Do Not Prevent Another from Giving

Vaccha, one who prevents another from giving a gift creates an obstruction and stumbling block for three people.

What three?

He creates an obstruction to (1) the donor’s acquiring of merit, (2) to the recipients’ gaining a gift, and (3) already he has harmed and injured himself.

One who prevents another from giving a gift creates an obstruction and stumbling block for these three people.

But, Vaccha, I say that one acquires merit even if one throws away dishwashing water in a refuse dump or cesspit with the thought: ‘May the living beings here sustain themselves with this!’ How much more, then, (does one acquire merit) when one gives to human beings?

However, I say that what is given to one of virtuous behavior is more fruitful than (what is given) to an unwholesome person. And (the most worthy recipient) is one who has abandoned five factors and possesses five factors.

What five factors has he abandoned?

(1) Sensual desire, (2) ill will, (3) complacency, (4) restlessness and worry, and (5) doubt.

These are the five factors that he has abandoned.

And what five factors does he possess?

(1) The virtuous behavior, (2) concentration, (3) wisdom, (4) liberation, and (5) wisdom and vision of liberation of one beyond training.

These are the five factors that he possesses.

It is in such a way, I say, that what is given to one who has abandoned five factors and possesses five factors is very fruitful.

(Reference: AN 3.57)

In this Teaching from Gotama Buddha, he shares Teachings to not prevent a person from making an offering and further Teachings on whom one should make offerings to ensuring those offerings produce the most benefit.

Through preventing someone from making an offering, that person would be creating “an obstruction to (1) the donor’s acquiring of merit, (2) to the recipients’ gaining a gift, and (3) already he has harmed and injured himself”.

The Buddha encourages us to not prevent anyone from making an offering for these reasons.

He then shares further details on how to determine whom one should make an offering to ensuring the offering produces the most benefit. “I say that what is given to one of virtuous behavior is more fruitful than (what is given) to an unwholesome person”.

Gotama Buddha provides guidance that if one has abandoned The Five Hindrances of sensual desire, ill will, complacency, restlessness and worry, and doubt, this would be an individual that is worthy of offerings.

He also provides guidance that if one has cultivated virtuous behavior, concentration, wisdom, liberation, and wisdom and vision of liberation of one beyond training, this would be an individual that is worthy of offerings.

“Wisdom and vision of liberation of one beyond training” would be an Enlightened being who can clearly see The Path to Enlightenment and has the wisdom to help others attain Enlightenment. They would be “one beyond training” because their mind is already well trained in wisdom, moral conduct, and mental discipline possessing virtue (moral conduct), concentration, wisdom, liberation, and wisdom and vision of liberation.

Providing offerings to Practitioners who have abandoned these obstructions to Enlightenment and cultivated these mental qualities for the attainment of Enlightenment will create the most benefit within one’s local community for all those who are interested in progressing on The Path to Enlightenment.