Dāna: The Path of Happiness in Modern Society

Abstract

The     academic article intends to present the guideline for the study for interested persons, concerning with following points: the Buddhist principles of giving called Dāna, and how to give with happiness. In conclusion, Pali word ‘Dāna’ refers to giving, charity, distribution the four basic needs for living including life sacrifice as Dāna. In Tipitaka, there found 3 types of giving: Āmissadāna or matter giving, Dhammadhdāna or truth delivery, and Abhayaddāna or forgivingness. The main purpose of giving is to accumulate the merit or wholesomeness for oneself while living with happiness. The other kinds of giving well-known by general people is Pāṭipuggalikadāna or private giving and Sanghadāna or public charity without focusing only for one Bhikkhu. At the present of Covid-19 pandemic, the His Majesty, queen and other royal family had supplied the food freely to the people called public giving which produce great benefits depending on their wholesome volition of givers and pure matter. Giving generates the happiness for both of giver and receivers, in turn, causing the happy society in every unit, starting from family, community, state and world. Among these Dana, only Dhammadāna provide the conditions for Nibbana attainment for the receivers.