What is the principle of “Sangha Dana”? f there is only one monk who receives our gifts, it can be counted as Sangha Dana? Which one gives us more merit between presenting gifts to the Order of Monks or to a specific one?

Question:
I’d like to ask Luang Phaw about the principle of “Sangha Dana” (presenting gifts to the Order of Monks), and if there is only one monk who receives our gifts, it can be counted as Sangha Dana or not? Also I’d like to know which one gives us more merit between presenting gifts to the Order of Monks or to a specific one.

Answer
by Venerable Dhattajeevo Bhikku

Before explaining about the donation called “Sangha Dana”, we have to understand about the word “Sangha” first.

“Sangha” actually means team. Is it clear? The donation called “Sangha Dana” is the donation presenting to an Order or a team of Monks.

An Order or a team of Monks called “Sangha” is, along the monastic regular, composed of at least 4 monks.

To perform a donation that is really called Sangha Dana, we need to present gifts to an Order or a group of Monks composed of at least 4 monks.

If we present gifts to only one monk, can it be counted as Sangha Dana? The answer is both yes and no. Why? If we present gifts to a specific monk, it cannot be called Sangha Dana.

On the contrary, if we intend to present gifts to a team of monks or an Order of Monks composed of at least 4 monks, but there is only one monk available, the other 3, 5 or 10 monks are not there with him,…

We need to tell him that we give these gifts in his care to make apportionments to be our Sangha Dana. This case is still called Sangha Dana because we intend to present the gifts to a team of monks. Is it clear? So the word “Sangha” means “team” or “Order” in this present time. We need to see it clearly.

Next question is why Sangha Dana begets much merit and was much praised by the Lord Buddha. We have to think about it. Think about our work; when we work individually, we will get only a little of work done. On the other hand, if we have teamwork, much work will be done. Team performance begets multiply much merit from good deeds, and bad deeds can also beget multiply much demerit likewise. If we don’t want to go to an unfortunate realm, we shouldn’t perform bad deeds in a team, only good deeds and merit in a team will be performed which is actually Sangha Dana.

Why was it well praised by the Lord Buddha? Sangha Dana or the gift presentation to an Order of Monks is both good to monks and laypeople.

Why is it good to monks? Monks are usually generous and would like people to gain much merit. When they see our intention to present gifts to the Order of them, but there are only a few monks like 2 at the temple, they will endeavor to build a team. If there are only a few monks at their temple, they will ask monks from other places to live in their temple; or if they don’t know where to find monks, they can give an ordination to some local laypeople who have faith; or though they don’t have faith, the monks can give them teachings until they have faith and then they will be willing to get an ordination.

Finally, Sangha Dana will automatically force the monks to build a team. Besides, when their team grows, we will even be more delighted while making merit; and not only we who are more delighted, but our team is also more delighted and the team will grow. When our team grows, we can perform more donations until that Order of monks has to grow their team too.

When their team grows or other groups or other teams of monks join them, the stability of the Order of Monks will be begotten. What will happen next? When they are well nourished by our Sangha Dana, the Order of Monks will be stronger and bigger.

Not only their team that will grow, but also their Dhamma Dana (The gift of Dhamma) because each monk has trained himself and has different knowledge and goodness than the other ones; when there are more teams, the more Dhamma Dana will be given.

When more Dhamma Dana is given, well…you, the one who leads your team to present Sangha Dana, will absorb the wisdom of the monks and have more chance to improve yourself. By this reason, the Dhamma Dana you get will be the knowledge to get rid of defilements, and the merit from presenting Sangha Dana will come with you over life that can guarantee that no matter how many times you reincarnate, you will never suffer from the poorness, but will always be satisfied and get much Dhamma from monks to improve yourself. Then, your wisdom and property will be increased in each life. Other than that, the precepts we absorb from monks will definitely be more stable—from 5 precepts to 8 precepts, 10 precepts and we might finally take 227 precepts and get an ordination just like them.

Why? Because you will see that a group of monks are respectful, attractive and interesting, so you may desire to get an ordination like them. This is the power of Sangha Dana. That was why the Lord Buddha admired Sangha Dana. Therefore, in this rain-retreat, you should perform Sangha Dana presentation as best as you can because there are many monks in every temple.