National Day of Giving Tuesday (12/3)

Are you ready for #Stolen Amazon Package Wednesday? How about Apple is Overrated Thursday? Today is Giving Tuesday, following Cyber Monday...

NATIONAL DAY OF GIVING

If I could teach them to let go of low to get high

The National Day of Giving encourages giving back. It takes place on the first Tuesday after Thanksgiving. The nation has just been fleeced by Cyber Monday and Black Friday, having spent the extended weekend shopping in brick-and-mortar outlets as well as online, searching for the best (greediest) possible deals.

The Buddha on reasons to give

Mahavira agreed: It is good to give

[Why the Hades should I give? I should receive!] Reasons for Giving: "There are eight reasons for giving. What are these eight? One may give out of affection; or in an angry mood;[5] out of foolishness [6]; out of fear; or because of thinking: 'Such gifts have been given before by my relatives, and as it was done by them before, it would be unworthy of me to let lapse this family tradition'; or because of thinking: 'By giving this gift, I shall — after the body's break-up, after death — be reborn in a happy realm of existence, even in a heavenly world'; or because of thinking, 'When giving this gift, my heart will be glad, and happiness and joy will arise in me'; or one gives because it ennobles and adorns the mind (heart)." (Giving, Numerical Discourses, AN 8.33)

• Giving Tuesday is an annual event
• National Day of Giving (National Today)

Who invented this day, Hallmark?

The best giving adorns the mind/heart.

The National Day of Giving reminds us to give to those in need -- like the victims of American imperialism in Palestine, Gaza, and the West Bank. Whether we look to our favorite causes or charities, it is a great reminder to lift others up during a generous time of year.

On the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, charities, families, businesses, community centers, and students around the world will come together for one common purpose: to celebrate generosity (Buddhist dana) and to give, help, and share. #GIVINGTUESDAY

The Buddha is famous for saying:

"If you knew what I know about (the karma of) giving (the results and fruits), you would never eat a morsel without sharing with another if there were another to share with."

Our favorite charitable organization

Sharing brings abundance and amity.

Of all the giving, the gift of the Dharma (Dhamma-dāna) is the highest. Why? It engenders all other forms of letting go, generosity, sharing, and giving. It also involves the greatest returns -- internal letting go to be free of all clinging and experience liberation from all suffering. So to support Wisdom Quarterly: American Buddhist Journal and/or Dharma Buddhist Meditation (Meetup 2, Meetup 3), please contact us through the Comments Section for details. What is "giving" in Buddhism? Dāna

• What can I give to support Buddhist monks and nuns?
• Where do monks and nuns really practice like the Buddha did? Pa Auk Forest Monastery (en.dhammadana.org)

Gift ideas? Give a smile, offer a hug, say a kind thing, volunteer, give unselfish service (seva) with no expectation of it being reciprocated (because, as it is said, "No good deed goes unpunished").

BEST RECIPIENTS FOR GIVING?

• Pa-Auk Forest Monastery (to support 1,000+ Buddhist practitioners with real attainments so rare in the world, en.dhammadana.org)
• BethUpton.com (England, Spain, worldwide)
• Appamāda Viharī Meditation Center
• KPFA.org and KPFK.org (Berkeley and LA)
• Have a blessed season of giving!
• National Day Calendar, 12/324; Ashley Wells, Dhr. Seven (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly