A Heavenly Being’s Curiosity

[A heavenly being:]

Giving what does one give strength?

Giving what does one give beauty?

Giving what does one give ease?

Giving what does one give sight?

Who is the giver of alI?

Being asked, please explain to me.

[The Perfectly Enlightened One:]

Giving food, one gives strength;

Giving clothes, one gives beauty;

Giving a vehicle, one gives ease;

Giving a lamp, one gives sight.

The one who gives a residence is the giver of all.

But the one who teaches The Teachings is the giver of the Deathless (Enlightenment).

[A heavenly being:]

For whom does merit always increase, Both by day and by night?

Who are the people going to heaven, established in The Teachings, endowed with virtue (moral conduct)?

[The Perfectly Enlightened One:]

Those who set up a park or a grove, the people who construct a bridge,

a place to drink and a well, those who give a residence.

For them merit always increases, both by day and by night; those are the

people going to heaven, established in The Teachings, endowed with virtue (moral conduct).

(Reference: SN 1.42)

In this Teaching from Gotama Buddha, he answers questions from a heavenly being. He shares how a donor can give strength, beauty, ease, sight, and can give all of these.

Giving food, one gives others strength.

Giving clothing, one gives others beauty.

Giving a vehicle, one gives others ease.

Giving a lamp, one gives others sight.

Giving a residence, one gives others all of these - strength, beauty, ease, and sight.

One who shares these Teachings gives others “the Deathless” or Enlightenment. While The Buddha does share this Teaching in this way, one cannot give others Enlightenment. One could only provide The Teachings and each individual would need to learn, reflect, and practice to attain Enlightenment.

The Buddha also describes that an individual who donates a park, grove, bridge, place to drink water, or provide a residence, generates much merit that is always increasing. These are gifts that have long term benefit that will continue to provide help to others.