~ 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.
Theravada 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 from the heart.
Dana is regarded as an essential spiritual practice in Buddhism because it confers so many benefits on the donor. Not only does it reveal our attachment and clinging to money, it also leads to an opening of the heart. In short, it makes the donor feel better about themselves. Some Buddhists also believe that there are positive karmic effects that result from dana.
Ever since the time of the Buddha, many 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 teachers, monks and nuns. And it is in this tradition that I offer all my services on a dana basis.
That said, it is common practice for students to show their gratitude by offering dana/generosity to their teachers, as an expression of appreciation that recognizes that everyone, including teachers, needs financial and material resources to live.
Dana can be an unfamiliar and even uncomfortable concept for westerners. If this is so for you, I invite you to try it and notice how you feel. You'll probably feel good about yourself afterwards!
Thank you.
Theravada 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 from the heart.
Dana is regarded as an essential spiritual practice in Buddhism because it confers so many benefits on the donor. Not only does it reveal our attachment and clinging to money, it also leads to an opening of the heart. In short, it makes the donor feel better about themselves. Some Buddhists also believe that there are positive karmic effects that result from dana.
Ever since the time of the Buddha, many 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 teachers, monks and nuns. And it is in this tradition that I offer all my services on a dana basis.
That said, it is common practice for students to show their gratitude by offering dana/generosity to their teachers, as an expression of appreciation that recognizes that everyone, including teachers, needs financial and material resources to live.
Dana can be an unfamiliar and even uncomfortable concept for westerners. If this is so for you, I invite you to try it and notice how you feel. You'll probably feel good about yourself afterwards!
Thank you.
