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{{Short description|
{{other uses}}
[[File:Thorma Alms.jpg|thumb|Woman giving alms by [[János Thorma]]]]
'''Alms''' ({{IPAc-en|ɑː|m|z|}}, {{IPAc-en|ɑː|l|m|z|}}) are money, food, or other material goods donated to people living in [[poverty]].<ref>{{Cite Merriam-Webster|alms}}</ref><ref>{{Cite Dictionary.com|alms}}</ref> Providing alms is often considered an act of
== Etymology ==
The word ''alms'' comes from the [[Old English]] ''{{lang|ang|ælmesse}}'', ''{{lang|ang|ælmes}}'', which comes from [[Late Latin]] ''{{lang|la|eleemosyna}}'', from [[Greek language|Greek]] {{lang|grc|ἐλεημοσύνη}} ''{{lang|grc-Latn|eleēmosynē}}'' ("pity, alms"), from {{lang|grc|ἐλεήμων}}, ''{{lang|grc-Latn|eleēmōn}}'' ("merciful"), from {{lang|grc|ἔλεος}}, ''{{lang|grc-Latn|eleos}}'', meaning "pity or mercy".<ref>{{cite web |title=alms |url=https://www.etymonline.com/search?q=alms |website=Etymonline |access-date=21 November 2021}}</ref>
== Buddhism ==
[[File:Three monks chanting in Lhasa, 1993.jpg|thumb|Three monks seeking alms in [[Lhasa]], Tibet
=== ''Dāna'' in Buddhism===
{{main|Dāna#Buddhism|Satuditha}}
In [[Buddhism]], both "almsgiving" and "giving" are called "[[Dana (Buddhism)|dāna]]" ([[Pāli]]).<ref>Nyanatiloka (1980), entry for "dāna". [http://www.budsas.org/ebud/bud-dict/dic3_d.htm Budsas.org] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070219163600/http://www.budsas.org/ebud/bud-dict/dic3_d.htm |date=2007-02-19 }}</ref> Such giving is one of the three elements of the path of practice as formulated by the [[Gautama Buddha|Buddha]] for [[Householder (Buddhism)|laypeople]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-05-26|title=Buddha Purnima 2021: Date, significance and importance of the day|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/life-style/buddha-purnima-2021-date-significance-and-importance-7303079/|access-date=2021-09-18|website=The Indian Express|language=en}}</ref> This path of practice for laypeople is
Generosity towards other sentient beings is
{{poem quote|
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}}
The giving of alms is the beginning of one's journey to [[Nirvana (concept)|Nirvana]] ({{lang-pi|nibbana}}). In practice, one can give anything with or without thought for [[Nibbana]]. This would lead to [[saddha|faith]] ({{lang-pi|saddha}}), one [[Five Powers|key power]] ({{lang-pi|bala}}) that one should generate within oneself for the [[Gautama Buddha|Buddha]], [[Dhamma]], and [[Sangha (Buddhism)|Sangha]].
According to the [[Pali canon]]:
{{Blockquote|Of all gifts [alms], the gift of [[Dhamma]] is the highest.|[[Dhammapada|Dhp.]] chapter 24, verse 354){{efn|name=Dhammapada24-354}}}}
The
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# Cittalankara-cittaparikkarattham danam deti
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{{Columns-end}}[[File:Almsbowl2.jpg|thumb|
=== In support of Buddhist monks ===
▲[[File:Almsbowl2.jpg|thumb|Almsbowl as used by [[bhikkhus]] for going on an alms round]]
In Buddhism, alms or almsgiving is the respect given by a [[Householder (Buddhism)|lay Buddhist]] to a Buddhist [[bhikkhu|monk]], [[bhikkhuni|nun]], spiritually-developed person or other sentient being. It is not charity as presumed by Western interpreters. It is closer to a symbolic connection to the [[Spirituality|spiritual]] realm and to show humbleness and respect in the presence of the secular society.{{efn|name=Mydans}} The act of almsgiving connects the human to the monk or nun and what he/she represents. As the Buddha has stated:
{{poem quote|
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both reach the true Dhamma....
|[[Itivuttaka]] 4.7<ref>Thanissaro (2001).[http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/kn/iti/iti.4.100-112.than.html#iti-107 Accesstoinsight.org] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061205193400/http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/kn/iti/iti.4.100-112.than.html |date=2006-12-05 }}</ref>{{efn|name=Dighajanu}} }}
[[File:Gift bags and medical kits to be given to monks.jpg|thumb|163x163px|Pre-packaged alms kits can be bought to donate to monks]]
In [[Theravada]] Buddhism, nuns ([[Pāli]]: ''[[bhikkhuni]]s'') and monks ([[Pāli]]: ''[[bhikkhu]]s'') practice ''[[Takuhatsu]]'' (''{{lang|pi|pindacara}}'') where they collect food (''{{lang|pi|piṇḍapāta}}''). This is often perceived as allowing the laypeople to make merit (Pāli: ''[[Merit (Buddhism)|puñña]]''). Money cannot be accepted by a Theravadan Buddhist monk or nun in place of or in addition to food, as the [[Patimokkha]] training rules make it an offense worth forfeiture and confession.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/vin/sv/bhikkhu-pati.html#np-part2|title=Bhikkhu Pāṭimokkha: The Bhikkhus' Code of Discipline|website=www.accesstoinsight.org|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180516103756/https://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/vin/sv/bhikkhu-pati.html#np-part2|archive-date=2018-05-16}}</ref>
In countries that follow [[Mahayana]] Buddhism, the practice of ''[[Takuhatsu]]'' has mostly died out. In China, Korea, and Japan, local cultures resisted the idea of giving food to 'begging' clerics, and there was no tradition of gaining 'merit' by donating to practitioners. After periods of persecution, monasteries were situated in remote mountain areas
== Christianity ==
[[File:Codex Tennenbach 4 017r.jpg|thumb|[[Clare of Assisi|St. Clare]] distributes alms; Tennenbach Codex 4, illustrated before {{circa|1492}}]]
In Christianity, the giving of alms is viewed as an act of [[Charity (practice)|charity]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Alms and Almsgiving (in the Bible) {{!}} Encyclopedia.com|url=https://www.encyclopedia.com/religion/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/alms-and-almsgiving-bible|access-date=2021-09-18|website=www.encyclopedia.com}}</ref> In the [[Apostolic age]], [[Christians]] were taught that giving alms was an expression of love. Such care for the poor was to be understood as love for God, who, in the person of [[Jesus|Jesus Christ]], sacrificed himself for the salvation of believers.{{efn|[[Epistle of James|James]] 1:27 (NIV) "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world."}}
In nearly all Christian denominations, money is donated to support the church's financial needs and its ministry to the less
=== In Western Christianity ===
[[File:Collecting the Offering in a Scottish Kirk by John Phillip YORAG 384.jpg|thumb|''Collecting the Offering in a Scottish Kirk'' by [[John Phillip]]]]
The [[offertory]] is the traditional moment in the [[Mass (Catholic Church)|Roman Catholic Mass]], [[Divine Service (Lutheran)|Lutheran Divine Service]], and [[Anglican eucharistic theology|Anglican Eucharist]], when alms are collected. [[Baptist]]s and Methodists, among other denominations, collect [[tithe]]s and offerings (alms) during the offertory in church services. A tithe, the first tenth of one's income, is seen as what is owed to God, while an offering (alms) includes anything contributed beyond that.<ref name="Prince2011">{{cite book |last1=Prince |first1=Derek |title=The Promise of Provision: Living and Giving from God's Abundant Supply |date=1 October 2011 |publisher=Baker Books |isbn=978-1-4412-6328-5 |language=English}}</ref><ref name="ClaydonClarke2010">{{cite book |last1=Claydon |first1=Tony |last2=Clarke |first2=Peter Bernard |title=God's Bounty?: Papers Read at the 2008 Summer Meeting and the 2009 Winter Meeting of the Ecclesiastical History Society |date=2010 |publisher=Boydell & Brewer |isbn=978-0-9546809-6-1 |language=English}}</ref> Some fellowships practice regular giving for special purposes called "love offerings" for the poor, destitute or victims of catastrophic loss such as home fires or medical expenses. Traditionally,
=== In Eastern Christianity ===
In the [[Eastern Orthodox Church]] and the [[Eastern Catholic Churches]], the collection of alms and tithes has not been formally united to the offertory in any liturgical action. However, either having a collection plate in the [[narthex]] or passing it unobtrusively during the service is not uncommon. In [[Eastern Orthodox theology]], almsgiving is an important part of the spiritual life, and [[fasting]] should always be accompanied by increased prayer and almsgiving.<ref>{{Cite book |
=== In the New Testament ===
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{{Blockquote|Be careful not to do your 'acts of righteousness' in front of others, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.|{{bibleverse||Matthew|6:1}}}}
{{Blockquote|Rather, give as alms what is inside, and then everything will be clean for you!|{{bibleverse||Luke|11:41}}}}
[[File:Gospel of Luke Chapter 21-4 (Bible Illustrations by Sweet Media).jpg|thumb|Jesus commends this poor but generous woman in {{bibleverse||Luke|21:1–4}}.]]
{{Blockquote|He looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury. And He saw a poor widow putting in two small copper coins. And He said, 'Truly I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all of them; for they all out of their surplus put into the offering; but she out of her poverty put in all that she had to live on.'|{{bibleverse||Luke|21:1–4}}}}
Giving should be out of love and not out of duty:
{{blockquote|He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.'|{{bibleverse||Matthew|25:45}}}}
Sharing possessions was practised in the church:
{{Blockquote|text=Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common.|multiline=true|source=Acts 4:32}}
{{Blockquote|text=..there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need. Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means "son of encouragement"), sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet.|source=Acts 4:34-37|multiline=true}}
== Hinduism ==
[[File:
=== ''Dāna'' in Hinduism ===
{{main|Dāna#Hinduism}}
In Hinduism, ''{{IAST|
{{blockquote|After the taxes, there are different opinions on how to spend their income. Some destine one-ninth of it for alms.<ref>Al Biruni states that another one-ninth is put into savings/reserve, one-ninth in investment/trade for profits</ref> Others divide this income (after taxes) into four portions. One fourth is destined for common expenses, the second for liberal works of a noble mind, the third for alms, and the fourth for being kept in reserve.| Abū Rayḥān al-Bīrūnī, Tarikh Al-Hind, 11th century AD<ref name="birunihind"/>}}
Almsgiving
==== Institutional ''dāna'' ====
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# ''vidya dāna'' or ''[[jñāna]] dāna'' ({{lang|sa|विद्या दान}}, {{lang|sa|ज्ञान दान}}), the giving of knowledge and skills
# ''aushadhā dāna'', the giving of care for the sick and diseased
# ''abhay dāna'', the giving of freedom from fear (such as asylum
# ''anna dāna'' ({{lang|sa|अन्ना दान}}), the giving of food to the poor, needy, and all visitors<ref>Abbe Dubois and Henry Beauchamp (2007), Hindu Manners, Customs and Ceremonies, {{ISBN|978-1602063365}}, pages 223, 483-495</ref>
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==== In the Upanishads ====
The early [[Upanishads]], those composed before 500 BCE,
==== In Mahabharata and Puranas ====
[[Bhagavad Gita]] describes the right and wrong forms of {{IAST|dāna}} in verses 17.20 through 17.22.<ref>Christopher Key Chapple, The Bhagavad Gita: Twenty-fifth–Anniversary Edition, State University of New York Press, {{ISBN|978-1438428420}}, pages 653-655</ref> The ''[[Adi Parva]]'' of the Hindu Epic ''[[Mahabharata]]''
The ''[[Bhagavata Purana]]'' discusses when {{IAST|dāna}} is proper and when it is improper. In Book 8, Chapter 19, verse 36, it states that charity is inappropriate if it endangers and cripples modest livelihood of one's biological dependents or of one's own. Charity from surplus income above that required for modest living is recommended in the [[Puranas]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Agarwal |first=Sanjay |year=2010 |title=Daan and Other Giving Traditions in India |asin=B00E0R033S |page=43}}</ref>
== Islam ==
In Islam, the concept of Muhsi or Muhsin alms-giver or charitable giving is generally divided into voluntary giving, ''[[sadaqah|ṣadaqah]]'' ({{lang|ar|صدقة}}), and an obligatory practice, the ''[[zakat|zakāh]]'' ({{lang|ar|الزكاة}})
=== ''Zakat'' ===
{{main|Zakat}}
''
This category of people is defined in [[At-Tawbah]]:
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{{blockquote|"O ye who believe! there are indeed many among the priests and anchorites, who in Falsehood devour the substance of men and hinder (them) from the way of Allah. And there are those who bury gold and silver and spend it not in the way of Allah. announce unto them a most grievous penalty – On the Day when heat will be produced out of that (wealth) in the fire of Hell, and with it will be branded their foreheads, their flanks, and their backs.- "This is the (treasure) which ye buried for yourselves: taste ye, then, the (treasures) ye buried!"|Qur'an 9:34–35}}
Muslims of each era have agreed upon the obligatory nature of paying ''zakat''
==== ''Nisab'' ====
{{main|Nisab}}
''Zakat'' is obligatory when a certain amount of money, called the ''nisab'' (or minimum amount), is reached or exceeded. Zakat is not obligatory if the amount owned is less than this ''nisab''. The ''nisab'' of gold and golden currency is 20 ''mithqal'', or approximately 85 grams of pure gold. One ''mithqal'' is approximately 4.25 grams. The ''nisab'' of silver and silver currency is 200 dirhams, which is approximately 595 grams of pure silver. The ''nisab'' of other kinds of money and currency is to be scaled to that of gold; the ''nisab'' of money is equivalent to the price of 85 grams of 999-type (pure) gold
''Zakat'' is obligatory after the money has been in the control of its owner for the span of one lunar year; a lunar year is approximately 355 days.
If the owner had enough money to satisfy the ''nisab'' at the beginning of the year, but his wealth in any form increased, the owner needs to add the increase to the ''nisab'' amount owned at the beginning of the year
=== ''Sadaqah'' ===
{{main|Sadaqah}}
A pious person may also give alms as much as he or she pleases as ''
{{blockquote|The [[Muhammad|Messenger of Allah]] said: "Every good is charity. Indeed among the good is to meet your brother with a smiling face, and to pour what is left in your bucket into the vessel of your brother."|[[Jamiʽ at-Tirmidhi]] 27.76, hadith compiled by [[Al-Tirmidhi]]<ref>{{Cite book |last=Ibn ‛Isa at-Tirmidhi |first=Muhammad, Imam |author-link=Al-Tirmidhi |year=1970 |title=Jamiʽ at-Tirmidhi |url=https://sunnah.com/tirmidhi/27/76 |via=Sunnah.com}}</ref>}}
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=== ''Tzedakah'' ===
{{main|Tzedakah}}
[[File:Jewish cemetery Otwock Karczew Anielin IMGP6721.jpg|thumb|Sandstone vestige of a Jewish gravestone depicting a ''[[tzedakah]]'' box (''pushke'')
[[File:Tzedoko gelt.JPG|thumb|''Tzedakah'' pouch and ''gelt'' ([[Yiddish language|Yiddish]] for coins/money) on fur-like padding.]]
In [[Judaism]], ''[[tzedakah]]'', a [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]] term literally meaning righteousness but commonly used to signify "charity",<ref>{{cite book |last1=Donin |first1=Hayim Halevy, Rabbi |title=To Be A Jew |publisher=Basic Books |location=New York |year=1972 |page=48}}</ref> refers to the religious obligation to do what is right and just.<ref name="JTauber">[http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/1079/jewish/The-Myth-of-Charity.htm Tzedakah vs The Myth of Charity] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120313154027/http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/1079/jewish/The-Myth-of-Charity.htm |date=2012-03-13 }}; by [[Yanki Tauber]]; Retrieved 03-11-2012.</ref>{{efn|name=YTauber}} In the Greek [[Septuagint]] ''tzedakah'' was sometimes translated as {{lang|grc|ἐλεημοσύνη}}, "almsgiving".<ref>As per [[Wilhelm Gesenius|Gesenius]] Lexicon; "Deuterony 6:25 καὶ ἐλεημοσύνη ἔσται...", "... derived from the Greek ἐλεημοσύνη (mercifulness), used by Greek-speaking Jews to denote almost exclusively the offering of charity to the needy, from a feeling of both compassion and righteousness (ẓedaḳah). (See [[LXX]]. (note: Septuagint) on Prov. xxi. 21, and Dan. iv. 24.)"</ref><ref name="Alms">{{cite encyclopedia |last=Kohler |first=Kaufmann |title=Alms |url=http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/1295-alms |
In Judaism, ''tzedakah'' is seen as one of the greatest deeds that a person can do. ''Tzedakah'', along with prayer and repentance, is regarded as ameliorating the consequences of bad acts. Contemporary ''tzedakah'' is regarded as a continuation of the Biblical ''[[Maaser Ani]]'', or poor-tithe, as well as Biblical practices including permitting the poor to glean the corners of a field, harvest during the ''[[Shmita]]'' (sabbatical year), and other practices.{{citation needed|date=September 2021}} Jewish farmers are commanded to leave the corners of their fields for the starving to harvest for food and are forbidden to pick up any grain that has been dropped during harvesting, as such food shall be left for the starving as well.{{citation needed|date=September 2021}}{{efn|[[Book of Leviticus|Leviticus]] 19:9–10 (KJV) "And when ye reap the harvest of your land, thou shalt not wholly reap the corners of thy field, neither shalt thou gather the gleanings of thy harvest. 10 And thou shalt not glean thy vineyard, neither shalt thou gather every grape of thy vineyard; thou shalt leave them for the poor and stranger: I am the LORD your God."}}
In the [[Mishneh Torah]], Chapter 10:7–14, [[Maimonides]] lists eight "laws about giving to poor people" (''{{lang|he-Latn|hilkhot matanot aniyim}}''), listed in order from most to least righteous, with the most righteous form being allowing an individual to become self-sustaining and capable of giving others charity:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/45907/jewish/Eight-Levels-of-Charity.htm|title=Maimonides' Eight Levels of Charity - Mishneh Torah, Laws of Charity, 10:7–14|website=www.chabad.org|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160807162607/http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/45907/jewish/Eight-Levels-of-Charity.htm|archive-date=2016-08-07}}</ref>
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In [[Mandaeism]], ''zidqa'' refers to alms or almsgiving.<ref name="GR Gelbert">{{cite book |url=https://livingwaterbooks.com.au/product/ginza-rba/ |last1=Gelbert |first1=Carlos |title=Ginza Rba |year=2011 |publisher=Living Water Books |location=Sydney |isbn=9780958034630}}</ref><ref name="Drower 1937">Drower, Ethel Stefana. 1937. ''The Mandaeans of Iraq and Iran''. Oxford At The Clarendon Press.</ref> [[Mandaean priest]]s receive regular financial contributions from laypeople.
The [[Mandaic language|Mandaic]] term ''[[zidqa brika]]'' (literally "blessed [[oblation]]") refers to a ritual meal blessed by priests. An early self-appellation for Mandaeans is ''bhiri zidqa'', meaning "elect of righteousness".<ref name=RudolphEI>{{cite web|last=Rudolph|first=Kurt|url=https://iranicaonline.org/articles/mandaeans-2-religion |url-status=live |title=MANDAEANS ii. THE MANDAEAN RELIGION |access-date=8 January 2022|website=Encyclopaedia Iranica|date=7 April 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110429194459/http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/mandaeans-2-religion |archive-date=2011-04-29 }}</ref>
== See also ==
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* [[Mendicant]]
* [[Meshulach]]
* [[Pittance]]
* [[Qard al-Hassan]]
* [[Satuditha]]
* [[Zayat]]
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