The Buddha gave great importance to the quality of generosity, or dana. It can be seen as a supportive condition for the cultivation of the eightfold path. The inner intention of generosity purifies the heart/mind of greed - and it brings great joy!
An inner wealth of generosity is a powerful medicine. As our heart heals and
opens the wholesome energies of giving and receiving grow and flow within us. We begin to live this seemless circle quite naturally as who we are.
The Buddha gives 6 places for the mind to dwell, 6 protections for our practice: Buddha, Dharma, Sangha, our virtue, our generosity and the devas. This talk explores how we can use them in our everyday lives.
On this day of thanksgiving, it is important to remember what we are actually celebrating: the generosity of Native Americans to the early settlers, and all that they have given us. It is also a day to be grateful for all the blessings in our lives, and to bring a sense of appreciation to the beauty and joy that is all around us. As we incline the mind towards noticing what we are grateful for, we find an increased sense of well-being and happiness in our lives.
While generosity and gratitude are natural capacities, our conditioning to want life different can often keep us from living from a free and open heart. This talk explores three gateways to awakening and expressing love in our daily life.
