What is an offering?

Hello.

There is a term called “three-wheeled cleaning.”
It means that the giver, the recipient, and what is given must all be clean.
First, the giver must not expect anything in return.
Second, the recipient must not be caught up in desire.
Finally, what you give must not be stolen or evil.
This is a “three-wheeled cleaning.” The offering must be a “three-wheeled cleaning.”

Regarding offerings, Buddha explained in the “Nirvana Sutra” that “the best form of charity is for both to instantly forget the three things: the person who gave the offering, the person who received the offering, and the thing that was given.” The person who gave the donation said, “I've given too much. “I did something useless,” “it was too little and the public body is bad,” “I wonder if the monk is angry even though it was too little,” or “what exactly does this mean?” or “How did you feel when you received it?” If you thought something like that, it means that it's not correct as an offering. If the recipient of us also thinks “I received a lot” or “I'm so stingy,” etc., it's not correct as a gift, so we don't feel that kind of feeling. I don't feel that way when I do sutras.

Also, whether it's property or not, doing something for someone who isn't a monk is an “offering.”
It means that being kind to others is also a form of “charity.”
Have you ever had kind words spoken to you? I'm sure there are. It means you have received an offering.
Also, this hasunoha can also be said to be an act of donation from us monks to all the questioners.
You have also done “offerings” in various forms, and received “alms” in various forms. How do you feel about doing it and receiving it?

Let's abandon the idea of a point deduction method. Buddhism is not a scoring standard for questioning pass/fail like an entrance exam. 0 points if you ask for something in return! If you raise the threshold like this, only a handful of Buddhist enthusiasts will be able to get there. There's no kindness there.

That point is evident in the altarpiece on the upper seat. Why do people make a memorial service every morning? This is because we can gain merit through alms and be born in a better place in the next life. At the private level, they are clearly looking for something in return. This is because it is important not to narrow the entrance to Buddhism at that point, but how to learn while becoming familiar with Buddhism.

Instead of looking for mistakes in the point deduction method, let's switch to the idea that we would both be happy when the donation became a donation in the point addition system. As the number of people searching for mistakes increases, disputes in society will increase, making it difficult to live. That's bad cause and bad effect. So what is important is balance, but today's Japanese society is too morbid.
I can't move when I think about 0 or 100. Let's relax our shoulders. Repeat by emphasizing with double parentheses. “If you think about it as 0 or 100, it's not good for anyone”
In fact, they were invited to the homes of believers to have a feast, and memorial services where monks perform puja have been confirmed at the time of the Primitive Order.

Now, I tried searching for “what is a donation,” and the explanations that can be seen on the Yahoo list within the range displayed on my tablet are applied in order from above, giving, being kind, giving (including thank-you), not compensation, one of the ascetic methods, not compensation, place names, affectionate, and kind words (donations made with care). It's almost the same result on Google. There is an explanation that goes beyond thanking you for just one example, but it is an explanation by an end-of-life dealer. The overwhelming majority seems to me that no matter how you look at it, the position that it's not worth it (changing everything is too hopeful).

Also, in your previous reply to me, you said, “If there is no self-cleansing effect, it is unavoidable that people will lose their faith.” However, it is known in an NHK survey that “abandonment of religion is most prominent in the baby boomer generation, and the percentage of people interested in religion increases as they get younger.” The handling of media has also changed dramatically from a year ago. Aren't these the results of self-cleaning effects?

I would like to say tough things for the future of Japanese Buddhism. I am keenly aware that this kind of stereotype is “one of” the image that “Buddhism is stinky.” I don't want you to cheer around, but I would be happy if you could watch it now without any stereotypes

Donations are fine within a reasonable range for each person.
Once upon a time, in India, a very rich person gave large sums of money to people in the town, and they were born into a celestial person as a reward for that. Also, around the same time, a poor person put up with what he ate and offered a spoonful of soup to an elder who was practicing Buddhism, and was born into a celestial person as a reward for that. Moreover, the latter person was born to a celestial being of a higher rank than the former person.
There is also an anecdote like this.

Also, in modern Japan, I think it's okay to express gratitude for an offering. Please feel free to do so. For my part, when I receive an offering, I say “thank you” and chant the offering. “Finance Law, Nisse Merit, Muryodan Danbara Mitsu, Success, and Equal Interest in the Legal World” (The merits of financial administration and law enforcement are immeasurable. (May the Fuse Haramitsu, one of the Buddhist practices, be fully satisfied, and that it will benefit all living beings in the world equally.)
While writing this, I recently cut corners and realized that I was only reciting the first two phrases. It's so embarrassing. I will reflect on it. From now on, I'll be reciting up to six verses thoroughly. Thank you for making me notice.

Also, it's a story about giving a large amount of money in order to give up greed, but if it's to give up greed, it should be okay to donate to another place without sending it to that religious group. If it's a religious group that blames it, I think it's also false that it's to abandon greed.

Kimko-sama

This is Kawaguchi Hidetoshi. This is my humble answer to the question.

Thank you very much for your support.

Certainly, I think there is a reality where it can't be helped even if it is taken as a reward or thank you.

At the “Future Chief Priest School,” which I attended for one year last year, I wrote the following in the section “Temple Vision” in the “Temple Business Plan” created by Jusei as a result of my studies.

“... By being a temple or monk that reliably handles and practices Buddhism and Buddhism, I want to make it a temple where people can naturally and comfortably receive offerings and donations by being precious and sacred, and I hope that people will continue to survive, and that they can cooperate, support, and appreciate with respect and support. ・・”

I would like to work hard every day so that I can become like this.

Kawaguchi Hidetoshi Gassho