These are the three bases of developing merits for happiness in
this life and in future lives.
Däna (Generosity) group includes:
Däna (giving)
Transfer of merits to others
(pattidäna)
Rejoicing (accepting or
participating) in other’s merits (pattanumodana)
Sila (Morality) group includes:
Sila (morality), i.e., observing 5, 8, or 10 precepts
Reverence to elders and holy
persons (apacayana)
Pay homage to religious
places, take care of such places, etc (veyyavacca)
Bhavana (meditation) group includes:
Meditation (bhavana)
Listening to Dhamma
discourses (Dhamma savana)
Teaching Dhamma (Dhamma
desana)
Correcting one’s wrong
views, especially on kamma (ditthijukamma)
Act of giving - Dana
Giving, or dana, is the first of the ten
meritorious actions explained in Buddhism,
Gautama Buddha considered giving, or
generosity, as a fundamental and essential virtue in one’s spiritual development.
Hence, whenever Buddha gave a discourse to those new to His teaching, a
graduated approach was used that first discussed the importance and benefits of
giving (dana) before discussing other aspects such as moral conduct (sila),
meditation, (bhavana), law of cause and effect (kamma), dependent origination
(paticca samuppada) and the Four Noble Truths (ariya sacca).
The donor should be happy, mindful, and bear
wholesome volitions, or chetana, during the preparatory period until the act of
giving (pubba chetana), during the act of giving (munca chetana) and following
the act of giving whenever it is remembered and reflected (apara chetana).
Whenever one remembers and reflects on an act of giving, one should feel
gratified and rejoice it with no regrets. The volition at the time of giving
should be pure. If something is given with the expectation of receiving
material benefits, it is associated with greed and craving. True generosity is
the act of giving with no ulterior motive and with no expectation of anything
in return.
Act of giving (dana)
can generally be divided into three groups:
Material gifts – amisa dana
When offering a
material gift to someone else, if the quality of what is offered is lower than
the quality of what the donor consumes it becomes an offering of lesser
strength (hina dana). If the quality is similar, it is an
offering of medium strength (majjhima dana). If the quality is higher,
it is an offering of higher strength (panita dana).
Gift of fearlessness – abhaya dana
The gift of
fearlessness can be practised by practising loving kindness, or metta,
to all living beings, including the Saving lives of beings condemned to death.
Gift of the teaching (doctrine) – dhamma dana
The gift of dhamma
excels all gifts
The benefits of offering alms food to the Sangha
Except dana specially offered to Buddha and
Paccekabuddhas, Sanghika Dana excels all other forms of dana
Sharing of benefits of your good deeds to others (patti dana)
A lay
person who offer alms to sangha and sincerely dedicates the merits to the
departed relatives and karmic debtors brings immense benefits to them. The
benefits are many fold:
The food provide nourishment
to the Sangha
It benefits the departed
relatives and karmic debtors
It benefits the donor
Observe Precepts - Seela
The Buddha used the word Seela to
mean good conduct or virtue. Good conduct leads to good character.
Hence Seela means both good
conduct and good character. When you practise good habits and virtues you
develop good character.
Chanting before observance of
Seela is important as it gives more weight as you promise to follow them. All Buddhists try to observe Pancha Seela or
the Five Precepts. Very often, Day is started by reciting the Five Precepts.
5 precepts
The five precepts refer to: 1.
Respect for life of all living beings, 2. Respect for other people's property
and possessions and not to steal anything, 3. Avoid sexual misconduct, 4.
Respect for honesty in word and deed and 5. Keeping away from the use of
alcohol and drugs
·
Panatipata
veramani sikkhapadam samadiyami. (I
undertake the precept to refrain from destroying living creatures).
·
Adinnadana
veramani sikkhapadam samadiyami. (I undertake the precept to refrain from
taking that which is not given.
·
Abrahmacariya
veramani sikkhapadam samadiyami. (I undertake the precept to refrain from
sexual activity).
·
Musavada
veramani sikkhapadam samadiyami. (I undertake the precept to refrain from
incorrect speech).
·
Suramerayamajja
pamadatthana veramani sikkhapadam samadiyami. (I undertake the precept to
refrain from intoxicating drinks and drugs which lead to carelessness).
8 precepts
In most Buddhist countries people
usually observe Ata Sil or Eight Precepts for twenty-four hours at a time especially
on full moon poya day.
The five precepts clearly aim at
preventing people from committing misdeeds through word and deed that are harmful
to others. The additional three precepts aim at self-discipline or spiritual
advancement of one's self.
In their order, the additional
three precepts are as follows: (a) Not taking of normal meals such as a solid
food after mid-day. This is of course limited use of fasting. Every religion
has some sort of fasting. It promotes relaxation and energising of body.
Fasting clearly improves motivation and creative energy.
It also enhances health and
vitality and lets many of the body systems rest. (b) Keep away from customary
musical and theatrical entertainment and personal bodily grooming, (c) Avoid
use of extra-comfortable luxury-type beds and seats which are normally used in
the household.
The extra three Seela observed under 8 precepts
·
Vikalabhojana
veramani sikkhapadam samadiyami. (I undertake the precept to refrain from
eating at the forbidden time (i.e., after noon)).
·
Nacca-gita-vadita-visuka-dassana
veramani sikkhapadam samadiyami. (I undertake the precept to refrain from
dancing, singing, music, going to see entertainments).
·
Mala-gandha-vilepana-dharana-mandana-vibhusanatthana
veramani sikkhapadam samadiyami. (I undertake the precept to refrain from
wearing garlands, using perfumes, and beautifying the body with cosmetics).
10 precepts
These training rules are
observed by novice monks and nuns. They are derived from the Eight Precepts by
splitting the precept concerning entertainments into two parts and by adding
one rule prohibiting the handling of money.
A fully-ordained monk (bhikkhu) observes the 227 rules of the bhikkhu
Patimokkha; a fully ordained nun (bhikkhuni) would observe the 311 rules of the
bhikkhuni Patimokkha.
The extra two Seela observed under 10 precepts,
·
Uccasayana-mahasayana
veramani sikkhapadam samadiyami. (I undertake the precept to
refrain from lying on a high or luxurious sleeping place).
·
Jatarupa-rajata-patiggahana
veramani sikkhapadam samadiyami. (I undertake the precept to
refrain from accepting gold and silver (money) ).
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