- published: 17 May 2013
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Alms ( /ɑːmz/) or almsgiving is a religious rite which, in general, involves giving materially to another as an act of religious virtue. 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".
In Buddhism, alms or almsgiving is the respect given by a 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. 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:
Householders & the homeless or charity [monastics] in mutual dependence both reach the true Dhamma....
</poem>Ice in your eyes, flame in my heart...alms of our loneliness! Forgotten!
If you have, have a soul...mistaken soul
You donit cover a grief...hateful grief
Above my invisible dream...most beautiful dream
A curtain turns up...over the heads of sillers
unselfish respect...and opera begins
A conductor raises the baton...psalm of fate was completed
prudent delusion...from veil of experience
Elicting sensual strike...penetrating sound
false note...settlement with death
death!
If you donit recognize mind...outspoken mind
You donit see the truth...mendacious truth
Above my solitary scream...blind scream
The black clouds, darkness of heart, lighning from clean sky
Desperate alms, mirrors of the past, part from symbolic trust
The eternal fame, suffering of innocence, voluntary departure from life
The moment of succes...on the edge of my loyalty
infinite applause...flowers fall on platform
The last bow...neverending symphony of silence
if you feel the touch...unrealy touch
You donit know emptiness...immortal emptiness
over my merciless inhumanity...dauntless inhumanity
My hate...My trust...My spirit of the God
My pain...My grief...My lies of your horror
My dream...My soul...My shadow on the wall
My anger...My pleasure...My lock on your treasure