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# Generosity

### dana, caga

### A treasure

> "And what is the treasure of generosity? There is the case of a disciple of the noble ones, his awareness cleansed of the stain of stinginess, living at home, freely generous, openhanded, delighting in being magnanimous, responsive to requests, delighting in the distribution of alms. This is called the treasure of generosity."

> > -- AN VII.6

### Five rewards

> "These are the five rewards of generosity: One is dear and appealing to people at large, one is admired by good people, one's good name is spread about, one does not stray from the rightful duties of the householder, and with the break-up of the body at death, one reappears in a good destination, in the heavenly worlds."

> > -- AN V.35

### Don't underestimate the power of small gifts

> "Even if a person throws the rinsings of a bowl or a cup into a village pool or pond, thinking, 'May whatever animals live here feed on this,' that would be a source of merit."

> > -- AN III.58

### What isn't given is lost

> So when the world is on fire
> with aging and death,
> one should salvage [one's wealth] by giving:
> what's given is well salvaged.

> What's given bears fruit as pleasure.
> What isn't given does not:
> thieves take it away, or kings;
> it gets burnt by fire or lost.

> > -- SN I.41

### Overcoming miserliness

> Conquer anger
> with lack of anger;
> bad, with good;
> stinginess, with generosity;
> a liar, with truth.

> > -- Dhp 223

> What the miser fears,
> that keeps him from giving,
> is the very danger that comes
> when he doesn't give.

> > -- SN I.32

> No misers go
> to the world of the devas.
> Those who don't praise giving
> are fools.
> The enlightened
> express their approval for giving
> and so find ease
> in the world beyond.

> > -- Dhp 177

### Giving even one's last meal

> "If beings knew, as I know, the results of giving & sharing, they would not eat 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 & sharing, they eat without having given. The stain of miserliness overcomes their minds."

> > -- Iti 26

### Giving at the proper time

> In the proper season they give --
> those with discernment,
> responsive, free from stinginess.
> Having been given in proper season,
> with hearts inspired by the Noble Ones
> -- straightened, Such --
> their offering bears an abundance.
> Those who rejoice in that gift
> or give assistance,
> they, too, have a share of the merit,
> and the offering isn't depleted by that.
> So, with an unhesitant mind,
> one should give where the gift bears great fruit.
> Merit is what establishes
> living beings in the next life.

> > -- AN V.36

### To reap the highest rewards, to whom should we give?

> As he was sitting to one side, King Pasenadi Kosala said to the Blessed One: "Where, lord, should a gift be given?"

> "Wherever the mind feels confidence, great king."

> "But a gift given where, lord, bears great fruit?"

> "This [question] is one thing, great king -- 'Where should a gift be given?' -- while this -- 'A gift given where bears great fruit?' -- is something else entirely. What is given to a virtuous person -- rather than to an unvirtuous one -- bears great fruit."

> > -- SN III.24

### Many fruits

> [General Siha:] "Is it possible, lord, to point out a fruit of generosity visible in the here & now?"

> [The Buddha:] "It is possible, Siha. One who is generous, a master of giving, is dear & charming to people at large. And the fact that who is generous, a master of giving, is dear & charming to people at large: this is a fruit of generosity visible in the here & now.

> "Furthermore, good people, people of integrity, admire one who is generous, a master of giving. And the fact that good people, people of integrity, admire one who is generous, a master of giving: this, too, is a fruit of generosity visible in the here & now.

> "Furthermore, the fine reputation of one who is generous, a master of giving, is spread far & wide. And the fact that the fine reputation of one who is generous, a master of giving, is spread far & wide: this, too, is a fruit of generosity visible in the here & now.

> "Furthermore, when one who is generous, a master of giving, approaches any assembly of people -- noble warriors, brahmans, householders, or contemplatives -- he/she does so confidently & without embarrassment. And the fact that when one who is generous, a master of giving, approaches any assembly of people -- noble warriors, brahmans, householders, or contemplatives -- he/she does so confidently & without embarrassment: this, too, is a fruit of generosity visible in the here & now.

> "Furthermore, at the break-up of the body, after death, one who is generous, a master of giving, reappears in a good destination, the heavenly world. And the fact that at the break-up of the body, after death, one who is generous, a master of giving, reappears in a good destination, the heavenly world: this is a fruit of generosity in the next life."

> When this was said, General Siha said to the Blessed One: "As for the four fruits of generosity visible in the here & now that have been pointed out by the Blessed One, it's not the case that I go by conviction in the Blessed One with regard to them. I know them, too. I am generous, a master of giving, dear & charming to people at large. I am generous, a master of giving; good people, people of integrity, admire me. I am generous, a master of giving, and my fine reputation is spread far & wide: 'Siha is generous, a doer, a supporter of the Sangha.' I am generous, a master of giving, and when I approach any assembly of people -- noble warriors, brahmans, householders, or contemplatives -- I do so confidently & without embarrassment.

> "But when the Blessed One says to me, 'At the break-up of the body, after death, one who is generous, a master of giving, reappears in a good destination, the heavenly world,' that I do not know. That is where I go by conviction in the Blessed One."

> "So it is, Siha. So it is. At the break-up of the body, after death, one who is generous, a master of giving, reappears in a good destination, the heavenly world."

> > -- AN V.34

### Many motives, many fruits

> "Sariputta, there is the case where a person gives a 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.' He gives his gift -- food, drink, clothing, a vehicle; a garland, perfume, & ointment; bedding, shelter, & a lamp -- to a priest or a contemplative. What do you think, Sariputta? Might a person give such a gift as this?"

> "Yes, lord."

> "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. Then, having exhausted that action, that power, that status, that sovereignty, he is a returner, coming back to this world.

> "Then there is the case of a person who gives a gift not seeking his own profit, not with a mind attached [to the reward], not seeking to store up for himself, nor [with the thought], 'I'll enjoy this after death.' Instead, he gives a gift with the thought, 'Giving is good.' He gives his gift -- food, drink, clothing, a vehicle; a garland, perfume, & ointment; bedding, shelter, & a lamp -- to a priest or a contemplative. What do you think, Sariputta? Might a person give such a gift as this?"

> "Yes, lord."

> "Having given this gift with the thought, 'Giving is good,' on the break-up of the body, after death, reappears in the company of the Devas of the Thirty-three. Then, having exhausted that action, that power, that status, that sovereignty, he is a returner, coming back to this world.

> "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 & grandfather. It would not be right for me to let this old family custom be discontinued'... on the break-up of the body, after death, he reappears in the company of the Devas of the Hours. Then, having exhausted that action, that power, that status, that sovereignty, he is a returner, coming back to this world.

> "Or, instead... he gives a gift with the thought, 'I am well-off. These 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'... on the break-up of the body, after death, he reappears in the company of the Contented Devas. Then, having exhausted that action, that power, that status, that sovereignty, he is a returner, coming back to this world.

> "Or, instead... he gives a gift with the thought, 'Just as there were the great sacrifices of the sages of the past -- Atthaka, Vamaka, Vamadeva, Vessamitta, Yamataggi, Angirasa, Bharadvaja, Vasettha, Kassapa, & Bhagu -- in the same way will this be my distribution of gifts'... on the break-up of the body, after death, he reappears in the company of the devas who delight in creation. Then, having exhausted that action, that power, that status, that sovereignty, he is a returner, coming back to this world.

> "Or, instead... he gives a gift with the thought, 'When this gift of mine is given, it makes the mind serene. Gratification & joy arise'... on the break-up of the body, after death, he reappears in the company of the devas who have power over the creations of others. Then, having exhausted that action, that power, that status, that sovereignty, he is a returner, coming back to this world.

> "Or, instead of thinking, 'When this gift of mine is given, it makes the mind serene. Gratification & 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, & ointment; bedding, shelter, & a lamp -- to a priest or a contemplative. What do you think, Sariputta? Might a person give such a gift as this?"

> "Yes, lord."

> "Having given this, not seeking his own profit, not with a mind attached [to the reward], not seeking to store up for himself, nor [with the thought], 'I'll enjoy this after death,'

> " -- nor with the thought, 'Giving is good,'

> " -- nor with the thought, 'This was given in the past, done in the past, by my father & grandfather. It would not be right for me to let this old family custom be discontinued,'

> " -- nor with the thought, 'I am well-off. These 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,' nor with the thought, 'Just as there were the great sacrifices of the sages of the past -- Atthaka, Vamaka, Vamadeva, Vessamitta, Yamataggi, Angirasa, Bharadvaja, Vasettha, Kassapa, & Bhagu -- in the same way this will be my distribution of gifts,'

> " -- nor with the thought, 'When this gift of mine is given, it makes the mind serene. Gratification & joy arise,'

> " -- but 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, Sariputta, 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."

> > -- AN VII.49

### The greatest gift

> A gift of Dhamma conquers all gifts

> > -- Dhp 354

See also:

- Craving (tanha)
- "The Economy of Gifts," by Thanissaro Bhikkhu
- "Dana" in the Index by Subject

Revised: Tue 16 April 2002