since the time of the Buddha, monks and nuns have freely offered their teachings to anyone who wanted them. This form of generosity continues to this day in the west with some lay teachers in the insight/vipassana tradition, as well as with monks and nuns, freely offering the teachings. This is for two reasons. First, teaching itself is regarded as a form of spiritual practice and second, the teachings are considered priceless. Hence, in Theravadin Buddhism there is no obligation to pay or donate to teachers.
That said, it is common practice for students to show their appreciation by offering their teachers dana/generosity. It is important to note that this is not a transactional relationship or an exchange. In other words, dana offered to teachers is not a payment, a fee, an honorarium, a gratuity, or a tip. It is simply an expression of appreciation that recognizes the benefits of generosity and that everyone, including teachers, needs financial and material resources to live.
So for example, if you go to an event at a insight/vipassana retreat center in North America you will probably be asked to pay a registration fee, which covers the center’s expenses, but you will also be asked to offer dana to the teachers. Generally, the teachers receive little or no payment for the teachings they offer, although their expenses are paid.
Similarly, I freely offer the teachings and I invite you to consider offering dana. I’d like to make it clear that there is absolutely no obligation, and that I will continue to freely offer Buddhist teachings. So if you are experiencing financial hardship, no amount is too small and there is no requirement to offer dana.
Dana can be an unfamiliar and uncomfortable concept for westerners. If this is so for you, I invite you to try it and notice how you feel. One gives whatever feels appropriate, given one’s financial circumstances.
Thank you.
Theravadin Buddhism sees things rather differently. For the past 2,600 years, it has operated on the principle of dana, which means generosity. With dana, there are no expectations, no strings and no rules. Dana is not a transaction or an exchange, but rather a gift given freely from the heart.
Dana is regarded as an important spiritual practice and a virtue in Buddhism because it confers so many benefits on the donor. Not only does it lead to an opening of the heart, it also reduces desire, greediness and anger. In short, it makes the donor feel better about themselves. Buddhists also believe that there are positive karmic effects that result from dana.
Ever since the time of the Buddha, monks and nuns have freely offered their teachings to anyone who wanted them. This form of generosity continues to this day in the west with some lay teachers in the insight/vipassana tradition, as well as with monks and nuns, freely offering the teachings. This is for two reasons. First, teaching itself is regarded as a form of spiritual practice and second, the teachings are considered priceless. Hence, in Theravadin Buddhism there is no obligation to pay or donate to teachers.
That said, it is common practice for students to show their appreciation by offering their teachers dana/generosity. It is important to note that this is not a transactional relationship or an exchange. In other words, dana offered to teachers is not a payment, a fee, an honorarium, a gratuity, or a tip. It is simply an expression of appreciation that recognizes the benefits of generosity and that everyone, including teachers, needs financial and material resources to live.
So for example, if you go to an event at a insight/vipassana retreat center in North America you will probably be asked to pay a registration fee, which covers the center’s expenses, but you will also be asked to offer dana to the teachers. Generally, the teachers receive little or no payment for the teachings they offer, although their expenses are paid.
Similarly, I freely offer the teachings and I invite you to consider offering dana. I’d like to make it clear that there is absolutely no obligation, and that I will continue to freely offer Buddhist teachings. So if you are experiencing financial hardship, no amount is too small and there is no requirement to offer dana.
Dana can be an unfamiliar and uncomfortable concept for westerners. If this is so for you, I invite you to try it and notice how you feel. One gives whatever feels appropriate, given one’s financial circumstances.
Thank you.
