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Alms (, ) or almsgiving involves giving to others as an act of virtue, either materially or in the sense of providing capabilities (e.g. education) for free. It exists in a number of religions and regions. The word, in the modern English language, comes from the Old English ''ælmesse'', ''ælmes'', from Late Latin ''eleemosyna'', from Greek ἐλεημοσύνη ''eleēmosynē'' "pity, alms", from ἐλεήμων ''eleēmōn'' "merciful", from ἔλεος ''eleos'' "pity". ==Buddhism== (詳細はlay Buddhist to a Buddhist monk, nun, spiritually-developed person or other sentient being. It is not charity as presumed by Western interpreters. It is closer to a symbolic connection to the spiritual realm and to show humbleness and respect in the presence of the secular society.〔Indicative of the mutual nature of the almsgiving exchange, in some Theravada countries, if a monk were to refuse alms from someone—a gesture known as "turning over the rice bowl"—this would be interpreted as an act of excommunication of the almsgiver by the monk. An example of such a refusal the refusal of Buddhist monks to accept offerings by military personnel in military-occupied Myanmar (Mydans, 20 September 2007, NYT).〕 The act of alms giving assists in connecting the human to the monk or nun and what he/she represents. As the Buddha has stated: In Theravada Buddhism, nuns (Pāli: ''bhikkhunis'') and monks (Pāli: ''bhikkhus'') go on a daily almsround (''pindacara'') to collect food (''piṇḍapāta''). This is often perceived as giving the laypeople the opportunity to make merit (Pāli: puñña). Money cannot be accepted by a Theravadan Buddhist monk or nun in lieu of or in addition to food, as the Patimokkha training rules make it an offence worth forfeiture and confession.〔(Thanissaro (2007) )〕 In countries that follow Mahayana Buddhism, the practice of a daily alms round has mostly died out. In China, Korea and Japan, local cultures resisted the idea of giving food to 'begging' clerics, and there was no tradition of gaining 'merit' by donating to practitioners. After periods of persecution, monasteries were situated in remote mountain areas in which the distance between the monastery and the nearest towns would make a daily alms round impossible. In Japan, the practice of a weekly or monthly takuhatsu replaced the daily round. In the Himalayan countries, the large number of bikshus would have made an almsround a heavy burden on families. Competition with other religions for support also made daily almsrounds difficult and even dangerous; the first Buddhist monks in the Silla dynasty of Korea were said to be beaten due to their minority at the time. In Buddhism, both "almsgiving" and, more generally, "giving" are called "dāna" (Pāli).〔Nyanatiloka (1980), entry for "dāna". (Budsas.org )〕 Such giving is one of the three elements of the path of practice as formulated by the Buddha for laypeople. This path of practice for laypeople is: dāna, sīla, bhāvanā.〔Nyanatiloka (1980), entry for "dāna" (Budsas.org ); and, PTS (1921–25), entry for "Puñña" (merit)(Uchicago.edu ).〕 The paradox in Buddhism is that the more a person gives – and the more one gives without seeking something in return – the wealthier (in the broadest sense of the word) one will become. By giving one destroys those acquisitive impulses that ultimately lead to further suffering. Generosity is also expressed towards other sentient beings as both a cause for merit and to aid the receiver of the gift. In Mahayana Tradition it is accepted that although the three jewels of refuge are the basis of the greatest merit, by seeing other sentient beings as having Buddhanature and making offerings towards the aspirational Buddha to be within them is of equal benefit. Generosity towards other sentient beings is greatly emphasised in Mahayana as one of the perfections (paramita) as shown in Lama Tsong Khapa's 'The Abbreviated Points of the Graded Path' (Tibetan: ''lam-rim bsdus-don''): In Buddhism, giving of alms is the beginning of one's journey to Nirvana (Pali: ''nibbana''). In practice, one can give anything with or without thought for Nibbana. This would lead to faith (Pali: ''saddha''), one key power (Pali: ''bala'') that one should generate within oneself for the Buddha, Dhamma and Sangha. The motives behind giving play an important role in developing spiritual qualities. The suttas record various motives for exercising generosity. For example, the Anguttara Nikaya (A.iv,236) enumerates the following eight motives:〔(Accesstoinsight.org )〕 # Asajja danam deti: one gives with annoyance, or as a way of offending the recipient, or with the idea of insulting him. # Bhaya danam deti: fear also can motivate a person to make an offering. # Adasi me ti danam deti: one gives in return for a favor done to oneself in the past. # Dassati me ti danam deti: one also may give with the hope of getting a similar favor for oneself in the future. # Sadhu danan ti danam deti: one gives because giving is considered good. # Aham pacami, ime ne pacanti, na arahami pacanto apacantanam adatun ti danam deti: "I cook, they do not cook. It is not proper for me who cooks not to give to those who do not cook." Some give urged by such altruistic motives. # Imam me danam dadato kalyano kittisaddo abbhuggacchati ti danam deti: some give alms to gain a good reputation. # Cittalankara-cittaparikkarattham danam deti: still others give alms to adorn and beautify the mind. According to the Pali canon: }} ==Christianity== The giving of alms is an act of charity toward those less fortunate. In the Apostolic age, Christians were taught that giving alms was an expression of love which was first expressed by God to them in that Jesus sacrificed himself as an act of love for the salvation of believers.〔The Book of James, chapter 1:27 (NIV) "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world."〕 The offertory is the traditional moment in Roman Catholic Mass, Anglican Eucharist, and Lutheran Divine Services when alms are collected. Some Protestant groups, such as Baptists or Methodists, also engage in alms, although it is more commonly referred to as "tithes and offerings" by the church. Some fellowships practice regular giving for special purposes called Love Offerings for the poor, destitute or victims of catastrophic loss such as home fires or medical expenses. Traditionally, Deacons and Deaconesses are responsible for distributing these gifts among widows, orphans, and others in need. Many Christians support a plethora of charitable organizations not all of which claim a Christian religious affiliation. Many American Educational and Medical Institutions were founded by Christian fellowships giving alms. In the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Eastern Catholic Churches, the collection of alms and tithes has not been formally united to the offertory in any liturgical action. However, either having a collection plate in the narthex or passing it unobtrusively during the service is not uncommon. In Orthodox theology, almsgiving is an important part of the spiritual life, and fasting should always be accompanied by increased prayer and almsgiving. Almsgiving in the name of the deceased also frequently accompanies prayer for the dead. Those whose financial circumstances do not permit the giving of monetary alms may give alms in other ways, such as intercessory prayer and acts of mercy. In the majority of Christian forms of worship and denominations, a collection of "tithes and offerings" is given for the support of the church's mission, budget, ministry, and for its relief of the poor, as an important act of Christian charity, united to communal prayer. In some churches the "offering plate" or "offering basket" is placed upon the altar, as a sign that the offering is made to God, and a sign of the bond of Christian love.〔Cf. 〕 In addition, private acts of charity, considered virtuous only if not done for others to admire, are seen as a Christian duty. The outward and an inward giving of alms: Here Jesus places the primary focus on the motives behind such acts, which should be love. Giving of the rich versus the poor: Here Jesus contrasts the giving of the rich and the poor Giving out of Love and not out of duty: 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「alms」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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