The Wisdom of Giving Preface

Preface 

缘起

Why I Chose to Speak about Giving

为什么讲布施

At the end of 2022, I was teaching a six-month course on Health, Happiness, and Inner Cultivation to a group of Western students. As Thanksgiving and Christmas approached, I found myself reflecting on a theme shared by both festivals—the spirit of giving.

I asked myself:

If I were to introduce the Buddhist wisdom of generosity, which sutra should I choose?

The answer came naturally: The Sutra of Answers to the Questions from Veda Vyasa (《毘耶娑问经》).

2022 年底，我为一群来自欧美国家的学生讲授一门为期六个月的身心修养课程。课程进行期间，正值感恩节和圣诞节前夕。在这个充满感恩、分享与给予的季节，我不断思考一个问题：

如果要向西方学生讲述佛教关于「布施」的智慧，我应该选择哪一部经典？

最终，我选择了《毘耶娑问经》。

In this remarkable dialogue, the Buddha personally explains the true meaning of giving. He answers fundamental questions such as: What is generosity? Who is a true giver? What is impure giving? What is pure giving? Why does giving transform our lives? His teachings are profound, practical, and deeply inspiring.

在这部经典中，佛陀亲自回答了关于布施最根本的问题：什么是布施？谁是真正的施主？什么是不净布施？什么是清净布施？为什么布施能够改变一个人的生命？佛陀循循善诱，层层开示，不仅阐明了布施的真正含义，也揭示了修行的根本在于净化自己的内心，而不仅仅是给予他人物质。

Because all of my students came from Europe and North America, I translated every passage of the original scriptures into English before each class. It was not merely a process of translation, but also a journey of understanding. Every sentence required careful reflection so that the wisdom of the Buddha could be faithfully conveyed while remaining accessible to modern readers.

由于学生们都来自欧洲和北美，我必须在每次上课之前，将经文逐段翻译成英文，再结合自己的理解进行讲解。这不仅是一项翻译工作，更是一次重新学习经典、深入体悟佛法的过程。为了尽可能忠实于原意，又让现代西方读者能够理解，我反复推敲每一句经文，也因此更加体会到佛法跨越语言与文化的智慧。

After the final lecture, we welcomed Christmas together. During that season of gratitude, sharing, and love, we also shared the timeless wisdom of the Buddha on generosity. Looking back today, those moments remain among the most meaningful memories of my years of teaching.

课程结束后，我们迎来了圣诞节。在那个充满感恩与爱的节日里，我与同学们共同分享了佛陀关于布施的教导，也共同度过了一段十分美好的时光。如今回想起来，那不仅是一堂课程，更是一场心灵的交流。

Words can hardly express the gratitude I feel for having had the opportunity to study these teachings, translate them, and pass them on to others. Through this process, I came to understand more deeply that generosity is not measured by how much we give, but by the compassion, sincerity, and freedom with which we give.

对于能够学习经典、翻译经典，并与更多人分享佛法智慧，我始终心怀感恩。也正是在这一过程中，我更加深刻地理解：真正的布施，并不在于给予多少，而在于内心是否清净、慈悲而无所求。

These lecture notes are now preserved as part of the IAK Digital Archive. I hope they may continue to inspire readers, reminding us that true generosity is not merely an act of giving—it is a way of cultivating the heart.

今天，我将这份当年的讲稿整理收入 IAK Digital Archive，希望这份跨越两千多年的智慧，能够继续启发更多读者。

May the wisdom of generosity become not only something we admire, but a principle by which we live.

愿布施不仅成为一种行为，更成为我们一生修养心性的准则。

Jian Geyang 简歌扬

IAK Switzerland 瑞士亚洲文化协会

Introduction

The First Step on the Buddhist Path

开篇

佛法智慧，从布施开始

The Bodhisattva path is cultivated through the Six Pāramitās: Generosity (Dāna), Morality (Śīla), Patience (Kṣānti), Diligence (Vīrya), Meditation (Samadhi), and Wisdom (Prajñā). Among them, Generosity stands first.

大乘菩萨道的修行，以六波罗蜜为根本：布施、持戒、忍辱、精进、禅定、般若。其中，布施位居第一。

This is no coincidence.

这绝非偶然。

The Buddha did not begin the path of awakening with profound philosophy or difficult meditation. Instead, He began with the simplest and most universal act: giving.

佛陀没有一开始就讲深奥的哲学，也没有先教人禅定，而是从每一个人都能够实践的一件事情开始——布施。

Giving opens the heart. It softens attachment, dissolves selfishness, and nurtures compassion. It is not merely an act of offering material possessions, but a practice of letting go, cultivating kindness, and learning to live for the benefit of others.

布施，不只是给予财富，更是放下执著；不只是帮助别人，更是在净化自己的内心。一个愿意分享的人，才能慢慢学会慈悲；一个懂得放下的人，才能真正获得自由。

In Buddhist teaching, generosity is the foundation upon which all other virtues grow. It is the first step from attachment to freedom, from self-centeredness to compassion, and from ordinary life toward wisdom.

在佛教中，布施是一切修行的根基，是其他功德得以成长的基础。它引导我们从执著走向自在，从以自我为中心走向慈悲，从平凡的生活迈向智慧的人生。

The wisdom of Buddhism begins with generosity.

佛法的智慧，从布施开始。

The transformation of life begins with an open heart.

人生的改变，也从一颗愿意给予的心开始。