Giving and Receiving – VEN. THAY THANH

Giving and Receiving

Teaching in Virginia Beach in October, 2017, Ven. Chuc Thanh said “There are five benefits you receive from giving mindfully and compassionately to others:  life, beauty, happiness, strength and intelligence (wisdom).”  In 2016, he told the sangha “The greatest gain is giving to others.  The greatest loss is receiving without gratitude.”

As we prepare for Thanksgiving in the United States, think about how you apply these teachings to your life.  Do you ever think about how you feel about the act of giving?  What type of receiver are you?  Are you consistent with your attitudes towards giving and receiving in every situation?

(Venerable Thich Chuc Thanh is the Dharma Master at Dong Hung Temple. These quotations were collected from 2015 through 2018 as he taught in Virginia Beach, VA and Southern Shores, NC.  The quotation titles and commentary are by Mark Palamara.)