<p>There are many motivations for giving a gift.</p>
<p>Most are selfish, but the best motivation for giving a gift is not selfish.</p>
<p>The best motivation for giving a gift is <a href="https://buddhism.stackexchange.com/a/31371/471">adornment of the mind</a>, which means making the mind virtuous. It's the best motivation according to <a href="https://suttacentral.net/an7.52/en/thanissaro?lang=en&amp;reference=none&amp;highlight=false" rel="nofollow noreferrer">AN 7.52</a>.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>“Mendicants, there are these eight grounds for giving. What eight? A
person might give a gift out of favoritism or hostility or stupidity
or cowardice. Or they give thinking, ‘Giving was practiced by my
father and my father’s father. It would not be right for me to abandon
this family tradition.’ Or they give thinking, ‘After I’ve given this
gift, when my body breaks up, after death, I’ll be reborn in a good
place, a heavenly realm.’ Or they give thinking, ‘When giving this
gift my mind becomes clear, and I become happy and joyful.’ Or they
give a gift thinking, ‘This is an adornment and requisite for the
mind.’ These are the eight grounds for giving.”<br />
<a href="https://suttacentral.net/an8.33/en/sujato?lang=en&amp;layout=plain&amp;reference=none&amp;notes=asterisk&amp;highlight=false&amp;script=latin" rel="nofollow noreferrer">AN 8.33</a></p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-11-16T13:13:17.510Z
Even if my intentions are pure , am I not spreading Adhamma ?
SacrificialEquation
CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-11-16T13:49:37.437Z
@SacrificialEquation Karma is all about intentions in Buddhism.
ruben2020
CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-11-16T17:14:50.753Z
@SacrificialEquation I think it's doctrine that it's 'better' give to people who are (more) virtuous -- that's part of the doctrine about "merit" -- ideally to monks for example (see also "field of merit") to whom of course you wouldn't give money but only "requisites". Even when [Anathapindika](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anathapindika) gave "a million dollars", those gifts were in the form of requisites, e.g. the land for a forest monastery, and meals.
ChrisW
CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-11-16T12:39:26.763Z
2023-11-16T12:39:26.763Z
ruben2020
<p>The enlightened, such as enlightened monks, require gifts. The unenlightened also require gifts. Also, gifts are required to be given when there is a natural obligation. From the viewpoint of an enlightened practitioner, none of this giving is required to be 'personal', even though the giving is required to be performed. As AN 8.33 says: &quot;<em>This is an adornment and requisite for the mind</em>&quot;.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-11-16T19:29:33.437Z
2023-11-16T19:29:33.437Z
Dhamma Dhatu
<p>I'd guess that it's keeping your money to yourself, not giving, that's more likely to be selfish -- e.g., &quot;this is mine&quot;.</p>
<p>Actually in my experience, if you give money to someone less wealthy than you, then they may turn around and re-give it, to someone less wealthy than they are.</p>
<p>In any case all things remain anatta.
Giving &quot;virtuously&quot; may be an opportunity for <em>mudita</em>.</p>
<p>Giving money to an addict, though, or a foolish child, might not be skilful. You can  find more details (about gifting) e.g. by reviewing the topics tagged <a href="/questions/tagged/dana" class="post-tag" title="show questions tagged &#39;dana&#39;" aria-label="show questions tagged &#39;dana&#39;" rel="tag" aria-labelledby="tag-dana-tooltip-container">dana</a> for example <a href="https://buddhism.stackexchange.com/q/5342/254">Question about Dana</a></p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-11-16T10:16:58.890Z
2023-11-16T10:16:58.890Z
ChrisW
<p>Sabbe Dhamma Anatta says</p>
<p>Form is not me , mine or myself.Feeling is not me , mine or myself .Perception is not me , mine or myself.Choices is not me , mine or myself.Consciousness is not me , mine or myself.</p>
<p>Suppose I give one million dollar to somebody then am I doing Adhamma (not Dhamma , not supporting the path of Nibbana)?</p>
<p>Because giving money means</p>
<p>Money is yours.
Feelings resulting from becoming rich is yours.
Perception of rich is you , yours and yourself.
Choices of luxurious living is yours.
Consciousness of richness or luxurious living is yours.</p>
<p>By giving money to somebody am I not propagating a wrong notion of Self(which in my opinion is adhamma)?</p>
<p>Following is link to definition of Dhamma as an answer to “<a href="https://buddhism.stackexchange.com/a/49796/11541">Is Anatta a phenomenon ?</a>”</p>
<p>To quote :</p>
<blockquote>
<p>While the word 'dhamma' is used AN 3.136 is in relation to 'natural
law', it is a 'dhamma' because the wisdom/understanding of anatta as
natural law 'supports' liberation from suffering.</p>
</blockquote>

<anatman>
If I gift money to somebody then am I doing Adhamma?
# If I gift money to somebody then am I doing Adhamma?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2023-11-16)

Sabbe Dhamma Anatta says

Form is not me , mine or myself.Feeling is not me , mine or myself .Perception is not me , mine or myself.Choices is not me , mine or myself.Consciousness is not me , mine or myself.

Suppose I give one million dollar to somebody then am I doing Adhamma (not Dhamma , not supporting the path of Nibbana)?

Because giving money means

Money is yours.
Feelings resulting from becoming rich is yours.
Perception of rich is you , yours and yourself.
Choices of luxurious living is yours.
Consciousness of richness or luxurious living is yours.

By giving money to somebody am I not propagating a wrong notion of Self(which in my opinion is adhamma)?

Following is link to definition of Dhamma as an answer to “[Is Anatta a phenomenon ?](https://buddhism.stackexchange.com/a/49796/11541)”

To quote :

> While the word 'dhamma' is used AN 3.136 is in relation to 'natural
> law', it is a 'dhamma' because the wisdom/understanding of anatta as
> natural law 'supports' liberation from suffering.

**Tags:** anatman


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## 3 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2023-11-16. Score: 1 | Accepted answer

I'd guess that it's keeping your money to yourself, not giving, that's more likely to be selfish -- e.g., "this is mine".

Actually in my experience, if you give money to someone less wealthy than you, then they may turn around and re-give it, to someone less wealthy than they are.

In any case all things remain anatta.
Giving "virtuously" may be an opportunity for *mudita*.

Giving money to an addict, though, or a foolish child, might not be skilful. You can find more details (about gifting) e.g. by reviewing the topics tagged [dana](/questions/tagged/dana "show questions tagged 'dana'") for example [Question about Dana](https://buddhism.stackexchange.com/q/5342/254)


---

### Answer by username_1 on 2023-11-16. Score: 2

There are many motivations for giving a gift.

Most are selfish, but the best motivation for giving a gift is not selfish.

The best motivation for giving a gift is [adornment of the mind](https://buddhism.stackexchange.com/a/31371/471), which means making the mind virtuous. It's the best motivation according to [AN 7.52](https://suttacentral.net/an7.52/en/thanissaro?lang=en&reference=none&highlight=false).

> “Mendicants, there are these eight grounds for giving. What eight? A
> person might give a gift out of favoritism or hostility or stupidity
> or cowardice. Or they give thinking, ‘Giving was practiced by my
> father and my father’s father. It would not be right for me to abandon
> this family tradition.’ Or they give thinking, ‘After I’ve given this
> gift, when my body breaks up, after death, I’ll be reborn in a good
> place, a heavenly realm.’ Or they give thinking, ‘When giving this
> gift my mind becomes clear, and I become happy and joyful.’ Or they
> give a gift thinking, ‘This is an adornment and requisite for the
> mind.’ These are the eight grounds for giving.”  
> [AN 8.33](https://suttacentral.net/an8.33/en/sujato?lang=en&layout=plain&reference=none¬es=asterisk&highlight=false&script=latin)

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Even if my intentions are pure , am I not spreading Adhamma ?  
> **username_1**: @username_0 Karma is all about intentions in Buddhism.  
> **username_2**: @username_0 I think it's doctrine that it's 'better' give to people who are (more) virtuous -- that's part of the doctrine about "merit" -- ideally to monks for example (see also "field of merit") to whom of course you wouldn't give money but only "requisites". Even when [Anathapindika](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anathapindika) gave "a million dollars", those gifts were in the form of requisites, e.g. the land for a forest monastery, and meals.  

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### Answer by username_3 on 2023-11-16. Score: 1

The enlightened, such as enlightened monks, require gifts. The unenlightened also require gifts. Also, gifts are required to be given when there is a natural obligation. From the viewpoint of an enlightened practitioner, none of this giving is required to be 'personal', even though the giving is required to be performed. As AN 8.33 says: "*This is an adornment and requisite for the mind*".


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