Offerings That Are Not Worth Even a Fraction

Whatever (woman), much joyful, endowed with virtue (moral conduct), a disciple of the well-farer, food and drink

Gives — having overcome material gain — the gift is heavenly, dispelling sorrow, bringing peacefulness; (and)

She gains a heavenly being - life span owing to the spotless, stainless way,

She, aspiring merit, at ease, healthy, joyful long in a heavenly company.

If one practices The Teachings

Though getting on by gathering

If while one supports one’s wife

One gives from the little one has,

Then a hundred thousand offerings

Of those who sacrifice a thousand

Are not worth even a fraction

[Of the gift] of one like him.

Since they give while settled in unrighteousness

Having slain and killed, causing sorrow,

Their offering — tearful, a result of violence —

Shares not the value of the righteous one’s gift.

That is why a hundred thousand offerings

Of those who sacrifice a thousand

Are not worth even a fraction

[Of the gift] of one like him.

(Reference: Kd 8 & SN 1.32)

In this Teaching from Gotama Buddha, he shares how an offering that is made based on violence or harm to other beings is not worth a fraction of an offering that is made through wholesome means.

A Practitioner might consider that offering meat to an Ordained Practitioner or Teacher as food would cause harm to another being, thus, that offering is not highly beneficial.

The Buddha is sharing that offerings should be made that bring peace.