A Giver of What

A giver of food is a giver of strength
A giver of clothes, a giver of beauty
A giver of a vehicle, a giver of ease
A giver of a lamp, a giver of vision and the one who gives a residence, is the one who is a giver of everything.
But the one who teaches the Dhamma is a giver of the Deathless.
 

Who should a gift be given?
- Whenever the mind feels confidence

What gift when given bears great fruit?
- What is given to a virtuous person
- Rather than to an un-virtuous one – bears great fruit
 

1. The Giver of Robe
2. The Giver of Alms-food
3. The Giver of Lodging
4. The Giver of Requisites and Medicine
 

1. Worldy
2. Spiritual
 

1. Awareness cleansed of the stain of stinginess
2. Living at home
3. Freely generous
4. Openhanded
5. Delighting in being magnanimous
6. Responsive to requests
7. Delighting in the distribution of alms
 

1. Life
2. Beauty
3. Happiness
4. Strength and
5. Intelligence and Wisdom
 

1. In the proper season they give – those with discernment, responsive, free from stinginess.

2. Having been given in proper season, with hearts inspired by the Noble Ones – straightened, such – their offering bears abundance.

3. Those who rejoice in that gift or give assistance, they, too, have a share of the merit and that doesn’t deplete the offering.

4. So, with an unhesitant mind, one should give where the gift bears great fruit.

5. Merit is what establishes living beings in the next life.
 

1. He gives in faith
2. With reverence
3. In time
4. With unconstrained heart
5. Without hurting oneself or others
 

1. Dear and charming to people at large

2. Admire by good people, people of integrity (wise)

3. Fine reputation is spread far and wide

4. Whatever company he enters, be it the nobles, Brahmins, householders or contemplatives, he enters with confidence and without embarassment

5. At the break-up of the body, after death, reappears in a good destination, the heavenly world.
 

1. One is dear and appealing to people at large
2. One is admired by good people
3. One’s good name is spread about
4. One does not stray from the rightful duties of the householder
5. With the break-up of the body at death, one reappears in a good destination, in the heavenly worlds
 

“ If beings knew, as I know, the results of giving and sharing, they would noteat without
           having given, nor would the stain of miserliness overcome their minds.

Even if it were their last bite, their last mouthful, they would not eat without having
           shared, if there were someone to receive their gift.

But because beings do not know, as I know, the results of giving and sharing, they eat
           without having given.

The stain of miserliness overcomes their minds.”
 

One gives to

1. The New-comer
2. One going away
3. The Sick
4. When food is hard to get
5. The virtuous the first-fruits of the field and orchard he first set.
 

1. Asajja danam deti: one gives with annoyance or as a way of offending the recipient or with the idea of insulting him.

2. Bhaya danam deti: fea can also motivate a person to make an offering.

3. Adasi me ti danam deti: one gives in return for a favor done to oneself in the past.

4. Dassati me ti danam deti: one may also give with the hope of getting a similar favor for oneself in the future.

5. Sadhu danan ti danam deti: one gives because giving is considered good.

6. Aham pacami, ime ne pacanti, na arahami pacanto apacantanam adatun ti dana, deti: “I cook, they do not cook. It is not properfor me who cooks not to give to those who do not cook.” Some give urged by such altruistic motives.

7. Iman me danam dadato kalyano kittisadda abbhuggacchati ti danam deti: some give alms to gain a good reputation.

8. Cittalankara-cittaparikkarattham danam deti: still others give alms to adorn and beautify the mind.
 

A monk endowed with these seven qualities is worthy of gifts, worthy of hospitality, worthy of offerings, worthy of respect, an unexcelled field of merit for the world. A monk who is one with …

1. A sense of Dhamma,
2. A sense of meaning,
3. A sense of himself,
4. A sense of moderation,
5. A sense of time,
6. A sense of social gatherings,
7. A sense of distinctions among individuals
 

Three kinds of persons are found existing in the world.

1. One who is like a rainless cloud, A person is not a giver to anyone.
2. One who rains locally, A giver to some but not a giver to others.
3. One who rains everywhere, A person gives to all. He gives food, drink, clothing, vehicles, garlands, scents, ointments, beds, lodging and lamps to all recluses and Brahmins, to the poor, destitute and needy.
 

The attitude of the donor in the act of giving makes a world of difference for the goodwill between the donor and recipient irrespective of whether the gift given is big or small.

1. Sakkaccam danam deti: alms should be given in such a way that the donee does not feel humiliated, belittled or hurt. The needy ask for something with a sense of embarrassment and it is the duty of the donor not to make him feel more embarrassed and make his already heavy burden even heavier.

2. Cittikatva danam deti: alms should be given with due consideration and respect. The recipient should be made to feel welcome. It is when a gift is given with such warmth that a cohesive mutually enriching friendliness emerges between the donor and donee.

3. Sahattha deti: one shold give with one’s own hand. The personal involvement in the act of giving is greatly beneficial. This promotes rapport between the donor and donee and that is the social value of giving. Society is welded in unity with care and concern for one another when generosity is exercised with a warm sense of personal involvement.

4. Na apaviddham deti: one should not give as alms what is only fit to be thrown away. One should be careful to give only what is useful and appropriate.

5. Na anagamanaditthiko deti: one should not give in such a callous manner so as to make the donee feel like not coming again.

Many motives, many fruits

1. Having given this gift seeking his own    profit- with a mind attached [to the reward], seeking to store up for himself, [with the thought], “I’ll enjoy this after death” – on the break-up of the body, after death, reappears in the company of the Four Great Kings.

2. Having given this gift with the thought, “Giving is good”, on the break-up of the body, after death, reappears in the company of Devas of the Thirty-three.

3. Or, instead of thinking, “Giving is good”, he gives a gift with the thought, “this was given in the past, done in the past, by my father and grandfather. It would not be right for me to let this old family custom be.

4. Or, instead…he gives a gift with the thought, “I am well off. They are not well off. It would not be right for me, being well-off, not to give a gift to those who are not well-off.

5. Or, instead…he gives a gift with the thought, “Just as there were the great sacrifices of the sages of the past – Atthaka, Vamaka, Vamadeve, Vessamitta, Yamadaggi, Angirasa, Bharadvaja, Vasettha, Kassapa and Bhagu – in the same way will this be my distributions of gifts”.

6. Or, instead…he gives a gift with the thought, ”When this gift of mine is given, it makes the mind serene. Gratification and joy arise”.

7. Or, instead of thinking, “When this gift of mine is given, it makes the mind serene. Gratification and joy arise”, he gives a gift with the thought, “This is an ornament for the mind, a support for the mind”. He gives his gift – food, drink, clothing, a vehicle, a garland, perfume and ointment; bedding, shelter and a lamp – to a priest or a contemplative.
Of all the seven, one should give with the thought, “This is an ornament for the mind, a support for the mind” – on the break-up of the body, after death, he reappears in the company of Brahma’s Retinue. Then, having exhausted that action, that power, that status, that sovereignty, he is a non-returner. He does not come back to this world.
This is the cause, this is the reason, why a person gives a gift of a certain sort and it does not bear great fruit or great benefit, whereas another person gives a gift of the same sort and it bears great fruit and great benefit.