These days, the Thanksgiving holiday may evoke thoughts of bargain-hunting more than its original purpose: generously giving, and sharing gratitude.

The Buddha always emphasized the importance of cultivating generosity through giving, usually speaking at length on this topic. Writes Bhikkhu Bodhi in Dāna: The Practice of Giving (BPS, Wheel 367/369), "Only after the audience had begun to appreciate this virtue would he introduce other aspects of his teaching." Giving is seen as "the foundation and seed of spiritual development." (pg.vi) Dāna (generosity) is the first of the ten pāramī (perfections) necessary to develop by aspirants to enlightenment.

Fulfilling the dāna pāramī is influenced by three primary factors. Most important is the volition of the donor, before, during, and after the act of generosity. The highest type of giving is associated with wisdom. It is said that giving lends to "pliancy of the mind, an essential asset in developing concentration and wisdom, the prime requisites of liberation." (pg. 3). The next factor is the purity of the recipient. The worthier the receiver, the greater benefits that will accrue to the donor. The third factor is the gift itself, whether material or immaterial. Dhammadāna, the gift of the noble teaching, is said by the Buddha to excel all other gifts. (Dhammapada 354) Those who expound the Teaching--monks and Dhamma teachers--practice the highest kind of generosity. Donating Dhamma books, or for the printing or translation of such works, is another way of giving the gift of Dhamma.

Susan Elbaum Jootla writes, "Gifts untainted by craving can only be made during a Buddha-sāsana, the period when the teachings of a Buddha are available. So when we give now, during such a time, we should do so with the aim of putting an end to craving. With the end of craving, suffering ceases, and that is liberation." (pg. 15)