The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions (600 page)

 
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Damian, Peter
(monk and cardinal)
:

see
PETER DAMIAN
.

 
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Dan
.

One of the twelve tribes of
Israel
.

 
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(P
li, ‘gift’). In Indian religions, a gift, especially for a religious purpose. In Buddhism, it is an act of generosity to any creature, but more usually a particular gift to a
bhik
u
or to the
sa
gha
, bringing
merit
to the giver (or transferring that merit to others). In origin, it may have deliberately replaced the Hindu
dak
in
offered to
brahmans
officiating at sacrifices. D
na is one of the Six Perfections (
P
ramit
), one of the Ten Contemplations (
anussati
), and one of the most important works of merit (
pu
ya
).