MN 142 The Analysis of Religious Donations – Dakkhiṇāvibhaṅgasutta

Medium Discourses Collection 142 – Majjhima Nikāya 142

1.1

So I have heard.

Evaṁ me sutaṁ—

1.2

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

ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sakkesu viharati kapilavatthusmiṁ nigrodhārāme.

2.1

Then Mahāpajāpati Gotamī approached the Buddha bringing a new pair of garments. She bowed, sat down to one side, and said to the Buddha,

Atha kho mahāpajāpati gotamī navaṁ dussayugaṁ ādāya yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinnā kho mahāpajāpati gotamī bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

2.2

“Sir, I have spun and woven this new pair of garments specially for the Buddha.

“idaṁ me, bhante, navaṁ dussayugaṁ bhagavantaṁ uddissa sāmaṁ kantaṁ sāmaṁ vāyitaṁ.

2.3

May the Buddha please accept this from me out of compassion.”

Taṁ me, bhante, bhagavā paṭiggaṇhātu anukampaṁ upādāyā”ti.

2.4

When she said this, the Buddha said to her,

Evaṁ vutte, bhagavā mahāpajāpatiṁ gotamiṁ etadavoca:

2.5

“Give it to the Saṅgha, Gotamī.

“saṅghe, gotami, dehi.

2.6

When you give to the Saṅgha, both the Saṅgha and I will be honored.”

Saṅghe te dinne ahañceva pūjito bhavissāmi saṅgho cā”ti.

2.7

For a second time …

Dutiyampi kho mahāpajāpati gotamī bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

2.8

“idaṁ me, bhante, navaṁ dussayugaṁ bhagavantaṁ uddissa sāmaṁ kantaṁ sāmaṁ vāyitaṁ.

2.9

Taṁ me, bhante, bhagavā paṭiggaṇhātu anukampaṁ upādāyā”ti.

2.10

Dutiyampi kho bhagavā mahāpajāpatiṁ gotamiṁ etadavoca:

2.11

“saṅghe, gotami, dehi.

2.12

Saṅghe te dinne ahañceva pūjito bhavissāmi saṅgho cā”ti.

2.13

For a third time, Mahāpajāpatī Gotamī said to the Buddha,

Tatiyampi kho mahāpajāpati gotamī bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

2.14

“Sir, I have spun and woven this new pair of garments specially for the Buddha.

“idaṁ me, bhante, navaṁ dussayugaṁ bhagavantaṁ uddissa sāmaṁ kantaṁ sāmaṁ vāyitaṁ.

2.15

May the Buddha please accept this from me out of compassion.”

Taṁ me, bhante, bhagavā paṭiggaṇhātu anukampaṁ upādāyā”ti.

2.16

And for a third time, the Buddha said to her,

Tatiyampi kho bhagavā mahāpajāpatiṁ gotamiṁ etadavoca:

2.17

“Give it to the Saṅgha, Gotamī.

“saṅghe, gotami, dehi.

2.18

When you give to the Saṅgha, both the Saṅgha and I will be honored.”

Saṅghe te dinne ahañceva pūjito bhavissāmi saṅgho cā”ti.

3.1

When he said this, Venerable Ānanda said to the Buddha,

Evaṁ vutte, āyasmā ānando bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

3.2

“Sir, please accept the new pair of garments from Mahāpajāpatī Gotamī.

“paṭiggaṇhātu, bhante, bhagavā mahāpajāpatiyā gotamiyā navaṁ dussayugaṁ.

3.3

Sir, Mahāpajāpatī was very helpful to the Buddha. As his aunt, she raised him, nurtured him, and gave him her milk.

Bahūpakārā, bhante, mahāpajāpati gotamī bhagavato mātucchā āpādikā posikā khīrassa dāyikā;

3.4

When the Buddha’s birth mother passed away, she nurtured him at her own breast.

bhagavantaṁ janettiyā kālaṅkatāya thaññaṁ pāyesi.

3.5

And the Buddha has been very helpful to Mahāpajāpatī.

Bhagavāpi, bhante, bahūpakāro mahāpajāpatiyā gotamiyā.

3.6

It is owing to the Buddha that Mahāpajāpatī has gone for refuge to the Buddha, the teaching, and the Saṅgha.

Bhagavantaṁ, bhante, āgamma mahāpajāpati gotamī buddhaṁ saraṇaṁ gatā, dhammaṁ saraṇaṁ gatā, saṅghaṁ saraṇaṁ gatā.

3.7

It’s owing to the Buddha that she refrains from killing living creatures, stealing, committing sexual misconduct, lying, and taking alcoholic drinks that cause negligence.

Bhagavantaṁ, bhante, āgamma mahāpajāpati gotamī pāṇātipātā paṭiviratā adinnādānā paṭiviratā kāmesumicchācārā paṭiviratā musāvādā paṭiviratā surāmerayamajjapamādaṭṭhānā paṭiviratā.

3.8

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.

Bhagavantaṁ, bhante, āgamma mahāpajāpati gotamī buddhe aveccappasādena samannāgatā, dhamme aveccappasādena samannāgatā, saṅghe aveccappasādena samannāgatā ariyakantehi sīlehi samannāgatā.

3.9

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.

Bhagavantaṁ, bhante, āgamma mahāpajāpati gotamī dukkhe nikkaṅkhā, dukkhasamudaye nikkaṅkhā, dukkhanirodhe nikkaṅkhā, dukkhanirodhagāminiyā paṭipadāya nikkaṅkhā.

3.10

The Buddha has been very helpful to Mahāpajāpatī.”

Bhagavāpi, bhante, bahūpakāro mahāpajāpatiyā gotamiyā”ti.

4.1

“That’s so true, Ānanda.

“Evametaṁ, ānanda.

4.2

When someone has enabled you to go for refuge, it’s not easy to repay them

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—

4.3

by bowing down to them, rising up for them, greeting them with joined palms, and observing proper etiquette for them; or by providing them with robes, almsfood, lodgings, and medicines and supplies for the sick.

abhivādanapaccuṭṭhānaañjalikammasāmīcikammacīvarapiṇḍapātasenāsanagilānappaccayabhesajjaparikkhārānuppadānena.

4.4

When someone has enabled you to refrain from killing, stealing, sexual misconduct, lying, and alcoholic drinks that cause negligence, 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—

4.5

abhivādanapaccuṭṭhānaañjalikammasāmīcikammacīvarapiṇḍapātasenāsanagilānappaccayabhesajjaparikkhārānuppadānena.

4.6

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—

4.7

abhivādanapaccuṭṭhānaañjalikammasāmīcikammacīvarapiṇḍapātasenāsanagilānappaccayabhesajjaparikkhārānuppadānena.

4.8

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

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—

4.9

abhivādanapaccuṭṭhānaañjalikammasāmīcikammacīvarapiṇḍapātasenāsanagilānappaccayabhesajjaparikkhārānuppadānena.

5.1

Ānanda, there are these fourteen religious donations to individuals.

Cuddasa kho panimānanda, pāṭipuggalikā dakkhiṇā.

5.2

What fourteen?

Katamā cuddasa?

5.3

One gives a gift to the Realized One, the perfected one, the fully awakened Buddha.

Tathāgate arahante sammāsambuddhe dānaṁ deti—

5.4

This is the first religious donation to an individual.

ayaṁ paṭhamā pāṭipuggalikā dakkhiṇā.

5.5

One gives a gift to a Buddha awakened for themselves.

Paccekasambuddhe dānaṁ deti—

5.6

This is the second religious donation to an individual.

ayaṁ dutiyā pāṭipuggalikā dakkhiṇā.

5.7

One gives a gift to a perfected one.

Tathāgatasāvake arahante dānaṁ deti—

5.8

This is the third religious donation to an individual.

ayaṁ tatiyā pāṭipuggalikā dakkhiṇā.

5.9

One gives a gift to someone practicing to realize the fruit of perfection.

Arahattaphalasacchikiriyāya paṭipanne dānaṁ deti—

5.10

This is the fourth religious donation to an individual.

ayaṁ catutthī pāṭipuggalikā dakkhiṇā.

5.11

One gives a gift to a non-returner.

Anāgāmissa dānaṁ deti—

5.12

This is the fifth religious donation to an individual.

ayaṁ pañcamī pāṭipuggalikā dakkhiṇā.

5.13

One gives a gift to someone practicing to realize the fruit of non-return.

Anāgāmiphalasacchikiriyāya paṭipanne dānaṁ deti—

5.14

This is the sixth religious donation to an individual.

ayaṁ chaṭṭhī pāṭipuggalikā dakkhiṇā.

5.15

One gives a gift to a once-returner.

Sakadāgāmissa dānaṁ deti—

5.16

This is the seventh religious donation to an individual.

ayaṁ sattamī pāṭipuggalikā dakkhiṇā.

5.17

One gives a gift to someone practicing to realize the fruit of once-return.

Sakadāgāmiphalasacchikiriyāya paṭipanne dānaṁ deti—

5.18

This is the eighth religious donation to an individual.

ayaṁ aṭṭhamī pāṭipuggalikā dakkhiṇā.

5.19

One gives a gift to a stream-enterer.

Sotāpanne dānaṁ deti—

5.20

This is the ninth religious donation to an individual.

ayaṁ navamī pāṭipuggalikā dakkhiṇā.

5.21

One gives a gift to someone practicing to realize the fruit of stream-entry.

Sotāpattiphalasacchikiriyāya paṭipanne dānaṁ deti—

5.22

This is the tenth religious donation to an individual.

ayaṁ dasamī pāṭipuggalikā dakkhiṇā.

5.23

One gives a gift to an outsider who is free of sensual desire.

Bāhirake kāmesu vītarāge dānaṁ deti—

5.24

This is the eleventh religious donation to an individual.

ayaṁ ekādasamī pāṭipuggalikā dakkhiṇā.

5.25

One gives a gift to an ordinary person who has good ethical conduct.

Puthujjanasīlavante dānaṁ deti—

5.26

This is the twelfth religious donation to an individual.

ayaṁ dvādasamī pāṭipuggalikā dakkhiṇā.

5.27

One gives a gift to an ordinary person who has bad ethical conduct.

Puthujjanadussīle dānaṁ deti—

5.28

This is the thirteenth religious donation to an individual.

ayaṁ terasamī pāṭipuggalikā dakkhiṇā.

5.29

One gives a gift to an animal.

Tiracchānagate dānaṁ deti—

5.30

This is the fourteenth religious donation to an individual.

ayaṁ cuddasamī pāṭipuggalikā dakkhiṇāti.

6.1

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 sensual desire, 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 a Buddha awakened for themselves? 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.

7.1

But there are, Ānanda, seven religious donations bestowed on a Saṅgha.

Satta kho panimānanda, saṅghagatā dakkhiṇā.

7.2

What seven?

Katamā satta?

7.3

One gives a gift to the communities of both monks and nuns headed by the Buddha.

Buddhappamukhe ubhatosaṅghe dānaṁ deti—

7.4

This is the first religious donation bestowed on a Saṅgha.

ayaṁ paṭhamā saṅghagatā dakkhiṇā.

7.5

One gives a gift to the communities of both monks and nuns after the Buddha has finally become extinguished.

Tathāgate parinibbute ubhatosaṅghe dānaṁ deti—

7.6

This is the second religious donation bestowed on a Saṅgha.

ayaṁ dutiyā saṅghagatā dakkhiṇā.

7.7

One gives a gift to the Saṅgha of monks.

Bhikkhusaṅghe dānaṁ deti—

7.8

This is the third religious donation bestowed on a Saṅgha.

ayaṁ tatiyā saṅghagatā dakkhiṇā.

7.9

One gives a gift to the Saṅgha of nuns.

Bhikkhunisaṅghe dānaṁ deti—

7.10

This is the fourth religious donation bestowed on a Saṅgha.

ayaṁ catutthī saṅghagatā dakkhiṇā.

7.11

One gives a gift, thinking: ‘Appoint this many monks and nuns for me from the Saṅgha.’

‘Ettakā me bhikkhū ca bhikkhuniyo ca saṅghato uddissathā’ti dānaṁ deti—

7.12

This is the fifth religious donation bestowed on a Saṅgha.

ayaṁ pañcamī saṅghagatā dakkhiṇā.

7.13

One gives a gift, thinking: ‘Appoint this many monks for me from the Saṅgha.’

‘Ettakā me bhikkhū saṅghato uddissathā’ti dānaṁ deti—

7.14

This is the sixth religious donation bestowed on a Saṅgha.

ayaṁ chaṭṭhī saṅghagatā dakkhiṇā.

7.15

One gives a gift, thinking: ‘Appoint this many nuns for me from the Saṅgha.’

‘Ettakā me bhikkhuniyo saṅghato uddissathā’ti dānaṁ deti—

7.16

This is the seventh religious donation bestowed on a Saṅgha.

ayaṁ sattamī saṅghagatā dakkhiṇā.

8.1

In times to come there will be members of the spiritual family merely by virtue of wearing ocher cloth around their necks; but they are unethical and of bad character.

Bhavissanti kho panānanda, anāgatamaddhānaṁ gotrabhuno kāsāvakaṇṭhā dussīlā pāpadhammā.

8.2

People will give gifts to those unethical people in the name of the Saṅgha.

Tesu dussīlesu saṅghaṁ uddissa dānaṁ dassanti.

8.3

Even then, I say, a religious donation bestowed on the Saṅgha is incalculable and immeasurable.

Tadāpāhaṁ, ānanda, saṅghagataṁ dakkhiṇaṁ asaṅkheyyaṁ appameyyaṁ vadāmi.

8.4

But I say that there is no way a personal offering can be more fruitful than one bestowed on a Saṅgha.

Na tvevāhaṁ, ānanda, kenaci pariyāyena saṅghagatāya dakkhiṇāya pāṭipuggalikaṁ dānaṁ mahapphalataraṁ vadāmi.

9.1

Ānanda, there are these four ways of purifying a religious donation.

Catasso kho imā, ānanda, dakkhiṇā visuddhiyo.

9.2

What four?

Katamā catasso?

9.3

There’s a religious donation that’s purified by the giver, not the recipient.

Atthānanda, dakkhiṇā dāyakato visujjhati no paṭiggāhakato.

9.4

There’s a religious donation that’s purified by the recipient, not the giver.

Atthānanda, dakkhiṇā paṭiggāhakato visujjhati no dāyakato.

9.5

There’s a religious donation that’s purified by neither the giver nor the recipient.

Atthānanda, dakkhiṇā neva dāyakato visujjhati no paṭiggāhakato.

9.6

There’s a religious donation that’s purified by both the giver and the recipient.

Atthānanda, dakkhiṇā dāyakato ceva visujjhati paṭiggāhakato ca.

10.1

And how is a religious donation purified by the giver, not the recipient?

Kathañcānanda, dakkhiṇā dāyakato visujjhati no paṭiggāhakato?

10.2

It’s when the giver is ethical, of good character, but the recipient is unethical, of bad character.

Idhānanda, dāyako hoti sīlavā kalyāṇadhammo, paṭiggāhakā honti dussīlā pāpadhammā—

10.3

evaṁ kho, ānanda, dakkhiṇā dāyakato visujjhati no paṭiggāhakato.

11.1

And how is a religious donation purified by the recipient, not the giver?

Kathañcānanda, dakkhiṇā paṭiggāhakato visujjhati no dāyakato?

11.2

It’s when the giver is unethical, of bad character, but the recipient is ethical, of good character.

Idhānanda, dāyako hoti dussīlo pāpadhammo, paṭiggāhakā honti sīlavanto kalyāṇadhammā—

11.3

evaṁ kho, ānanda, dakkhiṇā paṭiggāhakato visujjhati no dāyakato.

12.1

And how is a religious donation purified by neither the giver nor the recipient?

Kathañcānanda, dakkhiṇā neva dāyakato visujjhati no paṭiggāhakato?

12.2

It’s when both the giver and the recipient are unethical, of bad character.

Idhānanda, dāyako ca hoti dussīlo pāpadhammo, paṭiggāhakā ca honti dussīlā pāpadhammā—

12.3

evaṁ kho, ānanda, dakkhiṇā neva dāyakato visujjhati no paṭiggāhakato.

13.1

And how is a religious donation purified by both the giver and the recipient?

Kathañcānanda, dakkhiṇā dāyakato ceva visujjhati paṭiggāhakato ca?

13.2

It’s when both the giver and the recipient are ethical, of good character.

Idhānanda, dāyako ca hoti sīlavā kalyāṇadhammo, paṭiggāhakā ca honti sīlavanto kalyāṇadhammā—

13.3

evaṁ kho, ānanda, dakkhiṇā dāyakato ceva visujjhati paṭiggāhakato ca.

13.4

These are the four ways of purifying a religious donation.”

Imā kho, ānanda, catasso dakkhiṇā visuddhiyo”ti.

14.1

That is what the Buddha said.

Idamavoca bhagavā.

14.2

Then the Holy One, the Teacher, went on to say:

Idaṁ vatvāna sugato athāparaṁ etadavoca satthā:

14.3

“When an ethical person with trusting heart

“Yo sīlavā dussīlesu dadāti dānaṁ,

14.4

gives a proper gift to unethical persons,

Dhammena laddhaṁ supasannacitto;

14.5

trusting in the ample fruit of deeds,

Abhisaddahaṁ kammaphalaṁ uḷāraṁ,

14.6

that offering is purified by the giver.

Sā dakkhiṇā dāyakato visujjhati.

14.7

When an unethical and untrusting person,

Yo dussīlo sīlavantesu dadāti dānaṁ,

14.8

gives an improper gift to ethical persons,

Adhammena laddhaṁ appasannacitto;

14.9

not trusting in the ample fruit of deeds,

Anabhisaddahaṁ kammaphalaṁ uḷāraṁ,

14.10

that offering is purified by the receivers.

Sā dakkhiṇā paṭiggāhakato visujjhati.

14.11

When an unethical and untrusting person,

Yo dussīlo dussīlesu dadāti dānaṁ,

14.12

gives an improper gift to unethical persons,

Adhammena laddhaṁ appasannacitto;

14.13

not trusting in the ample fruit of deeds,

Anabhisaddahaṁ kammaphalaṁ uḷāraṁ,

14.14

I declare that gift is not very fruitful.

Na taṁ dānaṁ vipulapphalanti brūmi.

14.15

When an ethical person with trusting heart

Yo sīlavā sīlavantesu dadāti dānaṁ,

14.16

gives a proper gift to ethical persons,

Dhammena laddhaṁ supasannacitto;

14.17

trusting in the ample fruit of deeds,

Abhisaddahaṁ kammaphalaṁ uḷāraṁ,

14.18

I declare that gift is abundantly fruitful.

Taṁ ve dānaṁ vipulapphalanti brūmi.

14.19

But when a passionless one gives to the passionless

Yo vītarāgo vītarāgesu dadāti dānaṁ,

14.20

a proper gift with trusting heart,

Dhammena laddhaṁ supasannacitto;

14.21

trusting in the ample fruit of deeds,

Abhisaddahaṁ kammaphalaṁ uḷāraṁ,

14.22

that’s truly the best of material gifts.”

Taṁ ve dānaṁ āmisadānānamaggan”ti.

14.23

Dakkhiṇāvibhaṅgasuttaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ dvādasamaṁ.

14.24

Vibhaṅgavaggo niṭṭhito catuttho.

15.0

Tassuddānaṁ

15.1

Bhaddekānandakaccāna,

15.2

Lomasakaṅgiyāsubho;

15.3

Mahākammasaḷāyatanavibhaṅgā,

15.4

Uddesaaraṇā dhātu saccaṁ.

15.5

Dakkhiṇāvibhaṅgasuttanti.