Dana and Punya

Question 1

What does Dana mean?

Answer 1

Generous giving

Question 2

Which Buddhists mainly practice Dana

Answer 2

Therevada lay Buddhist and they don’t believe they will reach enlightenment during this life time so they only aim to receive Punya

Question 3

Name two Buddhist quotes relating to Dana?

Answer 3

‘Conquer stinginess with a gift’

‘When you enjoy it, you do it again’

Question 4

What does Punya mean?

Answer 4

Merit, a beneficial force that attracts blessings.

This is how the laws of Karma work.

Question 5

What are the effects of Punya

Answer 5

Good things in current life, you become a good person our of habit, attract blessings and a better rebirth.

Question 6

What are the other two ways of earning Punya

Answer 6

Meditation
Sila (3 aspects of the Noble eightfold path) meaning ethical behaviour ie Right Action, Right Speech and Right Livelihood.

Question 7

What factors effect the amount of Punya earned

Answer 7

Intention
Who you give merit to ie giving to the Sangra is worth more merit than giving to a homeless person
Wisdom

Question 8

Buddha quotes about merit

Answer 8

“Intention of an action is more important”-Talking to a Jain

“It is intention that I call Karma”

Question 9

What are the Sangha also known as and why?

Answer 9

“Field of Merit”, this is because they build up so much merit which is given to the community. Like a farmer growing grain to give to his village

Question 10

Explain why Sivali earn so much merit from a honeycomb

Answer 10

Gave a honeycomb to a monk who in turn gave it to the Buddha in order to gain merit from each exchange which illustrates the transfer of merit and the factors effecting Punya

Question 11

Which of the Mahayana Paramita is Dana? What is the corresponding Bhumi?

Answer 11

The first Paramita as you understand the interconnectedness and therefore want to give generously

Question 12

Which Bhumi is “Strength or Power” which is the ability to transfer merit?

Answer 12

8. The power to transfer your merit when your a Bodhisattva

Question 13

What Bodhisattva transferred their Merit?

Answer 13

Kshitgarbha a female Bodhisattva who donated all her merit to the hell reams when she died as she believed that’s where her mother was, story found in the lotus sutra

Question 14

What branch of Buddism is totally focussed around receiving merit from the Bodhisattva Amida?

Answer 14

Mahayana pure land Buddhism, they receive this merit through taking refuge.

Question 15

What branch of Buddhism does not try and practice Dana or earn good Karma

Answer 15

Mahayana new pure land Buddhism as they believe it leads arrogance.

Question 16

Why are Dana and Punya so important to Theravada society ?

Answer 16

As monks are dependent on lay Buddhists for donations to survive and lay Buddhists are dependent on monks for merit/good karma. Therefore the two are intertwined surrounding the teachings of Dana and Punya

Question 17

Why does performing Dana help over come Tanha?

Answer 17

Tanha=Cravings

Overcomes greediness

Question 18

Why does performing Dana help one understand Anatta

Answer 18

Anatta=no self

Performing Dana helps realise the interconnectedness and behave more selflessly

Question 19

Why might someone argue Dana is the most important practice?

Answer 19

It is the only practice Theravada Buddhists do

A majority of Mahayana Buddhists participate

Question 20

Which other practices could be considered the most important?

Answer 20

Meditation