Dāna - gift, or generosity

Dāna is an integral part of the Buddhist path - it’s a profound practice in itself. Generosity, dāna in Pali, is motivated by an unconditional care for life.

The Buddha says generosity allows us to “dwell at home with a mind devoid of miserliness, freely generous, openhearted, delighting in relinquishment, devoted to charity, delighting in giving and sharing.”

Generosity comes from an inner quality of letting go - when we give, we’re taking joy in what’s already here, and what has already been received. In the act, it releases the heart from attaching to scarcity and lack. It takes us beyond any sense of separateness, into a dance of recipcrocity… where the boundaries between ‘giver’ and ‘receiver’ dissolve. Phillip Moffitt expresses it well: “You are both giver and receiver in a never-ending dance of life in exchange with itself… You practice dana in order to be fully alive.”

In the Buddhist tradition, dating back over 2,500 years to the Buddha himself, the teachings are freely given because the dharma is felt to be of such immense benefit, that no monetary value can be placed upon it. Instead, it is given within the spirit of gift, and therefore enters into the gift economy. In this spirit, I offer all teachings free of charge. This also means that whoever wishes to hear the Buddha’s teachings - the Dharma - can do so, regardless of financial capacity.

If you are moved by any teachings I offer, and wish to offer dāna in response, I offer a bow of gratitude. This allows me to continue to study and practice, and to keep teaching!

Ways of offering dāna electronically -

EFT transfer:

Robyn Gibson - Bendigo Bank, BSB: 633000 Acc: 181165689

Paypal:

@robynleegibson (https://paypalme/robynleegibson)

May your gift lead directly to the wellbeing and freedom from pain of all beings everywhere.