Dear my Rene',

I was so happy to have a chance to get to know the foreigners who are interested in Buddhism. At the end of December, there's a group from Singapore who stay over nights at the Temple (Wat), some of them are old but some are new members. I get to talk to one of the new members who has studied about Buddhism. But he does not understand it well.

"From a teacher's discourse, he said that Bhavana(meditation) gives rise to wisdom...
...This is why Wat Phra Dhammakaya puts emphasis on Bhavana..
...But I'm not quite clear why you said that Dana (giving) comes first, why not Bhavana."

"Well, Buddhist making-merit can be classified into three items, namely, Dana (giving), Sila (morality), and Bhavana (meditation)...
...According to the Vinaya (discipline), the Sanhga are not allowed to earn their livelihood...
...Their only meterail income comes from almsgathering...
...Their main duty is to study and spread Dhamma...
...So it is the duty of lay Buddhists to support the Sangha...
...In this way the life of Buddhism can be prolonged...
...This is why I said "Dana comes first."

"Oh, I see."

"Anyway, among the three items, Dana is the most convenient for laypeople to do, right?"

"I'm not sure."

"Supposing you are a businessman, I'm sure that it will be more convenient for you to give a few gifts to the Sangha or anyone else than to practice meditation even for 15 minutes."

"What about the poor-if they have no money?"

"Well, in Buddhism, Dana can be classified into three items, namely, meterial gifts, gifts of the Dhamma, and forgiveness...
...If one is not ready to give meterial gifts, there are the other two to do...
...However, the gift of the Dhamma is comtemplated to be the most important as the Buddhist proverb: The gift of Dhamma excels all other gifts.
...This is because if brings human beings wisdom which will stay with them in future lives.
...Wise men are sorely needed by our society and the world....
...It is the wise men that bring peace for the world...
...Forgiveness is also important, don't you think so?"

"That depends..."

"Generally speaking, if we do not forgive each other, if no-one forgives anyone else who upsets them, undoubtedly, there will be warface worldwide...
...If you can't forgive, you can't give calm, then, how can you concentrate your mind?...
...Now you can see that Dana does not only refer to material gifts...
...However, our meterial gifts in this life will become our provision for the hereafter...
...That is to say we would be born to inherit riches in the hereafter...
...The Abbot always says that it might be impossible for the poor to make merit. So Dana must be the first priority to be done if possible. And it will help suppot the doer to achieve morality (sila) and meditation."

"Thanks a lot for your valuable advice."

"It is my pleasure because every time I give Dhamma advice as a gift. I gain a merit."

Actually, we haven't finish about the Dana yet but that's all for now. What will you do to help to prolong the life of Buddhism? :)

Love always,
Zasha