4 Ways
Giving or sharing something/knowledge people like
Using kind words or pleasant talk
Beneficial acts for benefit of others
Physically working with others
History:
sramanas, solitary wanderers
preached in exchange for food, no physical work
Ascetics
also preached in exchange for food
China
no beggars
3 Ways to make merits
Dana (first), sila, bhavana
Dana first of 10 paramitas (perfections)
Main purpose of giving to combat greed, then gain merits
Also:
Give without expectations
Give without attachment
Give to clear mind of greed
Must be accompanied by morality
Giving in society
Parents to children
Family to village
Government to workers (fields, money, food/wages
Donor attributes to consider
Motivation (8,4)
Qualities (faith, respect, timing, selfless)
Manner and attitude (respect, no hurt, direct, quality, timing)
Donations
14 items
Mentality of act of giving
Better from righteous person
Dhamma excels all other gifts
5 Precepts
Donee
Guests, travelers, sick
Recluses, brahmans, destitutes, wayfarers, wanderers, beggars
Parents, children, employees, dependents, religious persons, Sangha
Benefits
Social cohesion, solidarity, prevents stealing
Eliminates hate
Loving-kindness, friendships
Pleasant Talk
Avoid lying, slandering, harsh words, frivolous talk = Right Speech
Know when to speak
Beneficial Action
2 Kinds: benefit to self, benefit to others
4 Types of people
Harm themselves
Harm others
Harm both
Harm neither
Benefits of Developing Beneficial Action
Develop faith that action is positive
Develop discipline (5 precepts)
Develop generosity (wealth, fame, long life, heavenly rebirth)
Develop wisdom
Getting rid of 5 hindrances in mind
Physically Working Together
Work with others near and under you
Lotus Sutra describes 32 forms of people being saved by Avalakitesvara
Qualities of friend
Helpful, same in happiness/sorrow, gives good counsel, sympathizes
dana = giving
piyavācana = kind words, pleasant talk
atthacariya = beneficial acts for another
samānattatā = physically working together
sila = virtue
bhavana = mental culture
lobha = greed
dosa = hatred
avijja = ignorance
Hatthaka (disciple with 500 followers)