Dana (Giving)
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Dana is an ancient Pali word meaning "generosity," "giving" or "gift." It is directly related to the Latin word donum and through this to such English words as donor, donate and donation. But dana does not just mean money. It can also be the donation of time. Just being there in the Temple, is a donation of body and time, as is quietly listening.
Dana is intrinsic to the 2500 year-old Buddhist tradition. Going back to the days of the Buddha the teachings were considered priceless and thus offered freely as a form of dana. The early teachers received no payment for their instruction, and in turn, the lay community saw to it through their voluntary generosity, their dana, that the basic needs of food, clothing, shelter and medicine were provided for these monks and nuns.
Here at RBC, we see this action of selfless giving in many forms throughout our community. For example, this happens when temple members give monetary donations to the temple. It is important to understand that everything we have in the temple is the result of laypeople sharing what they have with the rest of us. RBC exists in a big, beautiful, old building right in the heart of Midtown Reno. The generosity of the Sangha literally keeps the lights on, the heat flowing and the water bill paid. Even the priests' allowance is the result of laypeople practicing dana. Every single thing, even the pencils in the office, is there because of dana!
We have so much gratitude for those who give of themselves, in any form! Thank you! We would not be here without the generosity of our Sangha community.
Dana is intrinsic to the 2500 year-old Buddhist tradition. Going back to the days of the Buddha the teachings were considered priceless and thus offered freely as a form of dana. The early teachers received no payment for their instruction, and in turn, the lay community saw to it through their voluntary generosity, their dana, that the basic needs of food, clothing, shelter and medicine were provided for these monks and nuns.
Here at RBC, we see this action of selfless giving in many forms throughout our community. For example, this happens when temple members give monetary donations to the temple. It is important to understand that everything we have in the temple is the result of laypeople sharing what they have with the rest of us. RBC exists in a big, beautiful, old building right in the heart of Midtown Reno. The generosity of the Sangha literally keeps the lights on, the heat flowing and the water bill paid. Even the priests' allowance is the result of laypeople practicing dana. Every single thing, even the pencils in the office, is there because of dana!
We have so much gratitude for those who give of themselves, in any form! Thank you! We would not be here without the generosity of our Sangha community.