Derived from a story in the Upanishads, 3XDA is an example formula for living one's best life. In the story, the father God delivers the instruction "Da" to his children. His children interpret the word "Da" in three different ways; "Compassion, Generosity, and Self-control."
The Upanishads are ancient Indian spiritual texts with one translation meaning "sitting near a teacher," and others, "secret doctrine," "knowledge of the self," and "setting to rest ignorance by revealing the knowledge of the supreme spirit.")
The Story:
Brihadaranyaka Upanishad 5.2 (source: https://upanishads.org.in/stories/da-da-da)
Once all the three descendants of Prajapati - the gods, the men, and the asuras, lived with him for some time as students.
One day, the gods approached Prajapati and said, “Teach us, Sir!”
In reply, Prajapati uttered one syllable, ‘Da.’ Then he said, “Have you understood?”
They answered, “Yes, we have understood. You said to us, Damayata–Be self-controlled.”
“Yes,” agreed Prajapati, “you have understood.”
Then the men went to Prajapati and said, “Teach us, Sir.”
Prajapati uttered the same syllable, ‘Da.’ Then he asked the men, “Have you understood?”
They answered, “Yes, we have understood. You said to us, Datta–Be charitable.”
“Yes,” agreed Prajapati, “you have understood.”
Finally it was the turn of the asuras. They went to Prajapati and said “Teach us, Sir.”
Prajapati uttered the same syllable, ‘Da.’ Then he said, “Have you understood?”
They said, “Yes, we have understood. You told us Dayadhvam–Be compassionate.”
“Yes,” agreed Prajapati, “you have understood.”
Every time the storm cloud thunders it says ‘Da! Da! Da!’ And that reminds us to be self-controlled, to be charitable and to be compassionate.
For the divine part in each individual, the law given by Prajapati is to be self-controlled. Without self-control one gets caught up by the splendors and riches and becomes egoistic. For the human part in each individual the law given is to be charitable, be generous and self-giving. Without this one gets completely caught up by one’s limitedness. For the demoniac part in each individual the law given is to be compassionate. Without this one becomes the slayer of oneself.
Self-control, self-giving and compassion, indeed, are three essential disciplines of spiritual progress.
Additional Reading:
https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/the-brihadaranyaka-upanishad/d/doc122189.html
Additional Commentary:
https://www.kenjaques.org.uk/Brihadaranyaka_Upanishad_Chapter_Five.html
These three wise practices are meant for all mankind as represented by the three groups.
Basically they mean if you have superior means, (gods) then you need to control that power.
If you have material wealth, (men through working for desire) then you should give, share that wealth.
If you are an Azura, said to be evil through caring only for their own being, then they should show compassion for others.
But, in fact, the father gave no specific advice. The father repeated the same abstruse syllable to all beings. What was received by each individual was the wisdom of their "self", through access to the Absolute Self. Each person asked for something because each person intuitively knew in their heart of the need for guidance.
Not immediately understanding 'Da' each looked within for the interpretation of this answer to their question. In the course of this inner enquiry their own wise "self" gave to each of them the answer to their own personal questions. We all have access to this divine knowledge and reason through this "self" through our subtle intellect, whether we behave as gods, men or Asuras.