004. Dānavaggo. On Giving Gifts

Aṅguttara Nikāya
004. Dānavaggo. On giving gifts

1. Paṭhamadānasuttaṃ –– First on giving gifts

004.01. Bhikkhus, these eight kinds of gifts are given. What eight?

Gifts are given, attending constantly, out of fear, thinking I have given, thinking I will be known, thinking it is good to give, I cook, these do not cook, it is not suitable that those who cook should not give to those who do not cook, giving these gifts my name and fame will spread and gifts are given to adorn the mind all round. Bhikkhus, these eight are the kinds of gifts given.

2. Dutiyadānasuttaṃ –– Second on giving gifts

004.02. Faith, shame, merit and giving gifts are things that go with Great Men,

This is the path of heavenly bliss; to be born in heaven.

3. Dānavatthusuttaṃ –– Meitorious gifts

004.03. Bhikkhus, these eight are meritorious gifts. What eight?

Gifts are given, out of interest, out of anger, out of delusion, out of fear, thinking, it was given by my father and grand father, it is not suitable to disrupt that family habit, thinking after death, I will be born in increase, in heaven, thinking when I give these gifts am pleased and my mind becomes pleasant. and gifts are given to decorate the mind all round. Bhikkhus, these eight are meritorious gifts.

4. Khettasuttaṃ –– The field

004.04. Bhikkhus, seeds sown in a field endowed with eight things are not of much benefit, not for great enjoyment and profit. Endowed with what eight?

Here, bhikkhus, the field, is raised and bent, not even, it has stones and pebbles, the soil is saline, has no depth, is not of an increasing nature, without good drainage, without a water course, without defined limitations. Bhikkhus, seeds sown in a field endowed with these eight things are not of much benefit, not for great enjoyment and profit.

Bhikkhus, in the same manner, gifts given to recluses and Brahmins endowed with eight things is not of great benefit, not sacrificial and not with a great spread out. What eight?

Here, bhikkhus, the recluses and Brahmins are with wrong view, wrong thoughts, wrong speech, wrong actions, wrong livelihood, wrong effort, wrong mindfulness and wrong concentration. Bhikkhus, gifts given to recluses and Brahmins endowed with these eight things is not of great benefit, not sacrificial and not with a great spread out.

Bhikkhus, seeds sown in a field endowed with eight things are of much benefit, for great enjoyment and profit. Endowed with what eight?

Here, bhikkhus, the field, is not raised and bent, is even, it does not have stones and pebbles, the soil is not saline, has a depth, is of an increasing nature, with a good drainage, with a water course, with defined limitations. Bhikkhus, seeds sown in a field endowed with these eight things are of much benefit, for great enjoyment and profit.

Bhikkhus, in the same manner, gifts given to recluses and Brahmins endowed with eight things is of great benefit, sacrificial and with a great spread out. What eight?

Here, bhikkhus, the recluses and Brahmins are with right view, right thoughts, right speech, right actions, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness and right concentration. Bhikkhus, gifts given to recluses and Brahmins endowed with these eight things is of great benefit, sacrificial and with a great spread out.

Just as seeds sown in an accomplished field is the success,
With rain at the right time, to produce healthy grains in abundance,
Food offered to the virtuous bring abundant results to the giver
Therefore do not doubt of a benevolent one’s attainments.
Associate such ones wisely and prosper
Accomplished in knowledge and conduct, accomplish the mind,
Accomplish the mind doing the right actions,
Knowing the world as it really is, become one of right view
Coming to the right path, develop the mind
Washing all stains attain extinction,
That is the release from all unpleasantness.

5. Dānūpapattisuttaṃ –– Born out of giving gifts

004.05. ‘Bhikkhus, these eight are births out of giving gifts. What eight?

Here, bhikkhus, a certain one gives eatables, drinks, clothes, conveyances, flowers, scents, anointments, beds, dwellings and lights. What he gives, he expects in return. Seeing in a wealthy warrior, Brahmin or householder clan, the five strands of sense pleasures provided and endowed with, it occurs to him: ‘O! I should be born in a wealthy family of warriors, Brahmins or householders. He bearing that thought, intends it and develops it. That thought deprives release, does not develop it and conduces to that birth. After death he is born in a wealthy family of warriors, Brahmins or householderss. That too I declare to the virtuous, not to the unvirtuous. Bhikkhus, the wishes of the virtuous prosper owing to purity.

Here, bhikkhus, a certain one gives eatables, drinks, clothes, conveyances, flowers, scents, anointments, beds, dwellings and lights. What he gives, he expects in return. He hears that the four guardian gods have long life, beauty and much pleasantness and it occurs to him, after death -’ I should be born with the four guardian gods. He bearing that thought, intends it and develops it. That thought deprives release, does not develop it and conduces to that birth. After death he is born with the four guardian gods That too I declare to the virtuous, not to the unvirtuous. Bhikkhus, the wishes of the virtuous prosper owing to purity.

Here, bhikkhus, a certain one gives eatables, drinks, clothes, conveyances, flowers, scents, anointments, beds, dwellings and lights. What he gives, he expects in return. He hears about the gods of the thirty-three, … re … about the Titan gods, … re … the gods of happiness, … re … the gods of creation, … re … the gods creating others. He hears that they have long life, beauty, and much pleasantness. It occurs to him: ‘O! I should be born with the gods creating others. He bearing that thought, intends it and develops it. That thought deprives release, does not develop it and conduces to that birth. After death he is born with the gods creating others. That too I declare to the virtuous, not to the unvirtuous. Bhikkhus, the wishes of the virtuous prosper owing to purity.

Here, bhikkhus, a certain one gives eatables, drinks, clothes, conveyances, flowers, scents, anointments, beds, dwellings and lights. What he gives, he expects in return. Hearing that the gods in the world of Brahma have long life, beauty, and much pleasantness, it occurs to him: ‘O! I should be born with the gods of the brahma world. He bearing that thought, intends it and develops it. That thought deprives release, does not develop it and conduces to that birth. After death he is born in the world of brahma. That too I declare to the virtuous, not to the unvirtuous. Bhikkhus, the wishes of the virtuous prosper owing to freedom from greed. Bhikkhus, these eight are births out of giving gifts.

6. Puññakiriyavatthusuttaṃ –– Meritorious actions

004.06. Bhikkhus, these three are meritorious actions. What three?

Meritorious actions founded on giving gifts, founded on virtues and founded on development. Here, bhikkhus, a certain person has done meritorious actions founded on giving gifts insignificantly, meritorious actions founded on virtues insignificantly and he is not awakened to meritorious actions founded on development. After death he is born a human in misfortune.

Here, bhikkhus, a certain person has done a few meritorious actions founded on giving gifts, a few meritorious actions founded on virtues and he is not awakened to meritorious actions founded on development. After death he is born a fortunate human.

Here, bhikkhus, a certain person has done meritorious actions founded on giving gifts significantly, meritorious actions founded on virtues significantly and he is not awakened to meritorious actions founded on development. After death he is born with the guardian gods. There, bhikkhus, the rulers of the four guardian gods in ten instances exceed the other guardian gods by doing exceeding meritorious actions founded on giving gifts and virtues. The ten instances are heavenly, life span, beauty, pleasantness, fame, authority, forms, sounds, scents, tastes and touches.

Here, bhikkhus, a certain person has done meritorious actions founded on giving gifts significantly, meritorious actions founded on virtues significantly and he is not awakened to meritorious actions founded on development. After death he is born with the gods of the thirty-three There, bhikkhus, Sakka the king of gods in ten instances exceeds the thirty-three gods by doing exceeding meritorious actions founded on giving gifts and virtues. The ten instances are heavenly, life span, beauty, pleasantness, fame, authority, forms, sounds, scents, tastes and touches.

Here, bhikkhus, a certain person has done meritorious actions founded on giving gifts significantly, meritorious actions founded on virtues significantly and he is not awakened to meritorious actions founded on development. After death he is born with the Titan gods. There, bhikkhus, Suyama, the son of gods in ten instances exceeds the other Titan gods by doing exceeding meritorious actions founded on giving gifts and virtues. The ten instances are heavenly, life span, beauty, pleasantness, fame, authority, forms, sounds, scents, tastes and touches.

Here, bhikkhus, a certain person has done meritorious actions founded on giving gifts significantly, meritorious actions founded on virtues significantly and he is not awakened to meritorious actions founded on development. After death he is born with the gods of happiness. There, bhikkhus, Santusita the son of gods in ten instances exceed the other gods by doing exceeding meritorious actions founded on giving gifts and virtues. The ten instances are heavenly, life span, beauty, pleasantness, fame, authority, forms, sounds, scents, tastes and touches.

Here, bhikkhus, a certain person has done meritorious actions founded on giving gifts significantly, meritorious actions founded on virtues significantly and he is not awakened to meritorious actions founded on development. After death he is born with the gods of creation. There, bhikkhus, Sunimmita the son of gods in ten instances exceed the other gods attached to creating by doing exceeding meritorious actions founded on giving gifts and virtues. The ten instances are heavenly, life span, beauty, pleasantness, fame, authority, forms, sounds, scents, tastes and touches.

Here, bhikkhus, a certain person has done meritorious actions founded on giving gifts significantly, meritorious actions founded on virtues significantly and he is not awakened to meritorious actions founded on development. After death he is born with the gods attached to creatingt others There, bhikkhus, Vasavatti the son of gods in ten instances exceed the other gods at5tached to creating others by doing exceeding meritorious actions founded on giving gifts and virtues. The ten instances are heavenly, life span, beauty, pleasantness, fame, authority, forms, sounds, scents, tastes and touches. Bhikkhus, these three are the meritorious actions.

7. Sappurisadānasuttaṃ –– Gifts of a Great Man

004.07. “Bhikkhus, these eight are the gifts of a Great Man. what eight?

Gives, the pure, the exalted, at the right time, the suitable, gives with discrimination, gives constantly, giving pleases the mind and having given is pleased. Bhikkhus, these eight are the gifts of a Great Man.

Pure and exalted drinks and eatables are given at the right time
Constantly, to those leading the holy life, the field of merit.
Giving much does not grieve. The wise praise such gifts
Given with faith and a released mind,
The wise are born in an untroubled world.

8. Sappurisasuttaṃ –– Great Men

004.08. Bhikkhus, a Great Man born to a clan is for the good of many. For the welfare and pleasantness of wife and children, slaves and workmen, friends and co-associates, those dead and gone, gods, recluses and Brahmins.

Bhikkhus, just as a heavy thunder storm will be for the success of all kinds of grains for the good of many, for the welfare and pleasantness of many; In the same manner a Great Man born to a clan, is for the good of many. For the welfare and pleasantness of wife and children, slaves and workmen, friends and co-associates, those dead and gone, gods, recluses and Brahmins.

For the good of many, a wise one is born in a household.
His earlier mother and father become zealous day and night,
They honour him rightfully recalling things done earlier.
When gone forth and leading a holy life,
Those established in faith knowing the Teaching revere him.
He is dear to the king, gods, relations and dear ones
Established in the good Teaching he is dear to all.
Has tamed the stain of selfishness and abides in the world blessed.

9. Abhisandasuttaṃ –– Flows of pleasantness

004.09. Bhikkhus, these eight are flows of good, merit, bringers of pleasantness, resulting in heavenly bliss, conducive to heavenly bliss that is pleasant, agreeable and welcome. What eight?

Here, bhikkhus, the noble disciple takes refuge in the enlightenment. This is the first flow of good, merit, the bringer of pleasantness, resulting in heavenly bliss, conducive to heavenly bliss that is pleasant, agreeable and welcome.

Again, bhikkhus, the noble disciple takes refuge in the Teaching. This is the second flow of, good, merit, the bringer of pleasantness, resulting in heavenly bliss, conducive to heavenly bliss that is pleasant, agreeable and welcome.

Again, bhikkhus, the noble disciple takes refuge in the Community of bhikkhus. This is the third flow of, good, merit, the bringer of pleasantness, resulting in heavenly bliss, conducive to heavenly bliss that is pleasant, agreeable and welcome.

Bhikkhus, these five are offerings, great offerings, recognized as primitive and born of good, that has not decayed in the past, does not decay now and will not decay in the future and not blamed by recluses or Brahmins. What five?

Here, bhikkhus, the noble disciple gives up destroying living things and abstains from it. Bhikkhus, the noble disciple abstaining from destroying living things gives non-fear, non-anger and non-anxiety, to innumerable beings. Giving non-fear, non-anger and non-anxiety, to innumerable beings, he himself shares that non-fear, non-anger and non-anxiety. Bhikkhus, this is the first offering, the great offering, recognized as primitive and born of good, that has not decayed in the past, does not decay now and will not decay in the future and not blamed by recluses or Brahmins. This is the fourth flow of, good, merit, the bringer of pleasantness, resulting in heavenly bliss, conducive to heavenly bliss that is pleasant, agreeable and welcome.

Again, bhikkhus, the noble disciple gives up taking the not given, … re … misbehaviour in sexual desires, … re … in telling lies, … re … taking intoxicating and brewed drinks and abstains from it. Bhikkhus, the noble disciple abstaining from taking intoxicating and brewed drinks gives non-fear, non-anger and non-anxiety, to innumerable beings. Giving non-fear, non-anger and non-anxiety, to innumerable beings, he himself shares that non-fear, non-anger and non-anxiety. Bhikkhus, this is the fifth offering, the great offering, recognized as primitive and born of good, that has not decayed in the past, does not decay now and will not decay in the future and not blamed by recluses or Brahmins. This is the eighth flow of, good, merit, the bringer of pleasantness, resulting in heavenly bliss, conducive to heavenly bliss that is pleasant, agreeable and welcome.

10. Duccaritavipākasuttaṃ –– Results for misbehaviour

004.10. Bhikkhus, destroying life, practising it and making much of it, is conducive to birth in hell, in the animal world and the sphere of ghosts. The immediate results of destroying life to humans, is short life.

Bhikkhus, taking the not given, practising it and making much of it, is conducive to birth in hell, in the animal world and the sphere of ghosts. The immediate results of taking the not given, to humans is destruction of wealth.

Bhikkhus, misbehaviour in sexual desires practising it and making much of it, is conducive to birth in hell, in the animal world and the sphere of ghosts. The immediate results of sexual misbehaviour, to humans is anger among co-wives.

Bhikkhus, telling lies, practising it and making much of it, is conducive to birth in hell, in the animal world and the sphere of ghosts. The immediate results of telling lies, to humans is wrong accusation.

Bhikkhus, slandering, practising it and making much of it, is conducive to birth in hell, in the animal world and the sphere of ghosts. The immediate results of slandering, to humans is disruption of friendships.

Bhikkhus, rough talk, practising it and making much of it, is conducive to birth in hell, in the animal world and the sphere of ghosts. The immediate results of talking roughly, to humans is hearing disagreeable sounds.

Bhikkhus, frivolous talk, practising it and making much of it, is conducive to birth in hell, in the animal world and the sphere of ghosts. The immediate results of talking frivolously, to humans is that his words are not acceptable.

Bhikkhus, taking intoxicating and brewed drinks practising it and making much of it, is conducive to birth in hell, in the animal world and the sphere of ghosts. The immediate results of taking intoxicating drinks, to humans is insanity.