Fuse is a Japanese word that in Zen Buddhism refers to the practice of dō, generosity, or selfless giving. It comes from the Sanskrit word dāna, which is one of the six perfections (pāramitās) of the bodhisattva in Mahayana Buddhism.
Giving without expecting anything in return
Fuse is not just about giving material or immaterial things, but about doing so from the heart—without selfishness and without expecting any reward in return.
Material or spiritual fuse:
In Zen, fuse can be material, like offering money, food, clothing, or resources to the temple or the community. Or it can be spiritual fuse, like sharing the Dharma (the teaching), giving our time, listening to others, or helping others with compassion.
The practice of Zen and fuse
Fuse is a spiritual practice. It’s not just a good deed, but a way to practice non-attachment, to understand interdependence, and to manifest compassion. It is said that when you give, you let go of the self—and this is essential for progressing on the Zen path.
How to practice fuse in Zen
The main way to practice fuse as Zen practitioners is to offer our financial support to the practice community we belong to, or feel most connected with. Whether it’s a temple, a meditation center, a dōjō, or a group, all Zen communities have financial needs, to which we can contribute through our fuse, for the benefit of all practitioners.
Fuse in the Zen Kannon community
It is admirable that in Zen Kannon there are people who give everything wholeheartedly, with effort, and without expecting any compensation. These people practice fuse by giving their time and energy to meditation sessions, volunteer work, meditation introductions, etc.
Even so, the infrastructure needed to provide all of this is not free. The venue, the practice space, and the basic services are fixed expenses that volunteers cannot cover on their own.
Fuse: Financial Contribution
That is why, in Zen, the main way we can practice fuse is through financial contribution. And the best way to make this financial contribution is by becoming a member of the center and paying a monthly fee. Even if we are unable to attend meditation for a while, or can only participate occasionally, we continue to provide financial support for the benefit of others. This is the Zen spirit.
We can practice fuse and feel the joy that comes from helping others—especially when we know that we are supporting the volunteers of Zen Kannon so they can carry out the altruistic practice of teaching and sharing Zen with all beings.
On the other hand, we can also help by spreading the word about the center and its activities to people around us, so that they too may enjoy the practice within the Zen community.