Dana
Reverend Koho Takata
The other day, I went to Mahelona Hospital with some Fujinkai ladies to bring a donation from United Buddhist Women’s Association of Kauai. This is one of the Dana projects. Some patients are playing the game and making the greeting cards by using the computer. The donation from Fujinkai will help them buy a scanner, some CD-ROMs, and so forth. For those who cannot use the computer, they are planning to buy some music CDs and video tapes for entertainments.
Dana is a Sanskrit word. It means generosity, gift, alms, donation, and so forth. It has several means and ways. It is not only for patients. There are various types of Dana based on objects and conditions. There are material, spiritual, and physical Danas.
Our Kapaa Hongwanji Fujinkai ladies go to Mahelona Hospital once a month. I also go to some care homes and hospitals with members. We have short services. After the service, they present some entertainments, talk and laugh with patients. Each of our actions with our eyes, face, heart, body, and so on is Dana. It is one of the most important Buddhist virtues.
We offer the incense in front of the Buddha’s altar. We offer the rice, flowers, candles, money, and so forth. We clean the yard of the temple twice a month, and clean the inside of the temple once a week. These are also Dana for Amida Buddha. Whenever, wherever, whoever, and whatever we share and give our time with selflessness without any thoughts of receiving in return is Dana. The most important thing is our feeling.
Amida Buddha is always helping and calling us like our parents. We are living together in the circle of Compassionate Buddha. It is Oneness which means we are always getting along together and is one with Amida Buddha.
Shinran Shonin mentioned in his writings, as follows: "The universal vow difficult to fathom is indeed a great vessel bearing us across the ocean difficult to cross. The unhindered light is the sun of wisdom dispersing the darkness of our ignorance."
(The Collected Works of Shinran , Vol.1 , page 3)
I want to live with the mind of Dana at anytime and anyplace. However, my minds are full of small concerns. In comparison, Amida Buddha is always shining on me. Let us live in the circle of Compassionate Buddha and get along together with the minds of Oneness and the spirits of the Dana.
Namo-Amidabutsu