Giver, Receiver and Gift

In this final Wednesday Night Dharma Talk of 2024, Sensei Monshin explores the deeper meaning of giving during the holiday season. Drawing from both Buddhist teachings about dana paramita (the practice of giving) and indigenous wisdom – particularly Robin Wall Kimmerer’s “Braiding Sweetgrass” – Monshin weaves a rich tapestry of insights about generosity. The talk comes alive through personal stories, including Monshin’s account of growing ceremonial corn in the desert with limited native farming experience. Throughout the discussion, we are invited to look beneath our consumer culture to discover the true nature of gifts – not just in the material sense, but in the profound ways we can give and receive with awareness and compassion. The central question emerges: how might we cultivate a deeper understanding of generosity that transforms both giver and receiver?