THE BENEFITS OF PRACTICING DĀNA

The practice of giving is an opportunity for givers to acquire merit (puñña) that leads to happiness both now and in the future, determines the quality of the life and contributes to the realization of Nibbāna. The benefits of practicing dāna are manifold.  The Buddha said even if one throws away the washings from a pot or bowl into a village pool or pond, wishing that beings there may feed on them, even this, would a be source of merit, not to speak of making a gift to human beings, recluse, monks and enlightened one.

The five benefits of practicing dāna: One is dear and appealing to people at large, one is admired by good people, one’s good name is spread about, one does not stray from the rightful duties of the householder, and with the break-up of the body at death, one reappears in a good destination, a heavenly world.

Once there lived in Savatthi, a lay Buddhist disciple by the name of Dhammika, who was virtuous and very fond of giving. He generously offered catu paccaya (food, shelter, clothing, medicines and other requisites) to the monks regularly and also on special occasions. He was, in fact, the leader of many virtuous lay Buddhists in Savatthi. Dhammika had many children and all of them, like their father, were virtuous and devoted to giving.

When Dhammika was very ill and was on his death-bed, he invited the Sangha to come and recite the Maha Satipatthana Sutta by his bedside. While the monks were reciting the Sutta, six decorated chariots from six devalokas (heavens) arrived to invite him to their respective worlds. Dhammika told them to wait for a while as he wanted to listen to the sutta. The monks, thinking that they were being asked to stop, so they stopped their recitation. Dhammika’s children saw their father’s abnormal behaviour and started to cry. The monks, finding themselves in an embarrassing situation returned to the monastery.

A little while later, Dhammika told his children about the six decorated chariots waiting for him. Then and there he decided to choose the chariot from the Tusita heaven and asked one of his children to throw a garland on to it. Then he passed away and was reborn in the Tusita heaven. Thus, the virtuous man rejoices in this world as well as in the next.