Three kinds of gift are
mentioned in Buddhism, namely:
1: Amisa
dāna: The gift of material things,
2: Abhaya dāna: The fearless gift of life,
3: Dhamma dāna: The gift of real Truth...
Amisa
dāna:
– or the gift of material things is practised by people
of all religions and is very common. Food, clothes and houses are
given to people of little means or to refugees through various
religious and social organizations. It is, no doubt, a good thing to
satisfy the hunger of the starved & the yearning of the thirsty.
This type of donations is highly recommended in Buddhism and
is called the Amisa
dāna. (The donations of
material things).
Next comes the
Abhaya dāna: - or giving life to those who are in
danger of life caused by fire, water or enemies. Sometimes we
hear of people, who are about to die due to lack of blood.
To donate blood and save another humans life is indeed a great
thing. Donation of eyes and kidneys is also highly appreciated
and they come under Abhaya dāna – fearless donation of life.
The last one:
Dhamma dāna: - or the gift of Truth of the Doctrine
is said to be the highest of all donations on earth. Why so?
Because it opens the Door to the
Deathless Dimension!
This no other giving is even
remotely capable of...
The gift of Dhamma excels all
other Gifts. The flavour of Dhamma excels all other flavours. The
pleasure in Dhamma excels all other pleasures. He who has destroyed craving overcomes all sorrow. Dhammapada 354
Most Gods actually became Divine Beings as a
result of Giving!
