THE GREAT CHRONICLE OF BUDDHAS
1532
person is similarly approached and similarly requested to make a contribution but he is
reluctant at first and refuses to do so. But when the request is repeated with a prompting
‚Do make a gift, don’t flinch‛ and he makes a contribution. His
dÈna
is made as
consequence of urging is of
sasa~khÈrika-dÈna
type (one with prompting). Even in the case
where no one has made an approach to request for
dÈna
, if one first thinks of making an
offering, and then shrinks away from the idea, but after much self persuasion, self-
inducement, finally makes the gift, his
dÈna
is
sasa~khÈrika
type too.
10. Somanassa/UpekkhÈ DÈna
Offering made while one is in a joyful mood with a happy frame of mind is Somanassa-
dÈna. Offering made with a balanced state of mind, neither joyous nor sorrowful but
equipoise is UpekkhÈ-dÈna.
(When the act of giving is accompanied by pleasure, it is Somanassa-dÈna; when it is
accompanied by equanimity, it is UpekkhÈ-dÈna.)
11. Dhammiya/Adhammiya DÈna
Offering of property earned in accordance with Dhamma by just means is Dhammiya-
dÈna. Offering of property earned by immoral means, such as stealing, robbing, is
Adhammiya-dÈna.
Although earning of property by immoral means is not in accord with dhamma, offering
as alms of such property is nevertheless an act of merit, but the good results accruing from
this type of
dÈna
cannot be great as those obtained from the first type, the
dhammiya-dÈna
.
A comparison can be made of these two different results with types of plant that will grow
from a good seed and from a bad seed.
12. DÈsa/Bhujissa DÈna
Offering made with hopes of gaining worldly pleasures is Enslaving
dÈna
(DÈsa-dÈna),
the offering that will enslave one. Being a slave to craving for sense-pleasures, one makes
this kind of
dÈna
to serve one’s Master, the Craving to fulfil its wishes. Offering made
with aspiration for attainment of the Path and Fruition, the NibbÈna, is
dÈna
for freedom,
Bhujissa-dÈna (offering made in revolt against the dictate of the Master, the Craving).
Sentient beings in the endless round of existences desire to enjoy the delightful pleasures
of the senses (visible objects, sounds, smells, tastes, touch). This desire to revel in the so
called pleasures of the senses is called Craving. Every moment of their existence is devoted
to satisfying that Craving; fulfilling the needs of that Craving, they have becomes its
servants. Continuous striving, day and night throughout their life for wealth is nothing but
fulfilment of the wishes of the Craving which demands the best of food, the best of
clothing and the most luxurious way of living.
Not content with being a slave to Craving in the present life, working to fulfil its every
need, we make acts of
dÈna
to ensure luxurious living in future. This type of offering
accompanied by a strong wish for enjoyment of worldly pleasures continuously for lives to
come, is definitely an enslaving
dÈna
(
dÈsa-dÈna
).
This type of
dÈna
in fulfilment of the wishes of Craving and which ensures servitude to
Craving throughout the endless round of existence is performed, thinking it to be the best,
before one encounters the Teachings of the Buddha. But once we are fortunate enough to
hear the Buddha Dhamma, we come to understand how powerful this Craving is, how
insatiable it is, how much we have to suffer for fulfilling the wishes of this Craving. Then
resolving, ‚I will no longer be a servant of this terrible Craving, I will no longer fulfil its
wishes, I will rebel against it, I will go against it and in order to uproot, to eradicate this
evil Craving, one makes offerings with aspiration for attainment of the Path and Fruition,
the NibbÈna. This
dÈna
is called
dÈna
made for freedom, Bhujissa-dÈna (offering made in
revolt against the dictates of the Master, Craving).
13. ThÈvara/AthÈvara DÈna
Offering of things of permanent, immovable nature, such as pagodas, temples,