ABSTRACT

The purposes of this thesis were: (1) to study the concept of Dana (alms-giving) in Theravada Buddhism, (2) to study the concept of Dana in Mahayana Buddhism and (3) to compare  the concept of Dana in Theravada Buddhism and Mahayana Buddhism.

The results of study were found that:

1)  Dana in Theravada Buddhism means giving, devoting, and apportion. Dana included six constituents: three givers and three receivers. Dana was divided into two kinds: Amisadana (donation of requisites) and Dhammadãna (gift of the Dhamma). Moreover, Dana was divided into two characteristics: Patipuggalika-dana (offering to a particular person) and Sanghadana (offering to the Sangha). Giving Dana had three components: Dayaka (almsgiver), Patiggahaka (recipient), and Deyyadhamma (gift). The profit of Dana was the alms-giving leading to be born in the heaven and the alms-giving lead to become the wealthy person. The goal of the alms-giving was to make the charisma by depending on the monk. Theravada Buddhism focused on Arahantabhumi with the core of the concept, principle, belief and practice for leading to the goal: Nibbana.

2) Dana in Mahayana Buddhism means Danaparami because Bodhisattva must give the property, organ, and life to save the life. When recalling the Dhamma: the appropriateness, or the virtue, and giving the property, organ, and life to save the Dhamma, the characteristic of Dana was performing the meritorious acts by the donation. Danaparami was divided into three types: Dhammadana (gift to the Dhamma), Amisadana (donation of requisites), and Meytridana. The component of Dana is the object stating the Dana divided into Bhahiradana and Achjhattikadana. The characteristic of performing the meritorious acts must consider the things good and give the alms to the wanted person. The way for the alms-giving was Bodhisattva must give the alms with the compassion and the wisdom. The goal of the alms-giving was to lead to Muditabhumi. Mahayana Buddhism focused on attaining the Buddhabhumi being Lokuttarabhumi (the Supramundane Plane) by teaching to help together.

3) The comparison of the concept and characteristic of Dana in Theravada Buddhism and Mahayana Buddhism was similar. Dana was the beginning that was the way, principle, tool and instrument of the conduct to not do the bad thing. Both Nikaya had the same views in Parami. The alms-giving in Theravada Buddhism consisted of six constituents: three givers and three receivers. However, the alms-giving in Mahayana Buddhism focused on the Bodhisattva. The goal of the alms-giving in both Nikaya stated on the final goal and the result of the alms-giving was to attain Amatadhamma by  Theravada Buddhism focusing on Arahantabhumi but Mahayana Buddhism focusing on Buddhabhumi. The core of the concept, way, belief and practice was to lead to Nibbana