<p>So far as I know the Buddhist perspective is that the Sangha is a &quot;field of merit&quot;, that giving to the Sangha is an opportunity for laypeople to acquire merit -- and therefore, I suppose, that the Sangha are giving -- giving this opportunity -- and making their alms round with this in mind.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-04-23T07:54:18.023Z
2021-04-23T07:54:18.023Z
ChrisW
<p>What is the effect of giving 'Dana' to the gift recipient's mind?</p>
<p>Well, the recipient can become attached to receiving gifts. But this is not the fault of the giver. This is due to the recipient's craving and clinging. It's up to the recipient to not become attached to gift-receiving and to practise moderation in accepting gifts.</p>
<p>The Buddha told monks not to be too attached to gifts and alms that they receive, and be moderate in accepting gifts. Monks should be contented with what they have. Also monks accepting gifts is a chance for the lay people to make merit. The sutta quotes below provide more info.</p>
<p>In addition, <a href="https://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/an/an03/an03.094.than.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">AN 3.94</a> and <a href="https://accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/an/an08/an08.013.than.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">AN 8.13</a> also define qualities a monk should have, that would make him worthy of gifts, offerings and respect from others.</p>
<p>Don't be addicted to luxury - from <a href="https://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/dn/dn.02.0.than.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">DN 2</a>:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>&quot;Whereas some brahmans and contemplatives, living off food given in
faith, are addicted to high and luxurious furnishings such as these —
over-sized couches, couches adorned with carved animals, long-haired
coverlets, multi-colored patchwork coverlets, white woolen coverlets,
woolen coverlets embroidered with flowers or animal figures, stuffed
quilts, coverlets with fringe, silk coverlets embroidered with gems;
large woolen carpets; elephant, horse, and chariot rugs, antelope-hide
rugs, deer-hide rugs; couches with awnings, couches with red cushions
for the head and feet — <strong>he abstains from using high and luxurious
furnishings such as these.</strong> This, too, is part of his virtue.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Don't have cravings for alms and gifts - from <a href="https://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/kn/snp/snp.2.11.irel.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Snp 2.11</a>:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>&quot;Associate with good friends and choose a remote lodging, secluded,
with little noise. Be moderate in eating. <strong>Robes, alms-food, remedies
and a dwelling — do not have craving for these things</strong>; do not be one
who returns to the world. Practice restraint according to the
Discipline, and control the five sense-faculties.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Accept alms and gifts in moderation - from <a href="https://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/an/an07/an07.064.than.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">AN 7.64</a>:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>&quot;And how is a monk one with a sense of moderation? There is the case
where a monk knows moderation in accepting robes, almsfood, lodgings,
&amp; medicinal requisites for curing the sick. If he didn't know
moderation in accepting robes, almsfood, lodgings, &amp; medicinal
requisites for curing the sick, he wouldn't be said to be one with a
sense of moderation. So it's because he does know moderation in
accepting robes, almsfood, lodgings, &amp; medicinal requisites for curing
the sick, that he is said to be one with a sense of moderation. This
is one with a sense of Dhamma, a sense of meaning, a sense of himself,
&amp; a sense of moderation.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Be contented with what you have - from <a href="https://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/an/an04/an04.028.than.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">AN 4.28</a>:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>There is the case where a monk is content with any old robe cloth at
all. He speaks in praise of being content with any old robe cloth at
all. He does not, for the sake of robe cloth, do anything unseemly or
inappropriate. Not getting cloth, he is not agitated. Getting cloth,
he uses it not tied to it, uninfatuated, guiltless, seeing the
drawbacks (of attachment to it), and discerning the escape from them.
He does not, on account of his contentment with any old robe cloth at
all, exalt himself or disparage others. In this he is skillful,
energetic, alert, and mindful. This, monks, is said to be a monk
standing firm in the ancient, original traditions of the Noble Ones.</p>
<p>Furthermore, the monk is content with any old almsfood at all. He
speaks in praise of being content with any old almsfood at all. He
does not, for the sake of almsfood, do anything unseemly or
inappropriate. Not getting almsfood, he is not agitated. Getting
almsfood, he uses it not tied to it, uninfatuated, guiltless, seeing
the drawbacks (of attachment to it), and discerning the escape from
them. He does not, on account of his contentment with any old almsfood
at all, exalt himself or disparage others. In this he is skillful,
energetic, alert, and mindful. This, monks, is said to be a monk
standing firm in the ancient, original traditions of the Noble Ones.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Monks accepting alms and gifts provide a means to lay people to make merit - from <a href="https://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/mn/mn.039.than.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">MN 39</a>:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>The Blessed One said, &quot;'Contemplative, contemplatives': That is how
people perceive you. And when asked, 'What are you?' you claim that
'We are contemplatives.' So, with this being your designation and this
your claim, this is how you should train yourselves: 'We will
undertake &amp; practice those qualities that make one a contemplative,
that make one a brahman, so that our designation will be true and our
claim accurate; so that the services of those whose robes, alms-food,
lodging, and medicinal requisites we use will bring them great fruit &amp;
great reward; and so that our going forth will not be barren, but
fruitful &amp; fertile.'</p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-04-23T08:04:18.283Z
2021-04-23T17:47:22.013Z
2021-04-23T17:47:22.013Z
ruben2020
<p>The Buddha said a gift given as an ornament for the mind will lead the giver to the company of Brahma's Retinue. Then, having exhausted that sovereignty, he is a non-returner. So the benefit to the giver when done right is incomparably great, but what is the effect to the mind of the recipient?</p>

<dana>
What is the effect of giving 'Dana' to the gift recipient's mind?
# What is the effect of giving 'Dana' to the gift recipient's mind?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2021-04-22)

The Buddha said a gift given as an ornament for the mind will lead the giver to the company of Brahma's Retinue. Then, having exhausted that sovereignty, he is a non-returner. So the benefit to the giver when done right is incomparably great, but what is the effect to the mind of the recipient?

**Tags:** dana


---

## 2 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2021-04-23. Score: 1 | Accepted answer

What is the effect of giving 'Dana' to the gift recipient's mind?

Well, the recipient can become attached to receiving gifts. But this is not the fault of the giver. This is due to the recipient's craving and clinging. It's up to the recipient to not become attached to gift-receiving and to practise moderation in accepting gifts.

The Buddha told monks not to be too attached to gifts and alms that they receive, and be moderate in accepting gifts. Monks should be contented with what they have. Also monks accepting gifts is a chance for the lay people to make merit. The sutta quotes below provide more info.

In addition, [AN 3.94](https://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/an/an03/an03.094.than.html) and [AN 8.13](https://accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/an/an08/an08.013.than.html) also define qualities a monk should have, that would make him worthy of gifts, offerings and respect from others.

Don't be addicted to luxury - from [DN 2](https://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/dn/dn.02.0.than.html):

> "Whereas some brahmans and contemplatives, living off food given in
> faith, are addicted to high and luxurious furnishings such as these —
> over-sized couches, couches adorned with carved animals, long-haired
> coverlets, multi-colored patchwork coverlets, white woolen coverlets,
> woolen coverlets embroidered with flowers or animal figures, stuffed
> quilts, coverlets with fringe, silk coverlets embroidered with gems;
> large woolen carpets; elephant, horse, and chariot rugs, antelope-hide
> rugs, deer-hide rugs; couches with awnings, couches with red cushions
> for the head and feet — **he abstains from using high and luxurious
> furnishings such as these.** This, too, is part of his virtue.

Don't have cravings for alms and gifts - from [Snp 2.11](https://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/kn/snp/snp.2.11.irel.html):

> "Associate with good friends and choose a remote lodging, secluded,
> with little noise. Be moderate in eating. **Robes, alms-food, remedies
> and a dwelling — do not have craving for these things**; do not be one
> who returns to the world. Practice restraint according to the
> Discipline, and control the five sense-faculties.

Accept alms and gifts in moderation - from [AN 7.64](https://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/an/an07/an07.064.than.html):

> "And how is a monk one with a sense of moderation? There is the case
> where a monk knows moderation in accepting robes, almsfood, lodgings,
> & medicinal requisites for curing the sick. If he didn't know
> moderation in accepting robes, almsfood, lodgings, & medicinal
> requisites for curing the sick, he wouldn't be said to be one with a
> sense of moderation. So it's because he does know moderation in
> accepting robes, almsfood, lodgings, & medicinal requisites for curing
> the sick, that he is said to be one with a sense of moderation. This
> is one with a sense of Dhamma, a sense of meaning, a sense of himself,
> & a sense of moderation.

Be contented with what you have - from [AN 4.28](https://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/an/an04/an04.028.than.html):

> There is the case where a monk is content with any old robe cloth at
> all. He speaks in praise of being content with any old robe cloth at
> all. He does not, for the sake of robe cloth, do anything unseemly or
> inappropriate. Not getting cloth, he is not agitated. Getting cloth,
> he uses it not tied to it, uninfatuated, guiltless, seeing the
> drawbacks (of attachment to it), and discerning the escape from them.
> He does not, on account of his contentment with any old robe cloth at
> all, exalt himself or disparage others. In this he is skillful,
> energetic, alert, and mindful. This, monks, is said to be a monk
> standing firm in the ancient, original traditions of the Noble Ones.
>
> Furthermore, the monk is content with any old almsfood at all. He
> speaks in praise of being content with any old almsfood at all. He
> does not, for the sake of almsfood, do anything unseemly or
> inappropriate. Not getting almsfood, he is not agitated. Getting
> almsfood, he uses it not tied to it, uninfatuated, guiltless, seeing
> the drawbacks (of attachment to it), and discerning the escape from
> them. He does not, on account of his contentment with any old almsfood
> at all, exalt himself or disparage others. In this he is skillful,
> energetic, alert, and mindful. This, monks, is said to be a monk
> standing firm in the ancient, original traditions of the Noble Ones.

Monks accepting alms and gifts provide a means to lay people to make merit - from [MN 39](https://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/mn/mn.039.than.html):

> The Blessed One said, "'Contemplative, contemplatives': That is how
> people perceive you. And when asked, 'What are you?' you claim that
> 'We are contemplatives.' So, with this being your designation and this
> your claim, this is how you should train yourselves: 'We will
> undertake & practice those qualities that make one a contemplative,
> that make one a brahman, so that our designation will be true and our
> claim accurate; so that the services of those whose robes, alms-food,
> lodging, and medicinal requisites we use will bring them great fruit &
> great reward; and so that our going forth will not be barren, but
> fruitful & fertile.'


---

### Answer by username_1 on 2021-04-23. Score: 2

So far as I know the Buddhist perspective is that the Sangha is a "field of merit", that giving to the Sangha is an opportunity for laypeople to acquire merit -- and therefore, I suppose, that the Sangha are giving -- giving this opportunity -- and making their alms round with this in mind.


---

