ALMS

Alms Bag taken from some Tapestry in Orleans, Fifteenth Century.

For other uses, see Alms (disambiguation)}}}.

Alms or almsgiving, or, simply, charity, is the practice of giving money or other material aid to the poor. In many religions, charity is considered a mandatory element of ones spiritual practice.

For instance, although the practical applications differ, the Islamic scriptural rules on alms are quite reminiscent of the biblical instructions:

If you give alms openly, it is well; but if you do it secretly and give to the poor, that is better. - (Qur-an 2:271a)

In Islam, zakat, or the giving of alms, is the fourth of the five pillars of Islam. Various rules attach to the practice, but in general terms, it is obligatory to give away 2.5% of ones savings and business revenue, as well as 5-10% of ones harvest, to the poor. The recipients include the destitute, the working poor, those who are unable to pay off their own debts, stranded travelers, and others who need assistance, with the general principle of zakaah always being that the rich should pay it to the poor.

Whereas the principle of almsgiving in Christianity is not a legal concept as in Islam, giving to the poor is regarded as one of the highest duties for any Christian. The offertory is the traditional moment in every Roman Catholic Mass, when alms are collected. In all Christian forms of worship, a collection is made of "tithes and offerings" given for the support of the church and for the relief of the poor, as a central act of Christian worship. In addition, private acts of charity, considered virtuous only if not done for others to admire, are a Christian duty.

Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your father in heaven. - ([Matthew 6:1])

In the Jewish tradition, charity is secondary to tzedakah, or redistributive justice.

In (Theravada) Buddhism, many monks (or bhikkhus) go on a daily almsround (or pindabat) to collect food. This is often perceived as giving the laypeople the opportunity to make merit. Money should not be accepted by a buddhist monk, although nowadays not many monks keep to this rule (the exception being the monks of the Thai Forest Tradition and other Theravada traditions which focus on vinaya and meditationpractice. Giving is called Dana (Pali) , and is one of the 3 elements of the path of practice as formulated by the Buddha for laypeople. This path of practice for laypeople is: Dana, Sila, samadhi.

In Buddhism, giving of alms, is the beginning of One's journey to Nirvana. In practice, One can give anything with or without thought for Nirvana. This would lead to Saddra, one key power that One should generate within oneself about Buddha, Dhamma, Sangha.

Once the Buddha said:

"Sabbha Danan Dhamma Danan Jinati"
Giving the understanding of Dhamma to others is the most highest Dana, Alms.

ALMS

See also