Dana: Reciprocity and Patronage in Buddhism

Dāna: Reciprocity and Patronage in Buddhism explores the conceptof dāna in Buddhism as a primarily rational and ethical phenomenonand examines its superimposing, mythic, and cultic dimensions. Scholars who have contributed to this volume have attempted to placedāna in the context of contemporary religious traditions in relation tovarious sects and traditions of Buddhism, re-examining establishedhypotheses and challenging extreme opinions that are prone toexaggeration. It elucidates evolution, transition, and maturity of theprocess of dāna in different phases of Buddhism. The Buddha introducedthe practice of dāna to sustain his monastic community. Subsequentlyits character transformed with the division of Buddhism into different sects and traditions. Some of the papers specifically deal with ideological differences and changes in nature of reciprocity, patronage, and possessions.