DHAMMA PADETHA – 14. FIVE BENEFITS OF DANA

DHAMMA PADETHA – FIVE BENEFITS OF DANA

 Every wise person wishes to have long life or longevity, good looks, happiness, companions and authority. Al though they wish for these five things, those who have no merit in their past lives cannot have them. Only those who have dana merit can have them.

      (1) To have a short life in the good human or deva abode is not a favourable circumstance. Longevity or to have a long life is a good and noble circumstance. That is why everyone wishes to have a long life and so try and adjust themselves in every possible way.

      (2) In a good noble human life and deva life, to have unpleasant or ugly looks is not a good circumstance or happening. To have good looks or beauty is a favourable circumstance. That is why every body wishes to have good looks and thus try to beautify themselves.

      (3) In a good human or deva life, to be unhappy physically and spiritually is a bad situation. To be happy physically and mentally is a good condition. That is why every person wishes to be happy physically and mentally. Thus they try to adjust themselves to get physical and mental happiness.

      (4) In a good human or deva life, not to have companions or attendants is a bad condition. To have people to look after you and attendants surrounding you, are good circumstances. That is why we wish to have people to look after us and attendants surrounding us. Hence we try to get people to look after us and attendants surrounding us.

      (5) In a good human and deva life, not being master of yourself and always having to consider other people’ wishes is not a good situation. To be able to do according to your own wishes is a good condition. That is why everybody wishes to be master of one’s own mind. Thus, they try to have supremacy.

      However, those who do not have dana merits in their past lives cannot have the five conditions they wish for. Only those who have dana merit in their past lives can have the five benefits. Those who have dana merit in their past lives are in a better condition to have these five favourable circumstances.

      During the life time of Kassapa Buddha two monks residing together had an argument over giving dana. One monk said, though you have to go round house after house for alms-food, you should first give dana out of your own share of food which is (Saraniya Dhamma) or practice, and then make use of whatever is remaining.

      Another monk argued saying that a monk should not acquire things more than is needed and then get rid of the surplus. You must take only enough for yourself that is (Bhattaggavatta) or duty. One should not give charity or dana.

      The two monks could not accept each other’s idea. Hence, each practised his own method and when they died they became celestial beings.

      During the life time of Gotama Buddha they were reborn as human beings at Savatthi. The one who practised Saraniya Dhamma and had given dana became the son of King Kosala and his chief Queen. The other monk who did not give dana and had practised Bhattaggavatta became the son of a maid of the Queen. They were born on the same day.

      On the day they were given names, seeing each other, the one who had practised Saraniya Dhamma and had become a young prince said to the one who had not given dana and had practised Bhattaggavatta and had become the maid’s son “You see me under the white umbrella on a rich and magnificent bed. You have also seen that your bed is inferior and the bed clothes are coarse, haven’t you? This has happened because you did not practise Saraniya dana, now you have to sleep on an inferior bed” blamed and belittled him.

      Without giving charity and had only practised Bhattagga vatta, the one who had become the maid’s son retaliated:

      “Because of the luxury you are having, you have become conceited. Inferior and coarse bed clothes and fine rich beddings are all element of earth (pathavi dhatu), they are of the same dhatu.”

      When Princess Sumana heard the conversation between the two young boys, went to Lord Buddha and asked.

      ‘O Lord, there are two persons in your sasana. These two have the same saddha. They have the same sila and the same level of wisdom. However, though they are the same in these aspects, one gave dana but the other did not do any giving or dana. When these two die and be reborn in the realm of the devas, do they have the same benefit or are they different?

      Lord Buddha replied: ‘Princess Sumana, they do not have the same benefit. The one who is in the habit of giving has, as a celestial being

      (1) a long life

      (2) good looks

      (3) riches and happiness

      (4) companions and attendants

      (5) supramacy or authority,

      and therefore attain five more benefits than the one who does not have dana or give charity.

      Princess Sumana asked again.

      ‘O Lord, the two celestial beings, when they are reborn as human beings do they have the same benefit or are they different?’ Lord Buddha answered, ‘Princess Sumana, they do not have the same benefit. The one who has given charity has, as a human being (1) a long life (2) good looks (3) riches and happiness (4) companions and attendants (5) supremacy or authority, and therefore, attain five benefits and is better and more influential than the one who has not given dana.

• Motto: Longevity, good looks, happiness, attendants and supremacy are five benefits of dana.

      Princess Sumana asked again. ‘When these two leave the mundane world and become monks in the sasana do they have the same benefits or are they different?’ Lord Buddha replied Princess Sumana, they do not have the same benefit. The monk who had given charity, has as a monk’s requisites:

• (1) numerous robes
• (2) alms-food abundantly
• (3) numerous monasteries
• (4) medicine abundantly, and
• (5) monks residing together revere him.

      With these five benefits he is more influential than the monk who had not given dana.

      “When these two persons practise meditation and become Arahants, do they have the same benefit or are they different?” asked the princess again.

      Lord Buddha replied “Princess Sumana, when they become Arahants they are free from defilements and have attained the same Fruition, there is no difference, they have become equal.”

      Princess Sumana was much delighted and said ‘O Lord, I have now heard the most amazing discourse that I have never heard before. Dana merit is beneficial to a deva, celestial being, also beneficial to a human being. That is why giving, dana should be practised.’

      Lord Buddha replied in encouragement, ‘It is true, one should do dana merit.’ (Am 2/27)