Knowra Dāna Dāna Dāna is generosity or giving, especially the offering of food, necessities, or support to Buddhist monastics and communities. It is practiced as a form of generosity and can cultivate non-attachment.
Alms : Donations of food, money, or other necessities given to people in need or to religious practitioners. Daily alms-giving is a familiar form of supporting Buddhist monastics.
Cetanā : Intention or volition, understood in Buddhist thought as central to the ethical character of action. The intention behind a gift matters alongside the material offering.
Pāramitā : A perfection or virtue cultivated on the path to awakening in Mahayana Buddhism and other Buddhist traditions. Generosity is the first pāramitā in many Mahayana presentations of the path.
Sīla : Moral conduct or ethical discipline in Buddhism, commonly expressed through precepts and restraint. Sīla emphasizes restraint, while dāna centers on freely giving.
Pindapata : The Buddhist monastic practice of collecting alms by walking for food, especially in Theravada traditions. This ritual makes the exchange between householders and monastics visible.
Nonattachment : Freedom from clinging to possessions, experiences, or views. Dāna can train the loosening of attachment to what is given.
Bodhisattva : A being who pursues awakening for the benefit of all beings, especially in Mahayana Buddhism. Bodhisattva practice makes generosity part of a wider commitment to others.
Bhāvanā : Mental cultivation in Buddhism, including practices that develop concentration, insight, or loving-kindness. Bhāvanā cultivates the mind directly; dāna begins with generosity in action.
Kathina : An annual Theravada Buddhist ceremony in which laypeople offer robes and other requisites to monastics after the rains retreat. Its communal robe offering is a formal, seasonal expression of dāna.
Buddhist ethics : The principles and practices through which Buddhist traditions assess conduct and cultivate wholesome action. Generosity is commonly presented as an ethical virtue within Buddhist practice.
Show all 21