Dana Offerings For Tsem Ladrang
(By Phng Li Kim, Personal Assistant to H.E. Tsem Rinpoche)
Dana means “giving” or “generosity” in Sanskrit.
In olden times, both the sangha and lay people were mutually dependent on each other. The sangha offered the supreme gift of the Dharma to the lay people, and in deep gratitude and with much respect, the lay people provided food, clothing, shelter etc to the sangha.
In Buddhist tradition, it is extremely meritorious to offer food for all the monks in the monastery.
In neighbouring Thailand, it is a norm for the Thais to offer food to sangha in the morning. Imagine, the first act of the day is to give to ordained sangha! Many of us here in Malaysia do not have the same blessed opportunity.
I would like to introduce this opportunity now to all of you through Kechara, and the works of H.E. Tsem Rinpoche.
Thank you!
Li Kim
PA to H.E. Tsem Rinpoche
CEO of Kechara Media and Publications
“If beings knew, as I know, the results of giving and sharing, they would not eat without having given, nor would the stain of miserliness overcome their minds.” – Buddha Shakyamuni
It is 5am and all around the world, monks rise from their sleep to prepare for the age-old tradition of begging for alms. Silently, they proceed in a single saffron-hued line, carrying monk bowls which glint in the morning sun, ready to receive dana offerings from the community.
Dana is an act of generosity, intended to develop selflessness and overcome greed and desires. Although dana commonly refers to the offering of a meal, it can also refer to an offering of other basic necessities to a monk or a nun.
So how does giving and receiving dana bring benefit?
For the Sangha
Since Buddha’s time, the Sangha have engaged in the practice of begging for alms and receiving dana. To practise humility, they wear walk barefooted to beg for food and to develop renunciation, they receive this food without showing pleasure or displeasure, or preference.
For the Sangha, food is not taken to beautify the body or for its taste. Instead, it is regarded simply as a means of keeping the body alive to continue on their spiritual journey.
The practice is also viewed as providing an opportunity for the average household to create merits, by making regular offerings to one of the Three Jewels.
For You
Giving dana reflects the importance of the Six Paramitas, particularly generosity, as a practice which generates merit towards our spiritual path. In making regular offerings, we invoke the blessings of the Sangha which are derived from them holding their vows. As a result, we create the causes:
- To never go hungry in the future. To go hungry is to have a mind distracted from full-time commitment to the spiritual path
- To have an abundance of wealth, in order to practise Dharma without financial restrictions
- For the Sangha to remain. Since the Sangha do not engage in business, they rely on thecommunity’s support in order to dedicate their time to the teaching, practise and preservation of Buddha’s teachings
We bring this tradition of giving dana to you, for friends of the Dharma to make offerings to H.E. Tsem Rinpoche, a fully ordained Sangha member, as well as his monks.
How do I make an offering?
Select any of the items/meals you wish to offer to Rinpoche and his monks, make a good motivation and let us do the rest.
Do it wholeheartedly and feel happy that you have made an offering. Know that in your offering, you are creating the causes for lifetimes of happiness for yourself and your loved ones.
“Generosity brings happiness at every stage of its expression. We experience joy in forming the intention to be generous. We experience joy in the actual act of giving something. And we experience joy in remembering the fact that we have given.” – Buddha Shakyamuni
Dana suggested offering:
RM20, per monk, per day.
For more information, please contact the Kechara House Front Desk at Tel: +603 7803 3908 or Email: house@kechara.com.
You can also contact any of the Kechara Paradise 5 outlets:
- Viva Home, Cheras – 03-27272818
- One Utama, Petaling Jaya – 03-77104435
- SS2 – 03-78770071
- Sunway Pyramid – 03-56326575
- Penang – 04-2618869
or Kechara Oasis restaurants:
- Viva Home, Cheras – 03-9284 1818
- Jaya One, Petaling Jaya – 03-7968 1818
- Off Jalan Imbi, Kuala Lumpur – 03-21416046
Rinpoche’s Favourite Food
Please support us so that we can continue to bring you more Dharma:
If you are in the United States, please note that your offerings and contributions are tax deductible. ~ the tsemrinpoche.com blog team
Great information and explaining all about the wonderful ways for us all of to collect merits . Giving (dana) is one of the essential preliminary steps of Buddhist practice. The practice of giving is universally recognized as one of the most basic human virtues .
When practiced in itself, it is a basis of merit it leads ultimately to liberation from samsara. An act of giving will bring us happiness in the future, in accordance with the kammic law of cause and effect taught by the Buddha.
Thank you Rinpoche for this sharing.
Glad to come across this old post. At least now I know what to offer for Tsem Ladrang and a little of what Rinpoche’s favourite foods are. We can creates the causes for lifetimes of happiness and to collect merits. We get more joy out of giving joy to others, we should put a good deal of thought into the happiness that we are able to give.
Thank you Li Kim for this sharing for us so as we have opportunity to make Dana offering for Rinpoche.
many Chinese Buddhists won’t eat onions, garlic or leeks because of their pungent aroma and because they are said to “excite the senses”, when these foods are very healthy, medicinal, a natural antiseptic/antibiotic – what is your opinion on this? Geshe Kelsang’s sister and nephew told me that chopped garlic in hot water is conducive to sleep – what do you say? Ginger seems fine – Confucius always ate some raw ginger after every meal
Hello Marek and welcome to Tsem Rinpoche blog! Thank you for your comments and questions. This is I’ve learnt from Rinpoche and monks of Vajrayana tradition, we are required to avoid the five black foods (onion, garlic, eggs, diary and meat) only when we are engaged in retreat practices. For example Lama Tsongkhapa retreat practice, see 11. OTHER THINGS TO OBSERVE: https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/tsongkhapa/tsongkhapa-retreat-instructions-and-prayer-text.html
However, we can still take ginger, it is not considered black food and usually most vegetarian shops will prepare their dishes with ginger. So ginger is not a problem and yes it has a lot of wholesome healing properties.
As for garlic and onion, we normally take them when when we are not in retreat and yes they do have health benefits. Rinpoche taught us a concoction that helps prevent/recover from flu, which is onion soup. We are to boil lots of onions in big pot, add a little bit of salt and when the onions turn white, the broth is ready for us to drink. Even if you do not have the flu you can drink this as a general nutritious drink that would strengthen the immune system.
It is just that during retreats, because when we are doing meditation, onions and garlic being very strong pungent foods, are known to release certain chemicals which may block our channels or in Chinese we call it ‘qi’ when we are meditating. Hence, it is advised that we avoid them. Otherwise, we consume them them as usual.
If you like, you can try this simple yet nice recipe that has onions and garlic which Rinpoche blogged about:
– This can help you!
https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/food-recipes/this-can-help-you.html
Do let us know how it went if you try it 🙂 and I hope I’ve helped answer your queries. Have a great day!
Thank you Li Kim for sharing this information and providing this wonderful way to collect merits by do Dana offering to Rinpoche,3 jewels and sangha.I hope many people will grab this golden opportunity to do Dana offering !!
Thank you for this opportunity and for making it easy to others people to collect merits..
Kechara really make us easier to collect merit. I am glad to be part of Kechara and will involve in any activities which will help to collect merit and purify our sin. Thanks for organizing all this for us.
Thank you Li Kim to make for sharing the post to us ,let us know more more about Dana offering to Sangha.
Best Regard : Eric kksiow
Thank you Rinpoche for giving us the opportunity to collect merits. 🙂
Wow, I really like this arrangement and I am very thankful and grateful for this simple arrangement for lay people like to make offerings to Guru and sangha so convenient. I remembered years back then i include my contribution to our group I inidcate Dana and sangha funds my leader would raise ‘funny’ comments. Now I am very happy that I can make contribution like that. Thank you Li Khim. Now I can do it conveniently. Sometimes when i am in Geylang and would happily offer to pay food for Sanghas at vegetarian stalls. No words can describe the joy in me for this special arrangment by Li Khim. _/|\_. With much gratitude.
Thanks for the sharing. Couldn’t agree more that this is a very good opportunity to collect merits.
Thank you Li Kim for making this information available for everyone.
I’m very fortunate that i had a chance 2 years ago to make dana offering during my trip to Thailand, it is via one of my local Thai friend who bring us there. We woke up at 6am and walk there from our hotel, it is cozy and a pleasant walk, when we arrived, we saw many monks are walking along the street with barefoot, they are not there to take money, but just food for their daily consumption. Some lay people also take off their shoe while making offering to show humility.
Now the chance has brought to us from Tsem Rinpoche, we can make offering through different places and this has became very convenient to the public.
What the meritorious way offering food to the guru and sangha members. We should possible cook for the guru daily when he is around us.is good help our preliminary practice and fulfill our spiritual commitment daily make offering to the three jewels.
Thank you Li Kim sharing this post for people have opportunity to make dana offering for rinpoche.
Dear Li Kim, Many thanks for the beautiful write-up. Have always wanted to do dana offerings but did not know how. Thank you for showing me the way. 🙂
Thank you very much . This is a great opportunity to collect merits , just a simple and easy to us make a dana offerings to Sangha . i Will share to my friends .
Dear Li Kim, Thank you for providing this wonderful opportunity to collect merits and good karma by organising the Dana offerings so we can offer to the Sangha. The benefits are very well written. I hope many people will use this to their advantage and benefit not only themselves but all sentient beings through dedication.
I remember I was given the opportunity to offer dana when I was in Bangkok. It was a lovely experience.
This is really an opportunity for us to offer dana to the Sangha. Thank you Li Kim for the explanation. We in Kechara are fortunate to have Rinpoche here with us and we can offer Dana to Rinpoche to collect merits and also for Rinpoche’s work to grow global. This is one of the ways we can contribute and to practice giving.
Thanks Li Kim for the information and giving us a golden chance to do Dana Offering to collect merits and get the benefits as above.
I heard many seniors told me that offer to sangha is one of the best offering, if we offer Dana for our own Guru even better and able to get more merits coz as Li Kim say ” H.E. Tsem Rinpoche, a fully ordained Sangha member, as well as his monks.”
谢谢你让我们有这样的机会做供养,为自己的家人做出一些贡献。供僧，或是供养都是非常棒的，舍得舍得，我们都不懂得舍，却一直想得。
布施食物于流浪狗，我们已获得一些福报，供食物给父母，我们的福报更多，毕竟父母的恩情非常的深，供养持戒修行的僧人或是佛，那些福报甚至功德是无量的，以至这些功德能帮住我们自己身边的人。此外，我们也协助更多的僧人和佛法传教士的生起，帮助末法时期的人们。
Thank you for this wonderful opportunity for us to create merits by making offerings to sangha.
Thank you for this opportunity for us to collect merits and at the same time we are able to serve our Guru indirectly. Giving serves as an reminder for us not to be selfish. Making it a norm, we will eventually realise happiness has always been in our hands. We just had to start focusing out rather than just focusing on ourselves.
Thank you for sharing this post.
Dana offering is a true practice of giving, generosity and charity.
It is considered as the first step towards eliminating the three poisons of greed, hatred and ignorance.
Through Dana offering, we will able to develop pure thoughts of selflessness and to reduce greed and desires.
I will share this post with friends and relatives which bring benefits to them.
What a tremendously meritorious opportunity! And what a great way to usher in the Lunar New Year with an abundance of merits!
It is something we can do on a daily basis which brings benefits on many levels. This tradition is prevalent in all Buddhist countries predominantly in India and Greater Asia.
How fortunate we are to be able to participate in this age long tradition that has been passed on for generations!
Thank you Li Kim for sharing with us the benefits of doing Dana for Rinpoche and the Sangha.
More importantly , for reminding us the joy of giving unconditionally, especially to our Guru who has given us so much and is so very generous to us all.
Doing Dana must come from the heart, and with correct motivation of giving.
Thank you Li Kim for giving us an idea on Rinpoche’s favourite foods, so i can look up recipes using these foods and start planning the next cooking session for Rinpoche !!!
(I love cooking and love feeding others- hehehe)
Actually this is a wonderful opportunity and the timing is right too. During this new year’s, its always great to be able to contemplate making offerings to Rinpoche in order to generate good merits and this is a good head start for this coming year. The timing is of course man-made but since we have placed this emphasis on timing, it can be used for our benefit. I think this general awareness of the benefit of making offerings to monks is great way for all of us to collect merit. I think for us lay-people, there’s no limit to the amount of merits considering how little energy and time we spend on our spiritual practice.
Dear Li Kim,
Thank you so much for this wonderful news that comes to us right at the right time! Making offerings to the 3 jewels or sangha especially during auspicious occasions such as Chinese New Year, Wesak Day, Tsongkhapa day or even on ones Brithday generates great blessings and positive energies for one’s spiritual aspirations. They say giving is receiving so I am sure with the right motivation even our worldly aspirations would also be fulfilled without even having to wish it. I will surely take advantage of this opportunity. Thank you!!! x
Thank you Li Kim for this post and giving everyone who cares about Rinpoche and those who really wants to do offering a chance to be part of this meritorious activity!
Whenever we make offerings, we actually started to think less for ourselves and we think more about the Guru, the 3 Jewels. And from this, we learn how to care about others at the very basic level. The suggested dana amount is super affordable, even kids can open up their piggy bank and take some money from it and make dana offerings! How good if we can nurture our kids in this way!!
It is so meritorious to be able to support the works of any monks. When we support our sangha, we are making it easier for the sangha to be able to spread the Dharma with ease..I understand better now Rinpoche.. Thank you for sharing Rinpoche..
I love making offerings to the Sangha! I am greedy for merits. Hehe…
It is good to have the opportunity available in Kechara. Many people can have this wonderful chance to create the 3 causes. Moreover, it is something super affordable. Some of us spend much more on 1 meal than the 5 meals combined.
Giving (dana) is one of the essential preliminary steps of Buddhist practice. Giving is of prime importance in the Buddhist scheme of mental purification because it is the best weapon against greed; it is the antidote to cure the illness of egoism and greed.
The worthier the receiver, the greater the benefits that will come to the donor; hence it is good to give to the holiest people available.
Thank you for giving us this opportunity to make offerings to collect merits.
Thank you for this wonderful opportunity for us to create merits by making regular offerings to one of the Three Jewels. This Dana offering practice will generates merit towards our spiritual path You will feel happy that you have made an offering and receive blessing from the Sangha. Take this blessed opportunity and may all be benefit from this post.
Begging shows that one has overcome the ego and worldly care; and giving is in recognition of what the sangha has given up in order to perpetuate the Dharma. In giving we also overcome our miserliness and lack of care for others. But to give to the three jewels is exceptionally powerful because we do not only give to one monk. In performing Dana offerings we give so that the Dharma can grow.
This is a wonderful opportunity because it creates an easy opportunity for lay people to collect merits. It is quite unlike the old days when people had to prepare the meals, cook and deliver the food to the sangha. Comparatively this Dana offering opportunity is extremely convenient. One only need to have the genuine wish to benefit the Dharma.
The beautiful Thai Buddhist culture is one where making Dana offerings daily is a common practice. This is something all Buddhists should consider doing instead of a few times a year. After all, it is the giver that truly benefits. Come to think of it, people make more effort to shop for and give Birthday presents, Christmas presents and Valentines Day presents than they do Dana. And for much less merits, if any.
Dear Li Kim,
Thank you for this opportunity and for making it easy to collect merits by organising the dana for us so that we can make regular offerings to one of the Three Jewels. All the benefits are clearly stated here already. Thank you very much. I hope many people will take advantage of this opportunity!