Giving

-
There are varieties in the essential nature of Giving: (a) giving of the Buddhist Law (Dharma), teaching the Subline Doctrine without error; (b) giving of security against fear of men, fierce animals and the other elements; (c) giving of material things, either concretely or imaginatively.

Speaking generally, the household or layman Bodhisattva does the giving of material things and the Bodhisattva who has entered the religious life does the giving of the Law (Dharma).

An illustration of how the Bodhisattva practices all six Perfections simultaneously with Giving predominant, the Great Commentary on the 'Perfection of Insight in Eight Thousand Units' explains: At the time he practices, say the Giving of the Law, he has the Morality of restraint against the mental orientation of Sravaka and Pratyekabuddha; he has both the Forbearance with conviction of the Law of Omniscient One and the Forbearance of mistreatment by another.

He has the Striving purposive to promote ever higher that very (Giving); he has the Meditation of one-pointed mind not mixed with the Lower Vehicle, that transfers the merit of the perfected Bodhisattva to other sentient beings; and he has the Insight which knows in the manner of an illusion all three, the gift, the giver and the receiver.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Sanghika Dana (Charity meant for the order of the Sangha)

-
The Pali word of Sanghika Dana means offering alms and other requisites to the Order of the Sangha. Supposed you donate one dollar to an association, all members rich or poor are entitled to that one dollar. Similarly, if a bowl of alms food or a set of robes is offered to the Sangha, then all members of the order are entitled to those offertories. You need not go around the world to give alms to the Sangha Order. An offer to any member of the Sangha in general will automatically amount to Sanghika Dana. All members are entitled to such offertories. They can share it between them. How to project one's goodwill? In offering Sanghika Dana, a donor's mind must be directed to the Order of the Sangha in general. Even though you utter Samghassa demi , I offer it to the Order of Sangha, if you have in mind a particular monk or a particular monastery, your charity cannot be Sanghika Dana. Offering alms food to any monk on daily alms-round or to a certain monk designated by the Order of
Read more

Meaning of Kathina

-
Image
In the commentary to the Kathinakkhandaka (Section on Kathina) of the Vinaya Pitaka, kathina is defined as a concept of conglomeration which means bringing things together. It is a concept that arises because of certain things that come together. For example: A Bhikkhu/s (Buddhist monk/s) who has/have spent the first vassa; A Sangha (Community of Bhikkhus) comprising at least five bhikkhus; Robe season (the Kathina month) - first month after the end of the first vassa i.e. final month of the rainy season; A rightfully acquired robe - the robe to be donated must not be requested by a member of the Sangha, nor must any hint be given for the robe to be offered, rather the robe must be offered spontaneously by the donor. These are some criterias that come together for the concept of kathina to arise. In fact, two meanings of kathina are given in the Vinaya Commentaries: A frame used during the Buddha's time for sewing double layered robes together. The edges of one robe were fixed to
Read more

Sammaditthi Meditation Grove, Sungai Petani, Kedah

-
Image
I had recently visited the Sammaditthi Meditation Grove (SMG) situated at Lot 617, Tanah Kubur Cina, Sungai Pasir, 08000 Sungai Petani, Kedah. SMG is the latest Buddhist centre of Theravada tradition to be constructed in Sungai Petani. The construction of its Sima Hall had almost completed, kutis (monk's huts) are also been constructed to accommodate the resident and visiting members of the Sangha. Their daily activities include morning pujas, followed by breakfast and lunch danas, where devotees are encouraged to perform their meritorious deeds. Sadhu, Sadhu, Sadhu.
Read more