keep precepts or helping support teachers of meditation. The most common form of giving is in material gifts such as food, money, robes, and medicine. Jainism Dana is, as with Hindu texts like Mitaksara and Vahni Purana and in Buddhist texts, described as a virtue and duty in Jainism. It is considered an act of compassion, and must be done with no desire for material gain. Four types of Dana are discussed in the texts of Jainism: Ahara-dana (donation of food), Ausadha-dana (donation of medicine), Jnana-dana (donation of knowledge) and Abhaya-dana (giving of protection or freedom from fear, asylum to someone under threat). Dāna is one of ten means to gain positive karma, in the soteriological theories of Jainism. Medieval era texts of Jainism dedicate a substantial portion of their discussions to the need and virtue of Dāna. Yashastilaka'''s book VIII section 43 is dedicated to the concept of dana in Jainism. Sikhism Dāna, called Vand Chhako, is considered one of three duties of Sikhs. The duty entails sharing part of one's earnings with others, by giving to charity and caring for others. Examples of dāna in Sikhism include selfless service and langar. See also Alms Buddhist ethics Buddhist economics Charity (practice) Dīghajāṇu Sutta'' Economic anthropology Gift economy Merit (Buddhism) Niyama Offering (Buddhism) Pāramī Philanthropy Tulabhara (tuladana) Vessantara Jātaka Virtue Tithe Yavanarajya inscription – a 1st century BCE donation inscription from Mathura Zidqa, almsgiving in Mandaeism References Citations Sources Further reading Maria Heim (2004), Theories of the Gift in Medieval South Asia: Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain, Routledge, Vijay Nath (1987), Dāna, gift system in ancient India, c. 600 BC - c. AD 300: a socio-economic perspective, Munshiram Manoharlal Publishers, External links Philanthropy in India, K.A.N. Singh, Queensland University of Technology, Australia (2002) Dana -- The Practice of Giving. Selected essays edited by Bhikkhu Bodhi(BPS Wheel Publication No. 367 / 369) Revealing Indian Philanthropy M Cantegreil et al., UBS, Switzerland (2013) Alms in Buddhism Hindu philosophical concepts Hindu ethics Buddhist ethics Jain ethics Relational ethics Sanskrit words and phrases Alms in Hinduism Wholesome factors in Buddhism Pali words and phrases