The Value of Dhamma Learning and Almsgiving : หน้า 47/105

and study the Dhamma to the best of their ability. By passing on the knowledge monks learn from the teachings of Lord Buddha, monks are in return offering a gift that is more valuable than anything that they receive through alms. Since we all live together in a shared society, we must learn to "give and take" from one another, not only to simply take all the time. For example, having just received alms from all of you here today; the present author is now returning thanks and ex- pressing my gratitude to you by offering my knowledge and teachings in this book for your benefit. It is the present author’s hope that the teachings and words that I offer you today will go far in helping to improve and better your life, so that you may become a better person. Such is the purpose of my sermon and lecture today, to thank you for your support. The Buddha estab- lished this tradition of offering alms, and receiving of sermons in return, not only as an indirect way of ensuring that the commun- ity learned the Dhamma, but also as a method of making sure monks diligently studied the Dhamma in order to have some- thing to offer the community in return for their alms giving. One particular experience that I would like to share with you left a lasting impression on me. I was ordained on Decem- ber 19 in the year 2514 BE.. On New Year’s Day 2515 BE. I went to seek alms for the very first time. I have never before begged for food in my entire life, so this first time was very embarrassing for me. However, when I was seeking alms with many other fellow monks, I felt less uncomfortable about it. That day, I did not look at the face of the first person that offered me alms because one of the tenets of monkhood is that you must not look at the face of the person offering alms. All I