Gifts of an Unwholesome Person and a Wholesome Person

Monks, there are these five gifts of an unwholesome person.

What five?

(1) He gives carelessly;

(2) he gives without deep respect;

(3) he does not give with his own hand;

(4) he gives what would be discarded;

(5) he gives without a view about the results of giving.

These are the five gifts of an unwholesome person.

Monks, there are these five gifts of a wholesome person.

What five?

(1) He gives carefully;

(2) he gives with deep appreciation and gratitude;

(3) he gives with his own hand;

(4) he gives what would not be discarded;

(5) he gives with a view about the results of giving.

These are the five gifts of a wholesome person.

(Reference: AN 5.147)

In this Teaching from Gotama Buddha, he shares how to give in an unwholesome way or a wholesome way.

An unwholesome way to give a gift would be:

1.) To give a gift carelessly without regard to the individuals needs and without any thought.

2.) To give a gift without deep respect for the individual one is providing a gift.

3.) To give a gift without having given it yourself with your own energy, effort, or actions.

4.) To give a gift of an item that would have others been discarded.

5.) To give a gift without an understanding of the results of practicing generosity (i.e. the elimination of craving/desire/attachment).

A wholesome way to give a gift would be:

1.) To give a gift carefully with regard to the individuals needs and being well thought out.

2.) To give a gift with deep respect, appreciation, and gratitude for the individual one is providing a gift.

3.) To give a gift with your own energy, effort, or actions.

4.) To give a gift of an item that is useful and beneficial of good quality.

5.) To give a gift with an understanding of the results of practicing generosity (i.e. the elimination of craving/desire/attachment).