Persons Who Are Worthy of Gifts (Fifth Discourse)

Monks, possessing six 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 six?

The faculty of confidence, the faculty of energy, the faculty of mindfulness, the faculty of concentration, the faculty of wisdom; and with the destruction of the taints, he has realized for himself with direct knowledge (experience), in this very life, the taintless liberation of mind, liberation by wisdom, and having entered upon it, he resides in it.

Possessing these six 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 6.3)

In this Teaching from Gotama Buddha, he shares six 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”.

1.) The faculty of confidence: See the book “The First Stage of Enlightenment (Stream-Enterer)” (Volume 5) where The Buddha shares how one develops confidence.

2.) The faculty of energy: is to practice The Enlightenment factor of energy.

Energy: (Effort, determination, ambition, initiative, motivation, vigor, and enthusiasm; willingness to do something.)

See Chapter 3 in the book “Developing a Life Practice: The Path That Leads to Enlightenment” (Volume 1) to learn The Seven Factors of Enlightenment.

3.) The faculty of mindfulness: is to practice The Enlightenment factor of mindfulness.

See Chapter 3 in the book “Developing a Life Practice: The Path That Leads to Enlightenment” (Volume 1) to learn The Seven Factors of Enlightenment.

4.) The faculty of concentration: The Buddha explains the attainment of the Jhānas as the way to develop concentration that leads to residing peacefully in this very life.

See Chapter 67 in the book “Foundations in The Teachings” (Volume 3) where The Buddha shares Teachings on Four Developments of Concentration.

5.) The faculty of wisdom: The Buddha specifically speaks of “the wisdom that discerns arising and passing away” which is The Universal Truth of Impermanence found in The Three Universal Truths to explain “accomplishment in wisdom” which is the wisdom that “leads to the complete destruction of discontentedness”. This requires deep and penetrative understanding through a determined, dedicated, and diligent practice of these Teachings.

See Chapter 10 in the book “Foundations in The Teachings” (Volume 3) where The Buddha shares Teachings on what is accomplishment in wisdom.

6.) The destruction of the taints, he has realized for himself with direct knowledge (experience), in this very life, the taintless liberation of mind, liberation by wisdom, and having entered upon it, he resides in it: is to eliminate The Ten Fetters, the mind is Enlightened.

See Chapter 3 in the book “Developing a Life Practice: The Path That Leads to Enlightenment” (Volume 1) to learn The Ten Fetters.