MN 142 · The Analysis of Religious Donations

MN 142 · The Analysis of Religious Donations

MN 142 · Dakkhiṇāvibhaṅgasutta

So I have heard. At one time the Buddha was staying in the land of the Sakyans, near Kapilavatthu in the Banyan Tree Monastery.

Evaṁ me sutaṁ— ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sakkesu viharati kapilavatthusmiṁ nigrodhārāme.

Then Mahāpajāpati Gotamī approached the Buddha bringing a new pair of garments. She bowed, sat down to one side, and said to the Buddha, “Sir, I have spun and woven this new pair of garments specially for the Buddha. May the Buddha please accept this from me out of sympathy.”

Atha kho mahāpajāpati gotamī navaṁ dussayugaṁ ādāya yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinnā kho mahāpajāpati gotamī bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “idaṁ me, bhante, navaṁ dussayugaṁ bhagavantaṁ uddissa sāmaṁ kantaṁ sāmaṁ vāyitaṁ. Taṁ me, bhante, bhagavā paṭiggaṇhātu anukampaṁ upādāyā”ti.

When she said this, the Buddha said to her, “Give it to the Saṅgha, Gotamī. When you give to the Saṅgha, both the Saṅgha and I will be honored.”

Evaṁ vutte, bhagavā mahāpajāpatiṁ gotamiṁ etadavoca: “saṅghe, gotami, dehi. Saṅghe te dinne ahañceva pūjito bhavissāmi saṅgho cā”ti.

For a second time …

Dutiyampi kho mahāpajāpati gotamī bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “idaṁ me, bhante, navaṁ dussayugaṁ bhagavantaṁ uddissa sāmaṁ kantaṁ sāmaṁ vāyitaṁ. Taṁ me, bhante, bhagavā paṭiggaṇhātu anukampaṁ upādāyā”ti. Dutiyampi kho bhagavā mahāpajāpatiṁ gotamiṁ etadavoca: “saṅghe, gotami, dehi. Saṅghe te dinne ahañceva pūjito bhavissāmi saṅgho cā”ti.

For a third time, Mahāpajāpati Gotamī said to the Buddha, “Sir, I have spun and woven this new pair of garments specially for the Buddha. May the Buddha please accept this from me out of sympathy.”

Tatiyampi kho mahāpajāpati gotamī bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “idaṁ me, bhante, navaṁ dussayugaṁ bhagavantaṁ uddissa sāmaṁ kantaṁ sāmaṁ vāyitaṁ. Taṁ me, bhante, bhagavā paṭiggaṇhātu anukampaṁ upādāyā”ti.

And for a third time, the Buddha said to her, “Give it to the Saṅgha, Gotamī. When you give to the Saṅgha, both the Saṅgha and I will be honored.”

Tatiyampi kho bhagavā mahāpajāpatiṁ gotamiṁ etadavoca: “saṅghe, gotami, dehi. Saṅghe te dinne ahañceva pūjito bhavissāmi saṅgho cā”ti.

When he said this, Venerable Ānanda said to the Buddha, “Sir, please accept the new pair of garments from Mahāpajāpati Gotamī. Sir, Mahāpajāpati was very helpful to the Buddha. As his aunt, she raised him, nurtured him, and gave him her milk. When the Buddha’s birth mother passed away, she nurtured him at her own breast.

Evaṁ vutte, āyasmā ānando bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “paṭiggaṇhātu, bhante, bhagavā mahāpajāpatiyā gotamiyā navaṁ dussayugaṁ. Bahūpakārā, bhante, mahāpajāpati gotamī bhagavato mātucchā āpādikā posikā khīrassa dāyikā; bhagavantaṁ janettiyā kālaṅkatāya thaññaṁ pāyesi.

And the Buddha has been very helpful to Mahāpajāpati. It is owing to the Buddha that Mahāpajāpati has gone for refuge to the Buddha, the teaching, and the Saṅgha. It’s owing to the Buddha that she refrains from killing living creatures, stealing, sexual misconduct, lying, and intoxicants of beer, wine, and liquor. It’s owing to the Buddha that she has experiential confidence in the Buddha, the teaching, and the Saṅgha, and has the ethics loved by the noble ones. It’s owing to the Buddha that she is free of doubt regarding suffering, its origin, its cessation, and the practice that leads to its cessation. The Buddha has been very helpful to Mahāpajāpati.”

Bhagavāpi, bhante, bahūpakāro mahāpajāpatiyā gotamiyā. Bhagavantaṁ, bhante, āgamma mahāpajāpati gotamī buddhaṁ saraṇaṁ gatā, dhammaṁ saraṇaṁ gatā, saṅghaṁ saraṇaṁ gatā. Bhagavantaṁ, bhante, āgamma mahāpajāpati gotamī pāṇātipātā paṭiviratā adinnādānā paṭiviratā kāmesumicchācārā paṭiviratā musāvādā paṭiviratā surāmerayamajjapamādaṭṭhānā paṭiviratā. Bhagavantaṁ, bhante, āgamma mahāpajāpati gotamī buddhe aveccappasādena samannāgatā, dhamme aveccappasādena samannāgatā, saṅghe aveccappasādena samannāgatā ariyakantehi sīlehi samannāgatā. Bhagavantaṁ, bhante, āgamma mahāpajāpati gotamī dukkhe nikkaṅkhā, dukkhasamudaye nikkaṅkhā, dukkhanirodhe nikkaṅkhā, dukkhanirodhagāminiyā paṭipadāya nikkaṅkhā. Bhagavāpi, bhante, bahūpakāro mahāpajāpatiyā gotamiyā”ti.

“That’s so true, Ānanda. When someone has enabled you to go for refuge, it’s not easy to repay them by bowing down to them, rising up for them, greeting them with cupped palms, and observing proper etiquette for them; or by providing them with robes, almsfood, lodgings, and medicines and supplies for the sick.

“Evametaṁ, ānanda. Yaṁ hānanda, puggalo puggalaṁ āgamma buddhaṁ saraṇaṁ gato hoti, dhammaṁ saraṇaṁ gato hoti, saṅghaṁ saraṇaṁ gato hoti, imassānanda, puggalassa iminā puggalena na suppatikāraṁ vadāmi, yadidaṁ— abhivādanapaccuṭṭhānaañjalikammasāmīcikammacīvarapiṇḍapātasenāsanagilānappaccayabhesajjaparikkhārānuppadānena.

When someone has enabled you to refrain from killing, stealing, sexual misconduct, lying, and intoxicants of beer, wine, and liquor, it’s not easy to repay them …

Yaṁ hānanda, puggalo puggalaṁ āgamma pāṇātipātā paṭivirato hoti, adinnādānā paṭivirato hoti, kāmesumicchācārā paṭivirato hoti, musāvādā paṭivirato hoti, surāmerayamajjapamādaṭṭhānā paṭivirato hoti, imassānanda, puggalassa iminā puggalena na suppatikāraṁ vadāmi, yadidaṁ— abhivādanapaccuṭṭhānaañjalikammasāmīcikammacīvarapiṇḍapātasenāsanagilānappaccayabhesajjaparikkhārānuppadānena.

When someone has enabled you to have experiential confidence in the Buddha, the teaching, and the Saṅgha, and the ethics loved by the noble ones, it’s not easy to repay them …

Yaṁ hānanda, puggalo puggalaṁ āgamma buddhe aveccappasādena samannāgato hoti, dhamme … saṅghe … ariyakantehi sīlehi samannāgato hoti, imassānanda, puggalassa iminā puggalena na suppatikāraṁ vadāmi, yadidaṁ— abhivādanapaccuṭṭhānaañjalikammasāmīcikammacīvarapiṇḍapātasenāsanagilānappaccayabhesajjaparikkhārānuppadānena.

When someone has enabled you to be free of doubt regarding suffering, its origin, its cessation, and the practice that leads to its cessation, it’s not easy to repay them by bowing down to them, rising up for them, greeting them with cupped palms, and observing proper etiquette for them; or by providing them with robes, almsfood, lodgings, and medicines and supplies for the sick.

Yaṁ hānanda, puggalo puggalaṁ āgamma dukkhe nikkaṅkho hoti, dukkhasamudaye nikkaṅkho hoti, dukkhanirodhe nikkaṅkho hoti, dukkhanirodhagāminiyā paṭipadāya nikkaṅkho hoti, imassānanda, puggalassa iminā puggalena na suppatikāraṁ vadāmi, yadidaṁ— abhivādanapaccuṭṭhānaañjalikammasāmīcikammacīvarapiṇḍapātasenāsanagilānappaccayabhesajjaparikkhārānuppadānena.

Ānanda, there are these fourteen religious donations to individuals. What fourteen? One gives a gift to the Realized One, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha. This is the first religious donation to an individual. One gives a gift to an independent Buddha. This is the second religious donation to an individual. One gives a gift to a perfected one. This is the third religious donation to an individual. One gives a gift to someone practicing to realize the fruit of perfection. This is the fourth religious donation to an individual. One gives a gift to a non-returner. This is the fifth religious donation to an individual. One gives a gift to someone practicing to realize the fruit of non-return. This is the sixth religious donation to an individual. One gives a gift to a once-returner. This is the seventh religious donation to an individual. One gives a gift to someone practicing to realize the fruit of once-return. This is the eighth religious donation to an individual. One gives a gift to a stream-enterer. This is the ninth religious donation to an individual. One gives a gift to someone practicing to realize the fruit of stream-entry. This is the tenth religious donation to an individual. One gives a gift to an outsider who is free of desire for sensual pleasures. This is the eleventh religious donation to an individual. One gives a gift to an ordinary person who has good ethical conduct. This is the twelfth religious donation to an individual. One gives a gift to an ordinary person who has bad ethical conduct. This is the thirteenth religious donation to an individual. One gives a gift to an animal. This is the fourteenth religious donation to an individual.

Cuddasa kho panimānanda, pāṭipuggalikā dakkhiṇā. Katamā cuddasa? Tathāgate arahante sammāsambuddhe dānaṁ deti— ayaṁ paṭhamā pāṭipuggalikā dakkhiṇā. Paccekasambuddhe dānaṁ deti— ayaṁ dutiyā pāṭipuggalikā dakkhiṇā. Tathāgatasāvake arahante dānaṁ deti— ayaṁ tatiyā pāṭipuggalikā dakkhiṇā. Arahattaphalasacchikiriyāya paṭipanne dānaṁ deti— ayaṁ catutthī pāṭipuggalikā dakkhiṇā. Anāgāmissa dānaṁ deti— ayaṁ pañcamī pāṭipuggalikā dakkhiṇā. Anāgāmiphalasacchikiriyāya paṭipanne dānaṁ deti— ayaṁ chaṭṭhī pāṭipuggalikā dakkhiṇā. Sakadāgāmissa dānaṁ deti— ayaṁ sattamī pāṭipuggalikā dakkhiṇā. Sakadāgāmiphalasacchikiriyāya paṭipanne dānaṁ deti— ayaṁ aṭṭhamī pāṭipuggalikā dakkhiṇā. Sotāpanne dānaṁ deti— ayaṁ navamī pāṭipuggalikā dakkhiṇā. Sotāpattiphalasacchikiriyāya paṭipanne dānaṁ deti— ayaṁ dasamī pāṭipuggalikā dakkhiṇā. Bāhirake kāmesu vītarāge dānaṁ deti— ayaṁ ekādasamī pāṭipuggalikā dakkhiṇā. Puthujjanasīlavante dānaṁ deti— ayaṁ dvādasamī pāṭipuggalikā dakkhiṇā. Puthujjanadussīle dānaṁ deti— ayaṁ terasamī pāṭipuggalikā dakkhiṇā. Tiracchānagate dānaṁ deti— ayaṁ cuddasamī pāṭipuggalikā dakkhiṇāti.

Now, Ānanda, gifts to the following persons may be expected to yield the following returns. To an animal, a hundred times. To an unethical ordinary person, a thousand. To an ethical ordinary person, a hundred thousand. To an outsider free of desire for sensual pleasures, 10,000,000,000. But a gift to someone practicing to realize the fruit of stream-entry may be expected to yield incalculable, immeasurable returns. How much more so a gift to a stream-enterer, someone practicing to realize the fruit of once-return, a once-returner, someone practicing to realize the fruit of non-return, a non-returner, someone practicing to realize the fruit of perfection, a perfected one, or an independent Buddha? How much more so a Realized One, a perfected one, a fully awakened Buddha?

Tatrānanda, tiracchānagate dānaṁ datvā sataguṇā dakkhiṇā pāṭikaṅkhitabbā, puthujjanadussīle dānaṁ datvā sahassaguṇā dakkhiṇā pāṭikaṅkhitabbā, puthujjanasīlavante dānaṁ datvā satasahassaguṇā dakkhiṇā pāṭikaṅkhitabbā, bāhirake kāmesu vītarāge dānaṁ datvā koṭisatasahassaguṇā dakkhiṇā pāṭikaṅkhitabbā, sotāpattiphalasacchikiriyāya paṭipanne dānaṁ datvā asaṅkheyyā appameyyā dakkhiṇā pāṭikaṅkhitabbā, ko pana vādo sotāpanne, ko pana vādo sakadāgāmiphalasacchikiriyāya paṭipanne, ko pana vādo sakadāgāmissa, ko pana vādo anāgāmiphalasacchikiriyāya paṭipanne, ko pana vādo anāgāmissa, ko pana vādo arahattaphalasacchikiriyāya paṭipanne, ko pana vādo arahante, ko pana vādo paccekasambuddhe, ko pana vādo tathāgate arahante sammāsambuddhe.

But there are, Ānanda, seven religious donations bestowed on a Saṅgha. What seven? One gives a gift to the communities of both monks and nuns headed by the Buddha. This is the first religious donation bestowed on a Saṅgha. One gives a gift to the communities of both monks and nuns after the Buddha has finally become quenched. This is the second religious donation bestowed on a Saṅgha. One gives a gift to the Saṅgha of monks. This is the third religious donation bestowed on a Saṅgha. One gives a gift to the Saṅgha of nuns. This is the fourth religious donation bestowed on a Saṅgha. One gives a gift, thinking: ‘Appoint this many monks and nuns for me from the Saṅgha.’ This is the fifth religious donation bestowed on a Saṅgha. One gives a gift, thinking: ‘Appoint this many monks for me from the Saṅgha.’ This is the sixth religious donation bestowed on a Saṅgha. One gives a gift, thinking: ‘Appoint this many nuns for me from the Saṅgha.’ This is the seventh religious donation bestowed on a Saṅgha.

Satta kho panimānanda, saṅghagatā dakkhiṇā. Katamā satta? Buddhappamukhe ubhatosaṅghe dānaṁ deti— ayaṁ paṭhamā saṅghagatā dakkhiṇā. Tathāgate parinibbute ubhatosaṅghe dānaṁ deti— ayaṁ dutiyā saṅghagatā dakkhiṇā. Bhikkhusaṅghe dānaṁ deti— ayaṁ tatiyā saṅghagatā dakkhiṇā. Bhikkhunisaṅghe dānaṁ deti— ayaṁ catutthī saṅghagatā dakkhiṇā. ‘Ettakā me bhikkhū ca bhikkhuniyo ca saṅghato uddissathā’ti dānaṁ deti— ayaṁ pañcamī saṅghagatā dakkhiṇā. ‘Ettakā me bhikkhū saṅghato uddissathā’ti dānaṁ deti— ayaṁ chaṭṭhī saṅghagatā dakkhiṇā. ‘Ettakā me bhikkhuniyo saṅghato uddissathā’ti dānaṁ deti— ayaṁ sattamī saṅghagatā dakkhiṇā.

In times to come there will be lambs of the flock wearing a scrap of ocher cloth, unethical and of bad character. People will give gifts to those unethical people in the name of the Saṅgha. Then too, I say, a religious donation bestowed on the Saṅgha is incalculable and immeasurable. But in any case, there is no way a personal offering can be more fruitful than one bestowed on a Saṅgha, I say.

Bhavissanti kho panānanda, anāgatamaddhānaṁ gotrabhuno kāsāvakaṇṭhā dussīlā pāpadhammā. Tesu dussīlesu saṅghaṁ uddissa dānaṁ dassanti. Tadāpāhaṁ, ānanda, saṅghagataṁ dakkhiṇaṁ asaṅkheyyaṁ appameyyaṁ vadāmi. Na tvevāhaṁ, ānanda, kenaci pariyāyena saṅghagatāya dakkhiṇāya pāṭipuggalikaṁ dānaṁ mahapphalataraṁ vadāmi.

Ānanda, there are these four ways of purifying a religious donation. What four? There’s a religious donation that’s purified by the giver, not the recipient. There’s a religious donation that’s purified by the recipient, not the giver. There’s a religious donation that’s purified by neither the giver nor the recipient. There’s a religious donation that’s purified by both the giver and the recipient.

Catasso kho imā, ānanda, dakkhiṇā visuddhiyo. Katamā catasso? Atthānanda, dakkhiṇā dāyakato visujjhati no paṭiggāhakato. Atthānanda, dakkhiṇā paṭiggāhakato visujjhati no dāyakato. Atthānanda, dakkhiṇā neva dāyakato visujjhati no paṭiggāhakato. Atthānanda, dakkhiṇā dāyakato ceva visujjhati paṭiggāhakato ca.

And how is a religious donation purified by the giver, not the recipient? It’s when the giver is ethical, of good character, but the recipient is unethical, of bad character.

Kathañcānanda, dakkhiṇā dāyakato visujjhati no paṭiggāhakato? Idhānanda, dāyako hoti sīlavā kalyāṇadhammo, paṭiggāhakā honti dussīlā pāpadhammā— evaṁ kho, ānanda, dakkhiṇā dāyakato visujjhati no paṭiggāhakato.

And how is a religious donation purified by the recipient, not the giver? It’s when the giver is unethical, of bad character, but the recipient is ethical, of good character.

Kathañcānanda, dakkhiṇā paṭiggāhakato visujjhati no dāyakato? Idhānanda, dāyako hoti dussīlo pāpadhammo, paṭiggāhakā honti sīlavanto kalyāṇadhammā— evaṁ kho, ānanda, dakkhiṇā paṭiggāhakato visujjhati no dāyakato.

And how is a religious donation purified by neither the giver nor the recipient? It’s when both the giver and the recipient are unethical, of bad character.

Kathañcānanda, dakkhiṇā neva dāyakato visujjhati no paṭiggāhakato? Idhānanda, dāyako ca hoti dussīlo pāpadhammo, paṭiggāhakā ca honti dussīlā pāpadhammā— evaṁ kho, ānanda, dakkhiṇā neva dāyakato visujjhati no paṭiggāhakato.

And how is a religious donation purified by both the giver and the recipient? It’s when both the giver and the recipient are ethical, of good character. These are the four ways of purifying a religious donation.”

Kathañcānanda, dakkhiṇā dāyakato ceva visujjhati paṭiggāhakato ca? Idhānanda, dāyako ca hoti sīlavā kalyāṇadhammo, paṭiggāhakā ca honti sīlavanto kalyāṇadhammā— evaṁ kho, ānanda, dakkhiṇā dāyakato ceva visujjhati paṭiggāhakato ca. Imā kho, ānanda, catasso dakkhiṇā visuddhiyo”ti.

That is what the Buddha said. Then the Holy One, the Teacher, went on to say:

Idamavoca bhagavā. Idaṁ vatvāna sugato athāparaṁ etadavoca satthā:

“When an ethical person with trusting heartgives a proper gift to unethical persons,trusting in the ample fruit of deeds,that offering is purified by the giver.

“Yo sīlavā dussīlesu dadāti dānaṁ,Dhammena laddhaṁ supasannacitto;Abhisaddahaṁ kammaphalaṁ uḷāraṁ,Sā dakkhiṇā dāyakato visujjhati.

When an unethical and untrusting person,gives an improper gift to ethical persons,not trusting in the ample fruit of deeds,that offering is purified by the receivers.

Yo dussīlo sīlavantesu dadāti dānaṁ,Adhammena laddhaṁ appasannacitto;Anabhisaddahaṁ kammaphalaṁ uḷāraṁ,Sā dakkhiṇā paṭiggāhakato visujjhati.

When an unethical and untrusting person,gives an improper gift to unethical persons,not trusting in the ample fruit of deeds,I declare that gift is not very fruitful.

Yo dussīlo dussīlesu dadāti dānaṁ,Adhammena laddhaṁ appasannacitto;Anabhisaddahaṁ kammaphalaṁ uḷāraṁ,Na taṁ dānaṁ vipulapphalanti brūmi.

When an ethical person with trusting heartgives a proper gift to ethical persons,trusting in the ample fruit of deeds,I declare that gift is abundantly fruitful.

Yo sīlavā sīlavantesu dadāti dānaṁ,Dhammena laddhaṁ supasannacitto;Abhisaddahaṁ kammaphalaṁ uḷāraṁ,Taṁ ve dānaṁ vipulapphalanti brūmi.

But when a passionless one gives to the passionlessa proper gift with trusting heart,trusting in the ample fruit of deeds,that’s truly the best of material gifts.”

Yo vītarāgo vītarāgesu dadāti dānaṁ,Dhammena laddhaṁ supasannacitto;Abhisaddahaṁ kammaphalaṁ uḷāraṁ,Taṁ ve dānaṁ āmisadānānamaggan”ti.