Summary: Gift giving is the topic of this episode. Christmas time is usually seen as a time of giving. The reality is, that it is more about exchanging gifts, than it is about giving them. This is easily seen when someone doesn’t receive a gift, they are usually quite upset, hurt, and sad. They were not giving a gift, they were exchanging one gift for another. The Buddha actually taught us five ways to give. I want to look at them briefly today. Text: "Bhikkhus, there are these five gifts of a good person. What five? He gives a gift of faith; he gives a gift respectfully; he gives a timely gift; he gives a gift unreservedly; he gives a gift without injuring himself or others." - AN 5:148 Outline: Introduction A. The First way to give is to give out of faith. B. The Second way to give is to give respectfully. C. The Third way to give is to give at the right time. D. The Fourth way to give is to give unreservedly. E. The Fifth way to give is to give without injury to oneself or others. Conclusion
