Keyword #12 Dāna

Generosity, giving

Dear EL Reader,

I hope this letter finds you well—in body, mind, and spirit. During my time away from our online correspondence, I focused on a professional upgrade. Today, I return with wonderful news: I have been awarded a position in Chinese language and culture at the lyceum here in Italy. With more time now to devote to writing, I am delighted to resume my correspondence with you.

As we discuss writing, the gift of writing, today’s keyword will be “dāna.” Let’s begin with an exploration of this term across four Buddhist languages.

Sanskrit: dāna दान

Pāli: dāna

Chinese: bùshī 布施

Tibetan: sbyin pa སྦྱིན་པ་

Definition
Dāna is often translated as “giving” or “generosity.” Essential to both lay and monastic ethics, dāna encourages selfless giving. As a first step in moral cultivation, dāna generates positive karma. In so doing, dāna lays down the foundation for future prosperity and advances spiritual progress toward enlightenment.

Significance
In Buddhist teachings, dāna is more than mere charity; it is the foundation of ethical practice. Dāna allows practitioners to overcome attachment. In the Anupūrvikathā, or “Graduated Discourse,” the Buddha introduces dāna as the starting point for training lay followers. Generosity precedes the teachings on right conduct (śīla) and the joys of heavenly rebirth (svargakathā). This sequence affirms the principle that the practice of morality begins with generosity. Dāna is divided into three types: material gifts (āmiṣadāna), the gift of fearlessness (abhayadāna), and the gift of religious teachings (dharmadāna). Of these, dharmadāna, “giving the teachings,” is most esteemed, as it aids in liberation from saṃsāra, the cycle of birth and death.

Over time, dāna evolved as a structured practice, especially in the Mahāyāna, where it is the first of the six perfections (ṣaḍ-pāramitā) on the bodhisattva path. Here, dāna-pāramitā, or the “perfection of generosity,” implies giving freely. A well-known example of this is the story of Prince Vessantara, a bodhisattva who gives away his kingdom, children, and wife—a series of deeds that illustrate his ultimate selflessness. Found in Avadāna and Jātaka literatures, this story resonates throughout Buddhist cultures. It serves as a model of absolute generosity and shows the extent to which one might give for the benefit of others.

Buddhist literature offers other stories that portray dāna as a practice of generosity. In one famous tale, the Buddha, in a past life as a bodhisattva, sacrifices his own body to nourish a starving tigress and her cubs—an instance of dehadāna, or “gift of the body.” These stories explain the karmic rewards of giving and illustrate how selfless actions generate merit for future lives. Dāna in these narratives serves as both ethical guidance and moral inspiration. In turn, this links generosity with the cultivation of compassion, wisdom, and ultimately liberation. The recurring theme is that by giving freely, the giver undergoes a personal transformation. The process aligns with the Buddha’s teachings on non-attachment.

In summary, dāna embodies the spirit of generosity in Buddhism. Through narratives of remarkable sacrifice, dāna exemplifies the Buddhist path of merging ethical growth with the cultivation of wisdom and compassion.

Thank you for being here today. I’ll see you soon.

All the best,

Martino