Dāna – Charity

Dāna – charity

Donor – Things – Donee

I. There are 4 types of Dāna a/c to Vinaya Piṭaka

1.     Piṇḍapāta dāna      = Giving alms-food

2.     Cīvāra dāna           = Giving robes

3.     Senāsana dāna       = Giving dwelling place

4.     Bhesajja dāna        = Giving medicine.

II. There are 6 types of Dāna a/c to Abhidhamma Piṭaka:

1.     Rūpa dāna             = Giving material things

2.     Sadda dāna            = Giving sound

3.     Gandha dāna         = Giving smell

4.     Rasa dāna              = Giving taste

5.     Phoṭṭhabbā dāna    = Giving touch

6.     Dhamma dāna       = Giving mind-object or Dhamma

III. There are 10 types of Dāna a/c to Suttanta Piṭaka:

1.         Anna dāna           = Giving food or eatables …

2.         Pāna dāna           = Giving drinks, juice, syrups …

3.         Vattha dāna         = Giving clothes, garments …

4.         Yāna dāna           = Giving conveyances, carriage, vehicle …

5.         Māla dāna           = Giving flowers

6.         Gandha dāna       = Giving fragrance, scent

7.         Vilepana dāna      = Giving unguent, ointment

8.         Seyyā dāna          = Giving couch, bed etc.

9.         Āvasatha dāna     = Giving abode, (dwelling.)

10.     Padīpeyya dāna    = Giving light, lamp, material for lighting …

(Ref: Dīgha Nikāya Pāthika vagga)

IV. There are 5 types of Immoral gifts:

1.     Majja dāna             = Giving intoxicating drinks and drugs

2.     Samajja dāna         = Giving theatrical display

3.     Itthi dāna               = Giving women (for sensual pleasure)

4.     Usabha dāna = Giving bull (for mating, breeding)

5.     Cittakamma dāna  = Giving painting (pornographic or erotic)

(Ref: Vinaya Piṭaka, Parivāra, Pañcakavāra)

V. There are 5 great gifts:

1.     Pāṇātipātā veramaṇi                  = Abstaining from killing

2.     Adinnādāna veramaṇi               = Abstaining from taken what not given

3.     Kāmesumicchācārā veramaṇi    = Abstaining from sexual misconduct

4.     Musāvādā veramaṇi                  = Abstaining from telling lies

5.     Surameraya majjapamā daṭṭhānā veramaṇi = Abstaining from using intoxicating and drugs

          (Ref: Abhisanda sutta, Aṭṭhakathā nipāta, Aṅguttara Nikāya)

VI. There are 3 types of dāna classified a/c to 3 levels:

          Hīna dāna

          Majjhima dāna

          Panīta dāna