dāna or gifting

[yajvan]

hariḥ oṁ
~~~~~~

namasté

This post and suggestion is on gifting/charity ( giving or dā; dāna is donation ). That is, to offer gift or donation to some charity or cause. I will explain a bit more after this knowledge from the mahābhārata to set the stage.

If we look to the mahābhārata , aṇusāsana¹ parvan (section LVII or 107) we are informed of the following. By making gifts one gains all kinds of joy.
Now what are the best of gifts? Bhīṣma-ji¹ in later chapters suggests gold, the gift of kine ( gau or cows), the gift of earth ( property/land), seseme, food and water. I will review them as time permits, but let me start here.

Bhīṣma-ji says, no man (person) is equal to him in merit who satisfies the hunger of a person that is emaciated, possessed of learning, destitute of the means of support and weakened by misery. One should alway dispel the distress of the righteous by all means possible. Righteous men of righteous deeds should make gifts from the motivation that it is their duty vs. of reaping the benefits from
these actions. In this way the virtuous man ( the receiver) will not feel any dis-inclination to receive the gifts accordingly. One reaps the same merit by making gifts unto the regenerate person ( the twice born, the sādhu, the spiritually uplifted) then by properly pouring libations unto the sacrificial fire morning and evening ( yajña).

He also mentions:

• by abstention from cruelty one obtains health and freedom from disease.
• one who gives peace to every creature ( non-injury) is freed from every region
• by presenting light at places which are dark and frequented by men, one acquires good vision
• by giving away beautiful objects one acquires good memory and understanding

What is my point ?
This is sanātana dharma put to practice.
A few years back the HDF membership got together and purchased several cows (gau) for donation. We did this and delivered the cows in kancipurum India to several brahmins. I am now thinking we at HDF can also donate, as funds permit, on an individual level.

What to do ?
If you are interested in participating in this, look at various India-centric charities and organizations that bring good to the communities of people , animals, or the land itself (preservation of the land).
The goal will be to offer charity ideas to others on HDF ( within this HDF folder) to consider for donaton.

Filtering process
After a member's due-dilligence¹ has been performed on a charity i.e. research, contacting them, looking at their 990 tax form ( this is a
United States document , other countries will vary) NGO's in India, etc. the name and proper contact/web site will be offered here.

• Why due-dilligence ? To insure the viability and forthrightfulness of the organization is worthy of one's funding.
• Due dilligence can also include contacting others ( friends, associates, HDF members, etc) for any knowledge or references about a charity in question.

Other considerations
The person considering a donation should come to the same conclusion about the charity as the original author offering the suggestion.
Also, we are NOT soliciting other members for money. Those persons that solicit others are said to annoy the world like thiefs and robbers (caura).

Giving should not be a pinch... It should be done as a wholesome thing to do, uplifting to the giver and the receiver. This brings the
best mind set and carries good thoughts with the offer.

If you care to be part of this initiative and care to offer a charity that meets the critera above, please join in.

praṇām

words/references

• bhīṣma son of śāṃtanu and gaṅgā . In the great war of the bharata-s he took the side of the sons of dhṛtarāṣṭra against the sons of pāṇḍu , and was renowned for his continence , wisdom , bravery , and fidelity to his word ;The bhāghavataṁ says that there are only twelve men in the whole world who know the ins and outs of dharma in all its subtlety. These twelve are: Brahmā, the Creator; Narada, the roving sage; Lord Śiva; Lord Subrahmaṇya; the sage Kapila; Manu the law-giver; the boy-devotee Prahlada; King Janaka; bhīṣma; King Bali; the boy-sage śuka son of vyāsa narrator of the bhāgavata-purāṇa to king parikṣit), and Yama, the Lord of Death and Dispenser of Justice.
• aṇusāsana - The brilliance of this word aṇusāsana parvan shows the great command of the language by vyāsa-ji ( also known as Kṛṣṇa Dvaipāyana ); This word can be seen in a few ways:
  • aṇu+sā+sana : aṇu = finer +sā =knowledge + sana = presenting, gain, acquisition. Hence the section (parva) presenting finer knowledge.
  • anu + śasana : anu = after or afterwords + śasana = killing. Hence the section (prava) after the war.
  • More on veda vyāsa who compiled this mahābhārata: http://www.hindudharmaforums.com/showpost.php?p=49765&postcount=35
• Due diligence Resources (sample):
  
  • Charity Vault - http://charity-charities.org/India-charities/Jaiper.html
  • Charity Navigator - http://www.charitynavigator.org/
  • Foundation Finder - http://foundationcenter.org/findfunders/foundfinder/
  • Wikipedia - Charities of India - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Charities_based_in_India
• More on benefits of giving at this HDF post : http://www.hindudharmaforums.com/sho...ghlight=dispel