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 Generosity
(dāna or cāga) is a glad willingness
to share what one has with others. In Buddhism, generosity is seen as
a strategy to weaken greed, a way of helping others and a means of
lessening the economic disparities in society. Being one of the
cardinal Buddhist virtues the Buddha has a great deal to say about
giving and sharing. He said we can give to guests, to those setting
out on a journey, to the sick, the hungry, the poor and the
first-fruits to monks, nuns or spiritual teachers (A.III,41). When we
give or share we should, the Buddha advised, give with respect,
thoughtfully, with our own hand if possible, give things that will
benefit the recipient and after having considered how our gift might
benefit them (A.III,172). With typical skill and insight, he asked us
to see beyond the actual article we give to what it can actually do
for others. So for example he pointed out that: 'In giving food one
also gives life, beauty, happiness, strength and intelligence and in
giving these five things one also partakes in them, both now and
later' (A.III,42). While seeing the value of providing others with
their material needs, the Buddha reminded us that the highest, the
most helpful and precious thing we can give to others is the Dhamma
(Dhp.354). However, one has to get things in perspective. Giving a
sick person a book on Buddhism when they are in desperate need of
medicine or a doctor is not only inappropriate, it is void of wisdom
and compassion. This point is highlighted by the incident in
the Buddha's life. Once a man was so determined to hear the Dhamma
that he came to where the Buddha was speaking straight after a long
day's work. He had not even given himself time to rest, bathe or eat.
Having come to know of this, the Buddha asked the monks to give the
man something to eat before the Dhamma talk began (Dhp.a,262). |
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