BuddhaMoon

The season of giving is upon us. So let’s talk about generosity from the perspective of enough, of our settling in the knowing we have enough and that there is enough for a world where everyone matters.

Giving is the action of generosity and it has a strong foothold in the Buddhist teachings as dana, the Pali (language of the Buddha) word for generosity. Dana, pronounced with a short “a” is …

“… not payment for goods or services rendered; it is given from the heart.” Giving, liberality; offering, alms. More generally, the inclination to give, without expecting any form of repayment from the recipient.*

In the teachings of the Buddha generosity as a primary gateway to freedom. Why, do you wonder? First let me share some observations and experiences I have had about giving, and receiving, and we may stumble into the answer to that question.

  1. I have given dana several times in the context of a meditation retreat. Upon reflection I can see that it was not exactly offered without expectation of exchange. Since I had already received so much from the teachers it was easy to give. Note to self: receiving makes giving easier.
  2. I have experienced other moments of generosity in the form of time offered to a friend, free coaching, banana bread made for our neighbors and veggies from our garden given to anyone who will take them. Here I have to admit that sometimes I secretly hope I’ll get something in return, if only an acknowledgement of my generosity or a greater sense of connection. Note to self: My giving can come from a longing to feel close or part of something and the acknowledgment from the other verifies this. If I let go of that need then I am instantly confronted by my mind state of separation.
  3. As a receiver of generosity in many different forms – from time from friends, childcare, and even money when my husband John had cancer – I have noticed that some kinds of receiving seem to be easier than others. Cancer money was painful to receive because I was so scared and vulnerable. Note to self: Our cultural conversation about making it on one’s own is so intense that certain kinds of receiving make it more challenging to break down the walls of separation and receive easily.

Giving and receiving are bound together, and we can learn a lot about ourselves, our assumptions and mindsets, when we engage on either side of generous action.

Stay tuned for Part 2 when Jen receives an actual gift of dana and what that produced. And join us on this Thursday November 21st at noon ET for a Community Call – Give Your Way to Enough – in partnership with The Great Give and The Global Sufficiency Network.

*This definition of dana is from “A Glossary of Pali and Buddhist Terms” at: http://www.accesstoinsight.org/glossary.html. (Permission granted to reprint here.)