Today I
am going to give you a dhamma talk on "DANA" If you ask
"What is meant by DANA?", it may be defined as alms-giving,
liberality, offering of food, clothing, personal amenities, money etc. , to
needy persons, parents, elders, relatives and monks etc. But, as in any other
good or bad action, so also in offering gifts, it is the noble intention and
volition that really counts as the action, not the mere outward deed.
All
Buddhists have strong conviction that meritorious deeds are the most dependable
refuge for the welfare of their lives, throughout the Samsara (the cycle of
existences). So it is customary for them to do meritorious deeds such as
Dana, Sila, Bhavana to their utmost. Now you may want to know the
resultant benefits of the meritorious deeds like Dana. Let us try and
understand the Lord Buddha's admonishment on the six kinds of Dana and
their resultant benefits as described in Samyutta Nikaya
Once upon a
time, while the Lord Buddha was residing at the Savatthi, Jetavana monastery,
one deva (celestial being) approached the Lord Buddha at midnight. He most
humbly paid obeisance and inquired -
- What to offer? So that it may amount to offering of vitality and strength
- What to offer? So that it may amount to offering of pleasant appearances
- What to offer? So that it may amount to offering of happiness and comfort
- What to offer? So that it may amount to offering of the eyes (visual
capacity)
- What to offer? So that it may amount to offering of all the four gifts.
The Enlightened One replied
thus O! Deva! -
- Offering of alms-food amounts to offering of vitality and strength.
- Offering of clothing and robes amounts to offering of pleasant
appearances.
- Offering of vehicle and conveyance amounts to offering of happiness and
comfort
- Offering of light (as of candles, lamps, electrical energy etc.) amounts
to offering of eyes (visual capacity).
- Offering of dwellings, lodgings, rest houses and monastic buildings amounts
to offering of all the four gifts and Lord Buddha added the sixth -
- Offering of Dhamma by preaching, admonishing or distributing and
propagating scriptures doctrinal books etc., amounts to offering of Nibbana
bliss - deliverance from all suffering.
These are the six kinds of
dana and their six corresponding resultant benefits, explained the Lord Buddha.
Now let us elaborate and try to understand one by one
1. Alms food dana:-
Even if a person is healthy and energetic, when he is deprived of his daily
normal food intake, he gradually become weak and lethargic. But, when his
nutrition is replenished, becomes hale and hearty again. So, alms food dana
amounts offering of vitality and strength
2. Offering of clothing,
robes, etc.:-
Though a person may have good looks, if his clothing dresses are dirty,
worn-out and rugged, his appearance will be very presentable. But when he is
adorned with neat and tidy dress, his appearance becomes pleasant and amiable.
So, offering of clothing robes etc. amounts to offering of pleasant
appearances.
3. Offering of vehicles,
conveyances: -
Offering of vehicles, conveyances and various means of travelling and
communications like motor cars, railways, boats, steamers, aeroplane, slippers,
shoes, umbrellas etc. contribution or maintenance of roads, bridges etc. all
bestow the travellers to reach their destinations with comfort, ease and
security. Thus offering of vehicles and conveyances amounts to offering of
comfort and happiness.
4.Offering of light:
-
Though a person's eyesight may be good if there is no light, it will not be
possible for him to move about properly in daily routine. That is how offering
of light amounts to offering of the eyes.
5. Offering of dwellings
etc.: -
A person, after a day's strenuous work or life's labour comes back under the
shelter of his dwelling and rest, will revitalize him. He will recuperate with
renewed vigour physically as well as mentally. That is how offering of
dwellings amount to offering of the all four gifts.
6. Offering of Dhamma:
-
Teachings, preachings, admonishments, exhortations of scriptures, canonical
texts, religious, ethical and moral literature etc. will accrue to those who
study, learn and practise in striving deliverance from all the samsaric
suffering. Hence, the offering of Dhamma amounts to offering of the eternal
bliss of Nibbana
In
conclusion, may you all be able to practise the above explained Danas
and attain the corresponding noble blessings and finally realise the eternal
bliss of Nibbana
Sadhu! Sadhu! Sadhu!
|
