Generosity and Dana
Comparing almsgiving in the Bible with generosity (布施, dāna) in Buddhist sutras. Exploring the spirit of sharing and the meaning of genuine giving as taught by both traditions.
The Spirit of Giving
ἕκαστος καθὼς προῄρηται τῇ καρδίᾳ, μὴ ἐκ λύπης ἢ ἐξ ἀνάγκης· ἱλαρὸν γὰρ δότην ἀγαπᾷ ὁ θεός
“So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.”
施者受者兩俱淨，一飯亦能招大果
“When both giver and receiver are pure, even a single meal can bring great fruit.”
The Greatest Gift
καὶ προσκαλεσάμενος τοὺς μαθητὰς αὐτοῦ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς· ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν ὅτι ἡ χήρα αὕτη ἡ πτωχὴ πλεῖον πάντων ἔβαλεν τῶν βαλλόντων εἰς τὸ γαζοφυλάκιον· πάντες γὰρ ἐκ τοῦ περισσεύοντος αὐτοῖς ἔβαλον, αὕτη δὲ ἐκ τῆς ὑστερήσεως αὐτῆς πάντα ὅσα εἶχεν ἔβαλεν, ὅλον τὸν βίον αὐτῆς
“So He called His disciples to Himself and said to them, 'Assuredly, I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all those who have given to the treasury; for they all put in out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all that she had, her whole livelihood.'”
菩薩行檀波羅蜜，乃至身命亦能施與
“When a bodhisattva practices the perfection of generosity (dāna-pāramitā), he is even able to give his own body and life.”
Invisible Giving
σοῦ δὲ ποιοῦντος ἐλεημοσύνην μὴ γνώτω ἡ ἀριστερά σου τί ποιεῖ ἡ δεξιά σου, ὅπως ᾖ σου ἡ ἐλεημοσύνη ἐν τῷ κρυπτῷ· καὶ ὁ πατήρ σου ὁ βλέπων ἐν τῷ κρυπτῷ αὐτὸς ἀποδώσει σοι
“But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly.”
菩薩於法應無所住行於布施。所謂不住色布施，不住聲香味觸法布施
“The bodhisattva should practice generosity without dwelling on any dharma — that is, giving without dwelling on form, and giving without dwelling on sound, smell, taste, touch, or mental objects.”