Dāna

_Dāna _differs radically from Western conceptions of charitable giving, which tend to assume a relationship of obligation or accountability between giver and recipient. _Dāna _imposes no such bond. Rather than any worldly reward, _dāna _offers spiritual enrichment to the giver, in the belief that the act of selfless giving will purify the mind, alleviating the suffering associated with egoism and greed. When practiced with an open heart and pure intention, _dāna _also builds good karma—the consequences of one’s actions—increasing the giver’s chances for a positive future either in this life or the next.

The Upanishads, the Bhagavad Gita, the Sutta Pitaka and other ancient Indian sacred texts illustrate various dimensions and expressions of dāna. In Hinduism and Sikhism, for example, an important form of dāna _is _sevā, or selfless service to those in need. The practice of sevā, such as volunteering at a community center or bringing soup to a sick neighbor, reflects one’s spiritual dedication to the welfare of others. In Buddhism, the spiritual teacher who leads a meditation retreat or gives a public Dharma talk without expectation of payment is practicing dāna. In Jainism, acts of _dāna _include donating food, providing medicine, sharing knowledge and offering protection or asylum. 

In contemporary South Asian cultures, the principles of _dāna _continue to shape attitudes towards generosity, favoring acts of giving that are spontaneous, local, individual and anonymous over formalized giving to charitable institutions.

Contributors: Maha Tazi, Erin Brown