A monk once asked Hui-hai, “What is the gate of Zen practice?” 
Hui-hai answered, “Complete giving.”

The Six Perfections, or Paramitas, are guides for practitioners on the Bodhisattva path. By developing these qualities, we can transcend our concept of self and reach the other shore – Enlightenment. The Six Paramitas, or transcendent Perfections, are generosity, ethical conduct, patience, diligence, meditation, and wisdom. Here, we will focus on Dana, commonly translated as generosity.

First, let us first experience generosity:

In 1997 Fred Rogers, known to millions as the TV Mr. Rogers,  gave this acceptance speech after receiving an Emmy: 
Please watch and do as he requests

How did you feel? What did you realize about generosity? Yourself?

Dana means to give freely, out of compassion for another’s well-being without expecting anything in return. While dana can also mean the object being given, here we examine  living with a generous spirit. Practicing generosity is not so much what or how much we give, but how we live  with an open heart, not just singular acts of giving, moving through life aware and attentive for opportunities to extend generosity.

The Buddha said that a true spiritual life is not possible without a generous heart.

Dana is the first paramita for good reason; it is the foundation of so many teachings. The Buddha considered giving as the highest motivation for Nirvana, saying “one gives gifts to adorn and beautify the mind.” These adornments include non-attachment, compassion, kindness, selflessness, warmth, and care for others. It is opening our hearts, responding to the world wisely and compassionately and giving what is needed. Dana also includes being grateful for the generosity shown to you, as well as the ability to extend generosity and compassion to ourselves. 

The Practice of Generosity
If generosity does not come easily for you, then a closer examination can become an important part of your practice.

Generosity is not limited to giving material things or money. We can be generous with our kindness, patience, empathy, and openness. Generosity can mean 

• Giving a smile
• Reaching out to someone who is in difficulty
• Really listening to a friend
• Letting that driver into your lane in a construction zone
• Finding time to volunteer
• Even graciously receiving the generosity of others  is a form of generosity

With focused introspection, we can explore what prevents us from being generous. Perhaps there are good reasons not to give; we warn against “idiot compassion,” especially if being generous would cause suffering for yourself.

But if these are not the obstacles, here is a wonderful opportunity to see where you are stuck, where you cannot let go, what you withhold and why. What part of your ego are you protecting? What will be lost if you give? What might you gain?

As a practice, dāna is about learning from the giving and from the resistance – to discern what is best for us and others, and to experience the freedom of letting go. 

Intention
Buddhist teachings also speak of the value of giving:

In this world, monks, there are three things
[of value] for one who gives.
What are these three things?
Before giving, the mind of the giver is happy.
While giving the mind of the giver is made peaceful.
After having given, the mind of the giver is uplifted.
–Anguttara Nikaya 6.37

But do we give

• With annoyance
• Out of fear or shame
• Expecting something in return
• Because we “think” it’s a good idea
• To gain a good reputation
• More than is within our means?

When we are practicing generosity, if our minds are not happy, peaceful, and uplifted and free of ego, we should pay close attention to our motivations for giving and perhaps even re-evaluate whether to give at all.

The Perfection
It is important to remember that the giver, receiver, and gift are one, inextricably connected. Knowing this, we understand there is no giver, no receiver, and no gift or any conditions with the gift. Just pure giving. This is the perfection of dana, the perfection of wisdom.

Think again of your ten seconds with Mr. Rogers:

“All of us have special ones who loved us into being… think of the people who have helped you become who you are, those who cared about you and wanted what was best for you in life.  Whomever you’ve been thinking about, how pleased they must be to know the difference you feel they have made.”

Recognition and appreciation of all the generosity we have received opens our hearts even more to share this abundance with others. It makes a difference.

It’s a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood
For the next ten seconds (I’ll watch the time),  think about someone who could use some loving generosity.

10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1

Now, it’s up to you.

For further exploration

Rich Generosity – Master Shen Yen

The First Paramita: Dana, Generosity – Joan Halifax Roshi

The Dance of Reciprocity – Melinda Bondy

The Ghost in the Laundry Room – Kent Jarrett