Persons Who Are Worthy of Gifts (Fifteenth Discourse)

Monks, possessing seven qualities, a Monk is worthy of gifts, worthy of hospitality, worthy of offerings, worthy of respectful salutation, an unsurpassed field of merit for the world.

What seven?

Here, a Monk is one who knows The Teachings, who knows the meaning, who knows himself, who knows moderation, who knows the proper time, who knows The Community, and who knows the wholesome and unwholesome kinds of persons.

(1) And how is a Monk one who knows The Teachings?

Here, a Monk knows The Teachings: the discourses, mixed prose and verse, expositions, verses, inspired utterances, quotations, birth stories, marvelous accounts, and questions-and-answers. If a Monk did not know The Teachings - the discourses, mixed prose and verse, expositions, verses, inspired utterances, quotations, birth stories, marvelous accounts, and questions-and-answers - he would not be called ‘one who knows The Teachings’. But because he knows The Teachings - the discourses, mixed prose and verse, expositions, verses, inspired utterances, quotations, birth stories, marvelous accounts, and questions-and-answers - he is called ‘one who knows The Teachings’.

Thus he is one who knows The Teachings.

(2) And how is a Monk one who knows the meaning?

Here, a Monk knows the meaning of this and that statement thus: This is the meaning of this statement; this is the meaning of that statement. If a Monk did not know the meaning of this and that statement thus: He would not be called ‘one who knows the meaning’. But because he knows the meaning of this and that statement thus: This is the meaning of this statement; this is the meaning of that statement, he is called ‘one who knows the meaning’.

Thus he is one who knows The Teachings and one who knows the meaning.

(3) And how is a Monk one who knows himself?

Here, a Monk knows himself thus: I have so much confidence, virtuous behavior (moral conduct), learning, generosity, wisdom, and discernment. If a Monk did not know himself thus: I have so much confidence, virtuous behavior (moral conduct), learning, generosity, wisdom, and discernment, he would not be called ‘one who knows himself.’ But because he knows himself thus: I have so much confidence, virtuous behavior, learning, generosity, wisdom, and discernment, he is called ‘one who knows himself.’

Thus he is one who knows The Teachings, one who knows the meaning, and one who knows himself.

(4) And how is a Monk one who knows moderation?

Here, a Monk knows moderation in accepting robes, almsfood, lodgings, and medicines and provisions for the sick. If a Monk did not know moderation in accepting robes, almsfood, lodgings, and medicines, and provisions for the sick, he would not be called ‘one who knows moderation’. But because he knows moderation in accepting robes, almsfood, lodgings, and medicines and provisions for the sick, he is called ‘one who knows moderation.’

Thus he is one who knows The Teachings, one who knows the meaning, one who knows himself, and one who knows moderation.

(5) And how is a Monk one who knows the proper time?

Here, a Monk knows the proper time thus: This is the time for learning, this is the time for questioning, this is the time for effort, this is the time for seclusion. If a Monk did not know the proper time - This is the time for learning, this is the time for questioning, this is the time for effort, this is the time for seclusion - he would not be called ‘one who knows the proper time’. But because he knows the proper time - This is the time for learning, this is the time for questioning, this is the time for effort, this is the time for seclusion - he is called ‘one who knows the proper time.’

Thus he is one who knows The Teachings, one who knows the meaning, one who knows himself, one who knows moderation, and one who knows the proper time.

(6) And how is a Monk one who knows the community?

Here, a Monk knows the assembly: This is a community of Khattiyas, this is a community of Brāhmins, this is a community of Householders, this is a community of Ascetics. Among these, one should approach [this community] in such a way; one should stop in such a way; one should act in such a way; one should sit down in such a way; one should speak in such a way; one should remain silent in such a way. If a Monk did not know the community: This is a community of Khattiyas, this is a community of Brāhmins, this is a community of Householders, this is a community of Ascetics. Among these, one should approach [this community] in such a way; one should stop in such a way; one should act in such a way; one should sit down in such a way; one should speak in such a way; one should remain silent in such a way - he would not be called ‘one who knows the community.’

But because he knows the community — This is a community of Khattiyas, this is a community of Brāhmins, this is a community of Householders, this is a community of Ascetics. Among these, one should approach [this community] in such a way; one should stop in such a way; one should act in such a way; one should sit down in such a way; one should speak in such a way; one should remain silent in such a way - he is called ‘one who knows the community.’

Thus he is one who knows The Teachings, one who knows the meaning, one who knows himself, one who knows moderation, one who knows the proper time, and one who knows the community.

(7) And how is a Monk one who knows the wholesome and unwholesome kinds of persons?

Here, a Monk understands persons in terms of pairs.

(i) Two persons: one is interested to see The Noble Ones; one is not interested to see The Noble Ones. The person who is not interested to see The Noble Ones is in that respect blameworthy (responsible for wrongdoing); the person who is interested to see The Noble Ones is in that respect praiseworthy (deserving admiration; commendable).

(ii) Two persons who want to see The Noble Ones: one is interested to hear the good wholesome Teachings; one is not interested to hear the good wholesome Teachings. The person who is not interested to hear the good wholesome Teachings is in that respect blameworthy (responsible for wrongdoing); the person who is interested to hear the good wholesome Teachings is in that respect praiseworthy (deserving admiration; commendable).

(iii) Two persons who are interested to hear the good wholesome Teachings: one listens to The Teachings with eager ears; one does not listen to The Teachings with eager ears. The person who does not listen to The Teachings with eager ears is in that respect blameworthy (responsible for wrongdoing); the person who listens to The Teachings with eager ears is in that respect praiseworthy (deserving admiration; commendable).

(iv) Two persons who listen to The Teachings with eager ears: one, having heard The Teachings, retains them in mind; one, having heard The Teachings, does not retain them in mind. The person who, having heard The Teachings, does not retain them in mind is in that respect blameworthy (responsible for wrongdoing); the person who, having heard The Teachings, retains them in mind is in that respect praiseworthy (deserving admiration; commendable).

(v) Two persons who, having heard The Teachings, retain them in mind: one examines the meaning of The Teachings that have been retained in mind; one does not examine the meaning of The Teachings that have been retained in mind. The person who does not examine the meaning of The Teachings that have been retained in mind is in that respect blameworthy (responsible for wrongdoing); the person who examines the meaning of The Teachings that have been retained in mind is in that respect praiseworthy (deserving admiration; commendable).

(vi) Two persons who examine the meaning of The Teachings that have been retained in mind: one has understood the meaning and The Teachings and then practices in accordance with The Teachings; one has not understood the meaning and The Teachings and does not practice in accordance with The Teachings. The person who has not understood the meaning and The Teachings and does not practice in accordance with The Teachings is in that respect blameworthy (responsible for wrongdoing); the person who has understood the meaning and The Teachings and then practices in accordance with The Teachings is in that respect praiseworthy (deserving admiration; commendable).

(vii) Two persons who have understood the meaning and The Teachings and then practice in accordance with The Teachings: one is practicing for his own welfare but not for the welfare of others; one is practicing for his own welfare and for the welfare of others. The person who is practicing for his own welfare but not for the welfare of others is in that respect blameworthy (responsible for wrongdoing); the person who is practicing for his own welfare and for the welfare of others is in that respect praiseworthy (deserving admiration; commendable).

It is in this way that a Monk understands persons in terms of pairs. It is in this way that a Monk is one who knows the wholesome and unwholesome kinds of persons.

Possessing these seven qualities, a Monk is worthy of gifts, worthy of hospitality, worthy of offerings, worthy of respectful salutation, an unsurpassed field of merit for the world.

(Reference: AN 7.68)

In this Teaching from Gotama Buddha, he shares seven qualities a person should possess to be considered a recipient who is “worthy of gifts, worthy of hospitality, worthy of offerings, worthy of respectful salutation, an unsurpassed field of merit for the world”.

The Buddha explains that “one who knows The Teachings, who knows the meaning, who knows himself, who knows moderation, who knows the proper time, who knows The Community, and who knows the wholesome and unwholesome kinds of persons” is “worthy of gifts, worthy of hospitality, worthy of offerings, worthy of respectful salutation, an unsurpassed field of merit for the world”.