This is the joy of true happiness,

The true joy of the Buddha.

MEDITATION – 3 things to be regulated and focused:

1. BODY: - to regulatea) Sit steady, upright, comfortable, calm w/o moving unintentionally, w/o stress and tension.b) Eyes closed, mouth shuts, tongue touching upper palate of mouth effortlessly, arm pits ventilated.

2. BREATH – object of concentrationRegulate your breathing until the inhalations & exhalations gradually become gentler, slower w/o noise & in a consistent pattern, as if there were no breathing at all.

3. THE MIND – the master focusing on the breathFix the mind on an object i.e. the breath. Keep it from being scattered, frombecoming sleepy or restless. When the mind is concentrated & in equanimity,it naturally becomes secure & steady. When the mind is the master, the body is in a state of quiet stillness, the mind and breath, mutually dependent, then reach the state of concentration.

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Rigid thinking is a human trait that can be hard to discern in oneself. Rather than worrying about other people's rigid thinking, it makes more sense--in line with what the Buddha discovered and shared with us--to look at our own thinking.

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Wi-Fi SDIO

Happiness is not so much in having as in sharing.

We make a living by what we get

but we make a life out of what we give.

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3 WHOLESOME ACTS 3 WHOLESOME ACTS

The 3 Wholesome Acts start with The 3 Wholesome Acts start with

Giving (dana), followed by precepts (sila) and Giving (dana), followed by precepts (sila) and

meditation. meditation.

However both giving and keeping precepts per se However both giving and keeping precepts per se

will not lead us to attain Nirvana. will not lead us to attain Nirvana.

The Buddha said:The Buddha said:

““O monks, if a person wishes to realise through the O monks, if a person wishes to realise through the

cessation of defilements, a state of mental cessation of defilements, a state of mental

emancipation, namely the attainment of Arhatship emancipation, namely the attainment of Arhatship

which is free from all defilements during this birth which is free from all defilements during this birth

itself, he should first perfect precepts and then itself, he should first perfect precepts and then

proceed to meditation.” proceed to meditation.”

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Then, is it fruitless to perform Then, is it fruitless to perform meritorious deeds?meritorious deeds?

A person who wishes to attain Nirvana, he A person who wishes to attain Nirvana, he needs to be born in a state suitable for attaining needs to be born in a state suitable for attaining the Path and the Fruits. This state can only the Path and the Fruits. This state can only come about by performing meritorious deeds of come about by performing meritorious deeds of giving and percepts observance. giving and percepts observance.

Thus, meritorious deeds indirectly help the Thus, meritorious deeds indirectly help the attainment of Nirvana. attainment of Nirvana.

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DANADANA

DANA - The first topic for discussion before Buddha DANA - The first topic for discussion before Buddha starts with other graduated teachings starts with other graduated teachings

Buddha starts with emphasizing the virtue of givingBuddha starts with emphasizing the virtue of giving

Dana not primary factor of enlightenment.Dana not primary factor of enlightenment.

Fulfills the Fulfills the basic necessities of lifebasic necessities of life (food, clothing, (food, clothing, lodging & medication) and the preparation to free the lodging & medication) and the preparation to free the mind from defilements.mind from defilements.

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The Importance of Practicing Dana:The Importance of Practicing Dana:

the 1st of the 3 the 1st of the 3 wholesome actswholesome acts

the 1st of the 6 perfections of a Bodhisattva (giving, the 1st of the 6 perfections of a Bodhisattva (giving, morality, patience, effort, meditation & wisdom)morality, patience, effort, meditation & wisdom)

the 1the 1stst of the 4 skillful means or embracing virtues of the 4 skillful means or embracing virtues (giving, loving speech, beneficial action and team spirit)(giving, loving speech, beneficial action and team spirit)

WHERE DO MATERIAL NECESSITIES COME FROM?WHERE DO MATERIAL NECESSITIES COME FROM?

1)1) Through hard work and technological Through hard work and technological development - which is a superficial development - which is a superficial understanding of the present condition. understanding of the present condition.

2)2) The underlying primary condition – is the The underlying primary condition – is the karma of previous existence. karma of previous existence.

3)3) Buddha said: “All material necessities of Buddha said: “All material necessities of this life come from the good karma of being this life come from the good karma of being charitable with our possessions.” charitable with our possessions.”

WHERE DO MATERIAL NECESSITIES COME FROM?WHERE DO MATERIAL NECESSITIES COME FROM?

The 4 Uses of Possessions:The 4 Uses of Possessions:

a)a) Unused possessions mean nothing to us when we dieUnused possessions mean nothing to us when we die

b)b) Enjoy or waste them -- depleted and goneEnjoy or waste them -- depleted and gone

c)c) For charity -- become the basis for material happiness in For charity -- become the basis for material happiness in future lives (future CPF). Like sowing grains in a field that future lives (future CPF). Like sowing grains in a field that yield 10 to 100 times in return.yield 10 to 100 times in return.

d)d) All Natural Resources come from shared karma, who in turn All Natural Resources come from shared karma, who in turn gather and process them according to individual past karmagather and process them according to individual past karma

e)e) Although present effort is necessary to excavate and Although present effort is necessary to excavate and manufacture things, but if not for past cause of giving, these manufacture things, but if not for past cause of giving, these material resources would not exist.material resources would not exist.

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2 MAIN REQUIREMENTS IN DANA 2 MAIN REQUIREMENTS IN DANA

““One should give willingly and in ways One should give willingly and in ways

that are beneficial to others.that are beneficial to others.

Having compassion or respect in different circumstances.Having compassion or respect in different circumstances.

There are differences in attitudes, in the fields of good There are differences in attitudes, in the fields of good fortune,fortune,

And in substance givenAnd in substance given

And accordingly there are differences in the levels of merit.”And accordingly there are differences in the levels of merit.”

Verse 46 … Page 80 TWTBVerse 46 … Page 80 TWTB

Two Main Requirements In Giving:Two Main Requirements In Giving:

1) being willing & 2) being beneficial1) being willing & 2) being beneficial

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BEING WILLING & BENEFICIALBEING WILLING & BENEFICIAL

a)a) Giving through lending or with reluctance Giving through lending or with reluctance and heartache – cannot be counted as and heartache – cannot be counted as charity.charity.

b)b) What is given should be beneficial to What is given should be beneficial to receivers without harmful intention.receivers without harmful intention.

c)c) Mahayana spirit: giving to benefit others Mahayana spirit: giving to benefit others even at one own’s expenses. Such merits even at one own’s expenses. Such merits are immeasurable.are immeasurable.

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THE DON’TS OF DANA THE DON’TS OF DANA

““One should give in a proper wayOne should give in a proper way

And not from social pressure, fear or indebtedness;And not from social pressure, fear or indebtedness;

One should not expect rewards One should not expect rewards

or merely follow family traditions;or merely follow family traditions;

Nor should one ask for Nor should one ask for

divine good fortune or for fame.”divine good fortune or for fame.” Verse 47 … Page 82 TWTBVerse 47 … Page 82 TWTB

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IMPURE DANA – (Pg 82)IMPURE DANA – (Pg 82)7 TYPES:7 TYPES:

1)1) Under pressure and reluctantly with heartacheUnder pressure and reluctantly with heartache2)2) From fear – when one’s wealth, authority, From fear – when one’s wealth, authority,

position or life is threatened or in danger of position or life is threatened or in danger of losing. Giving in the hope to obtain rewards, losing. Giving in the hope to obtain rewards, blessings and elimination of bad luck, blessings and elimination of bad luck, expectancy of longer life. expectancy of longer life.

3)3) From indebtedness – to demons, spirits etc. From indebtedness – to demons, spirits etc. 4)4) Expecting Rewards - in kind or otherwise.Expecting Rewards - in kind or otherwise.5)5) Merely to follow family traditions, a habit or Merely to follow family traditions, a habit or

annual routine event to the 3 Treasures or charity. annual routine event to the 3 Treasures or charity. 6)6) To please devas in return for divine good fortune.To please devas in return for divine good fortune.7)7) For the sake of fame, honour. For the sake of fame, honour.

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CONCLUSIONCONCLUSION

The Buddha said that the practice of giving helps us to purify our The Buddha said that the practice of giving helps us to purify our

mind. mind.

Generous gifts accompanied by wholesome intention help to Generous gifts accompanied by wholesome intention help to

eradicate suffering in 4 ways:- eradicate suffering in 4 ways:- reduces our attachment to the object, thus weakens our reduces our attachment to the object, thus weakens our

mental craving; mental craving; helps us develop virtue, concentration and wisdom helps us develop virtue, concentration and wisdom (sila,(sila,

samadhi,samadhi, pañña)pañña);; leads to happy future births favorable to encountering and leads to happy future births favorable to encountering and

practicing the pure Buddha Dharma; practicing the pure Buddha Dharma; makes our mind pliant (not fixated) enough for the attainment makes our mind pliant (not fixated) enough for the attainment

of Nirvana of Nirvana

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Once the Buddha said that if people only Once the Buddha said that if people only knew the value of giving as he does, knew the value of giving as he does,

they would not take a single meal they would not take a single meal without sharing their food with others. without sharing their food with others.

(It.p,18).(It.p,18).

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DIFFICULTY DIFFICULTY

1) It is difficult to exercise the virtue of giving 1) It is difficult to exercise the virtue of giving

In proportion to the intensity of one's greed/ selfishness. In proportion to the intensity of one's greed/ selfishness.

2) Devata-samyutta equates dana cultivation 2) Devata-samyutta equates dana cultivation

to a battle. One has to fight the negative forces of to a battle. One has to fight the negative forces of

greed/ attachment before one can make up one's mind greed/ attachment before one can make up one's mind

to give away something precious and useful to oneself. to give away something precious and useful to oneself.

3) The Latukikopama Sutta illustrates how a man lacking 3) The Latukikopama Sutta illustrates how a man lacking

in spiritual strength finds it hard to give up a thing he in spiritual strength finds it hard to give up a thing he

has been used to (M.i, 449).has been used to (M.i, 449).

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QUALITIES OF A GIVER QUALITIES OF A GIVER

One keeps an open house for the needyOne keeps an open house for the needy

1. Become a wellspring for recluses, brahmans, the1. Become a wellspring for recluses, brahmans, the destitute, wayfarers, wanderers and beggars destitute, wayfarers, wanderers and beggars 2. Generous of his blessings with others 2. Generous of his blessings with others 3. Understands the difficulties of the poor 3. Understands the difficulties of the poor (vadannu)(vadannu) 4. Open-handed / ready to comply with another's 4. Open-handed / ready to comply with another's requestrequest5. Fit to be asked from 5. Fit to be asked from (yacayogo).(yacayogo). 6. Delighted in distributing gifts to the needy/ heart bent 6. Delighted in distributing gifts to the needy/ heart bent on givingon giving..

Such are the praises used in the suttas to describe the Such are the praises used in the suttas to describe the qualities of a giver.qualities of a giver.

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A noble giver is one who is happy before, during and A noble giver is one who is happy before, during and after giving (A.iii,336). after giving (A.iii,336).

1. Before giving he is happy anticipating the 1. Before giving he is happy anticipating the opportunity to exercise his generosity. opportunity to exercise his generosity. 2. While giving he is happy that he is making another2. While giving he is happy that he is making another being happy by fulfilling a need. being happy by fulfilling a need. 3. After giving he is satisfied that a good deed is done.3. After giving he is satisfied that a good deed is done.

The Buddha compares the man who righteously The Buddha compares the man who righteously earns his wealth and gives to the needy - as a man whoearns his wealth and gives to the needy - as a man who has both eyes, whereas the one who only earns wealthhas both eyes, whereas the one who only earns wealth but does no merit is like a one-eyed man (A.i,129-30).but does no merit is like a one-eyed man (A.i,129-30). The wealthy man who enjoys his riches by himself The wealthy man who enjoys his riches by himself without sharing is said to be digging his own grave without sharing is said to be digging his own grave (Sn. 102).).(Sn. 102).).

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Giving with faith Giving with faith (saddhaya deti)(saddhaya deti) is is praised suttas (A.iii,172), especially praised suttas (A.iii,172), especially when offering alms to the sangha, one when offering alms to the sangha, one should do with reverence and respect, should do with reverence and respect, taking delight in the opportunity given to taking delight in the opportunity given to serve them. serve them.

In the act of giving one should take care In the act of giving one should take care not to hurt oneself or another not to hurt oneself or another ..

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More than what is given, it is the More than what is given, it is the manner of giving that makes a gift manner of giving that makes a gift valuable. valuable.

One may not be able to afford a lavish One may not be able to afford a lavish gift, but one can always make the gift, but one can always make the recipient feel cared for by the manner recipient feel cared for by the manner of giving.of giving.

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May all beings be free of suffering