Overview

While the physical act of giving (dāna) is always beneficial, the kammic result is heavily determined by the mental intention behind the gift. The Buddha outlined eight specific motivations that drive people to give.

The List

  1. Āsajja dānaṃ deti - Giving spontaneously: Giving when the recipient has arrived: on seeing him come, one has him sit down, honours him and gives (Manorathapūraṇī).
  2. Bhayā dānaṃ deti - Giving out of fear: Giving from fear of blame (“this one is a non-giver”) or fear of the lower worlds (Manorathapūraṇī).
  3. Adāsi me ti dānaṃ deti - Giving thinking “He gave to me”: Giving because “he gave to me before” (Manorathapūraṇī).
  4. Dassati me ti dānaṃ deti - Giving thinking “He will give to me”: Giving because “he will give to me in the future” (Manorathapūraṇī).
  5. Sāhu dānan ti dānaṃ deti - Giving thinking “Giving is good”: Giving because giving is good, praised by the wise such as the Buddha (Manorathapūraṇī).
  6. Ahaṃ pacāmi, ime na pacantī ti… - Giving thinking “I cook, they do not”: Giving because “I cook, they do not cook; it is not right that I, who cook, should not give to those who do not cook.”
  7. Kittisaddo abbhuggacchatū ti… - Giving to acquire a good reputation: Giving because “a good reputation will arise for me from giving this gift.”
  8. Cittālaṅkāracittaparikkhāratthaṃ dānaṃ deti - Giving to adorn and beautify the mind: Giving for the purpose of adorning and equipping the mind of serenity and insight (Manorathapūraṇī).

Quote

“Aṭṭhimāni, bhikkhave, dānāni. Katamāni aṭṭha? Āsajja dānaṃ deti, bhayā dānaṃ deti,‘ adāsi me ’ ti dānaṃ deti,‘ dassati me ’ ti dānaṃ deti,‘ sāhu dānan ’ ti dānaṃ deti,‘ ahaṃ pacāmi, ime na pacanti; nārahāmi pacanto apacantānaṃ dānaṃ adātun ’ ti dānaṃ deti,‘ imaṃ me dānaṃ dadato kalyāṇo kittisaddo abbhuggacchatī ’ ti dānaṃ deti, cittālaṅkāracittaparikkhāratthaṃ dānaṃ deti. Imāni kho, bhikkhave, aṭṭha dānānī” ti.
“Monks, there are these eight gifts. What are these eight? (1) One gives a gift prying. (2) One gives a gift through fear. (3) One gives a gift, thinking: ‘He gave to me.’ (4) One gives a gift, thinking: ‘He will give to me.’ (5) One gives a gift, thinking: ‘Giving is good.’ (6) One gives a gift, thinking: ‘I am well-off; these people are not well-off. It is not right that I, who am well-off, should not give a gift to those who are not well-off.’ (7) One gives a gift, thinking: ‘Because I have given this gift, a good reputation will arise for my giving.’ (8) One gives a gift for the purpose of ornamenting the mind, equipping the mind. These, indeed, monks, are the eight gifts.”

— Aṅguttara Nikāya (AN 8.31, Paṭhamadāna Sutta) · TPR

Textual References

  • Canonical: Paṭhamadāna Sutta (AN 8.31) – The Buddha lists these eight kinds of gift. (The separate eight “dānavatthūni” are in AN 8.33.)

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