Editing Alms (section)

=== In support of Buddhist monks ===
In Buddhism, alms or almsgiving is the respect given by a [[Householder (Buddhism)|lay Buddhist]] to a Buddhist [[bhikkhu|monk]], [[bhikkhuni|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 [[Spirituality|spiritual]] realm and to show humbleness and respect in the presence of the secular society.{{efn|name=Mydans}} The act of almsgiving connects the human to the monk or nun and what he/she represents. As the Buddha has stated:
{{poem quote|
Householders & the homeless or charity [monastics]
in mutual dependence
both reach the true Dhamma....
|[[Itivuttaka]] 4.7<ref>Thanissaro (2001).[http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/kn/iti/iti.4.100-112.than.html#iti-107 Accesstoinsight.org] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061205193400/http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/kn/iti/iti.4.100-112.than.html |date=2006-12-05 }}</ref>{{efn|name=Dighajanu}} }}
[[File:Gift bags and medical kits to be given to monks.jpg|thumb|163x163px|Pre-packaged alms kits can be bought to donate to monks]]
In [[Theravada]] Buddhism, nuns ([[Pāli]]: ''[[bhikkhuni]]s'') and monks ([[Pāli]]: ''[[bhikkhu]]s'') practice ''[[Takuhatsu]]'' (''{{lang|pi|pindacara}}'') where they collect food (''{{lang|pi|piṇḍapāta}}''). This is often perceived as allowing the laypeople to make merit (Pāli: ''[[Merit (Buddhism)|puñña]]''). Money cannot be accepted by a Theravadan Buddhist monk or nun in place of or in addition to food, as the [[Patimokkha]] training rules make it an offense worth forfeiture and confession.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/vin/sv/bhikkhu-pati.html#np-part2|title=Bhikkhu Pāṭimokkha: The Bhikkhus' Code of Discipline|website=www.accesstoinsight.org|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180516103756/https://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/vin/sv/bhikkhu-pati.html#np-part2|archive-date=2018-05-16}}</ref>

In countries that follow [[Mahayana]] Buddhism, the practice of ''[[Takuhatsu]]'' 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; the distance between the monastery and the nearest towns made this practice impossible. In Japan, the practice of a weekly or monthly [[Takuhatsu]] replaced the daily round. In the Himalayan countries, the large number of ''bhikkhus'' would have made an alms round a heavy burden on families. Competition with other religions for support also made daily practice 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.{{citation needed|date=June 2012}}