Dāna - The Practice of Giving
Buy Audiobook
Author: Bodhi, Bhikkhu
Publisher: Buddhist Publication Society
Publication Date:
Product Type:
Pages: 80
ISBN 13: 978-955-24-0077-3
ISBN 10: 9552400775
Language:
SKU:
SKU:BPS:403367
Description
Description
In the teaching of the Buddha, the practice of giving claims a place of special eminence, one which singles it out as being in a sense the foundation and seed of spiritual development. This Wheel publication was compiled by Bhikkhu Bodhi to explore this cardinal Buddhist virtue in greater depth by featuring essays in which four modern writers (Elbaum-Jootla, de Silva, Walshe and van Gorkom) and a classical commentator (Acariya Dhammapala) set forth their understanding of giving and its relation to the wider body of Dhamma practice.
"The most excellent motive for giving is the intention that it strengthens one's efforts to attain Nibbana If we aspire to ultimate peace and purity by practicing generosity, we will be developing the d na param , the perfection of giving, building up a store of merit that will bear its full fruit with our attainment of enlightenment. As we progress towards this goal, the volition involved in acts of giving will assist us by contributing towards the pliancy of mind, an essential asset in developing concentration and wisdom, the prime requisites of liberation." (p. 6, from "The Practice of Giving" by Susan Elbaum-Jootla)
Available for downloading or streaming using the Vimeo player below.
Note: to view Vimeo chapter markers on small screens, you may have to turn your screen to landscape position.
Download (78MB)
Download the audiobook as individual chapters.
Download (79MB)
We are grateful to the volunteers who offered their time and skills creating this product so that we can offer it freely. If you wish to help us record more audiobooks, please email us at volunteer@pariyatti.org.
Between 1958 and 2002, a total of 334 individual physical Wheel Publication booklets were published by the Buddhist Publication Society (BPS). Those 334 booklets included 468 essays, tracts, and monographs; many were published as double or triple volumes.
These classic Wheel booklets are not being reprinted; many are no longer available as single issues. We have the last print run in stock—the last existing physical booklets! If this specific Wheel No. is out of stock, please note that it won’t be restocked.
See also: Collected Wheel Publications series (BPE)—Pariyatti Edition (Free PDF available per volume)
Free PDF copies of individual booklets are available from the BPS website; some are listed, while others can be found via the Google search feature.
VIPASSANA PRODUCTS
Vipassana, which means to see things as they really are, is one of India's most ancient techniques of meditation. More information about Vipassana as taught by S.N. Goenka is available at www.dhamma.org.
The tag Vipassana identifies products that are directly related to this tradition and differentiates them from other Theravada resources available on our site. While the main emphasis in Vipassana meditation as taught by S.N. Goenka is on actual practice, this product may provide inspiration and guidance to a Vipassana meditator.
We also carry titles from the Theravada tradition, as we feel that by exploring the wider world of the Theravada texts, which include the Buddha’s discourses, commentaries, and scholarly articles and treatises, meditators have an opportunity to deepen their understanding of the Dhamma and thereby enrich their meditation practice. This kind of intellectual exploration also helps a meditator to gain an understanding of the evolution and historical context of their meditation tradition. This understanding in turn deepens their practice and understanding of the Dhamma.
Disclosure: Pariyatti is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.
Q: Why have you decided to partner with Amazon for the printing and distribution of your books?
A: Pariyatti is a non-profit organization whose purpose is to help disseminate the words of the Buddha.
The generosity of our customers and donors (donations make up ~25% of our revenue) is what has allowed Pariyatti to cover our annual shortfall, and permitted us to continue operations. We strive to continue to find ways to make best use of this hard-earned money, generously donated by so many to Pariyatti. One of these is to explore ways to optimize our operations.
Our goal is to disseminate Dhamma content. The choice of working with a given distribution partner is solely based on whether they can provide you, our customer (no matter where you live) with the item(s) you ordered in an accurate, timely, and reliable manner.
With the advent of eBooks and the internet, the entire book publishing and distribution industry has faced significant challenges. With these industry changes, and Pariyatti's additional challenges in serving a niche market with low sales volumes, it has been financially difficult to staff our own warehouse and operations. Year after year, the costs of maintaining our own warehouse has far exceeded the income.
By focusing on what we do best (such as make Dhamma content available at low or no cost), and partnering with others who have already built robust printing, packing, and delivery systems, we free up resources that can be redirected towards expanding Pariyatti's offerings for you.
We are always on the lookout for creative ways to make Dhamma content as widely and freely available as possible. If you have any ideas along these lines, please feel free to be in touch via director@pariyatti.org .