As a bee gather honey from a flower and flies away without injuring
the flower, its colours or its scent, so let the sage wander in the
village. (The Dhammapada v49)
Born as a Prince, the Buddha renounced his palace life and went on his alms round to obtain the four basic life requisites – Robes, Food, Lodging and Medicine. It is a great example of Buddha’s humility and should be practised by all ascetics.
By offering food to the Sangha, it is a way for lay people to
practice joyful giving and letting go of attachments. By receiving food
from the lay community, the Sangha sustain themselves for the sake of
learning, practising and sharing the Buddha’s teachings.
The Do’s and Don’ts of Alms Offering
By learning and sharing in harmony together, the Buddhist community
strives towards achieving a common objective, Enlightenment – Nirvāṇa.
What Does a Bhikkhu Need? How to Help a Bhikkhu? Dedicating Meritorious Acts The Right Way to Give Alms Ashoka and the Buddha |