Q&A (2021/11/07)
In the 3rd paragraph:
The act of giving purifies intention, the quality of mind with which any action is undertaken. For a brief moment, the giver’s self-absorption is lifted, attachment to the gift is relinquished, and kindness towards the recipient is developed. All actions—of thought, word, and deed—undertaken for the sake of others rather than for one’s own selfish purposes become transformed by the power of generosity. [The Wisdom of Giving by Andrew Olendzki]
Q: How does the act of giving purify intention?
~> Very good question! The book club will get the answers when reading Verse 46 from The Way to Buddhahood.
In the 5th paragraph:
All schools of Buddhism recognize that giving brings the most benefit when coupled with wisdom. In the Mahayana tradition, this means recognizing the inherent emptiness of any true distinction between giver and recipient. In the earlier schools, less attention is paid to the metaphysics of giving and more to its psychology, focusing upon the intention of the giver, the nature of the gift, and the worthiness of the recipient. [The Wisdom of Giving by Andrew Olendzki]
Q: What does worthiness mean here? And which earlier schools is the author pointing to?
~> The “earlier schools” here are referring to the schools before Mahāyāna tradition.
~> The concept of “The worthiness of the recipient” is very similar to “the fields for Giving (in Verse 46)”, will compare which kind of person is most worthy of accepting other people's gifts, or, giving to which kind of people can gain greatest merits.
~> Hence, it is not difficult to encounter such “comparison sayings” in the scriptures from earlier schools, for instance: it’s better to give to the enlightened practitioners then to the ordinary people, it’s better to offer to the Buddha then to the Arahant etc.
~> The generosity of Mahayana Buddhism, on this basis, proposes Giving or Offering that goes beyond external considerations and comparisons (mentioned by Andrew Olendzki as “the metaphysics of giving”). Regarding these ideas, the book club will learn more from the Verse 128 and Verse 129 in The Way to Buddhahood.
