Persons Who Are Worthy of Gifts (First Discourse)

Monks, this assembly is free from unbeneficial speech, this assembly is free from idle chatter. It consists purely of heartwood. Such is this Community of Monks, such is this assembly.

Such an assembly as is worthy of gifts, worthy of hospitality, worthy of offerings, worthy of respectful salutation, an incomparable field of merit for the world - such is this Community of Monks, such is this assembly.

Such an assembly that a small gift given to it becomes great and a great gift greater - such is this Community of Monks, such is this assembly.

Such an assembly as is rare for the world to see - such is this Community of Monks, such is this assembly.

Such an assembly as would be worth journeying many leagues with a travel bag to see - such is this Community of Monks, such is this assembly.

In this Community of Monks there are Monks who are Arahants with taints destroyed, who have lived the holy life, done what had to be done, laid down the burden, reached their own goal, destroyed the fetters of existence, and are completely liberated through final knowledge (wisdom) - such Monks are there in this Community of Monks.

In this Community of Monks there are Monks who, with the destruction of the five lower fetters, are due to reappear spontaneously (in the heavenly realm) and there attain Final Nibbāna (Final Enlightenment), without ever returning from that world - such Monks are there in this Community of Monks.

In this Community of Monks there are Monks who, with the destruction of three fetters and with the fading of craving, anger, and ignorance, are Once-Returners, returning once to this world to make an end of discontentedness - such Monks are there in this Community of Monks.

In this Community of Monks there are Monks who, with the destruction of the three fetters, are Stream-Enterers, no longer subject to hell, bound (for liberation), headed for Enlightenment - such Monks are there in this Community of Monks.

In this Community of Monks there are Monks who reside devoted to the development of The Four Foundations of Mindfulness (body, feelings, mind, mental objects) - such Monks are there in this Community of Monks.

In this Community of Monks there are Monks who reside devoted to the development of the four right kinds of striving (Right Effort) ... of the four bases for spiritual power (also known as ‘mental power’: initiative, energy, mind, investigation) ... of the five sense bases (eyes, ears, nose, tongue, body) ... of the five powers (confidence, energy, mindfulness, concentration, wisdom) ... of The Seven Factors of Enlightenment (mindfulness, investigation, energy, joy, tranquility, concentration, equanimity) ... of The Noble Eight Fold Path - such Monks are there in this Community of Monks.

In this Community of Monks there are Monks who reside devoted to the development of loving-kindness ... of compassion ... of sympathetic joy ... of equanimity … of the meditation on unattractiveness of the body ... of the perception of impermanence - such Monks are there in this Community of Monks.

In this Community of Monks there are Monks who reside devoted to the development of Mindfulness of Breathing (Breathing Mindfulness Meditation).

(Reference: AN 4.190)

In this Teaching from Gotama Buddha, he describes a Community of Practitioners who are learning and practicing these Teachings as being worthy of gifts and offerings. He shares the qualities of mind and development of their practice that are admirable.

He guides Practitioners to understand that it is this type of Community and these qualities of their practice that we should consider to support as a way to encourage these Teachings to come into the world.

The Buddha describes that there are Practitioners within The Community who are free of unbeneficial speech and idle chatter, Arahants (i.e. Enlightened beings), free of the five lower fetters (i.e. Non-Returners), free of the first three fetters and fading of craving, anger, and ignorance (unknowing of true reality) (i.e. Once-Returners), free of the first three fetters (i.e. Stream-Enterers), devoted to developing The Four Foundations of Mindfulness, the four right strivings, the four bases of spiritual power, the five sense bases, the five powers, The Seven Factors of Enlightenment, The Noble Eight Fold Path, loving-kindness, compassion, sympathetic joy, equanimity, unattractiveness of the body, perception of impermanence, and Breathing Mindfulness Meditation.

He is identifying that it is Practitioners of this type of Community who are worthy of gifts and offerings.

During the lifetime of The Buddha, there were many different Teachers who claimed it was their teachings that lead to Enlightenment. There were multiple communities of Students all being led by a different Teacher and progressing towards what they thought was Enlightenment. We know now that it was The Buddha’s Teachings that are The Path to Enlightenment but during his lifetime, this was not so obvious to the average individuals who were not learning and practicing his Teachings.

The Buddha knew it was his Teachings that were the truth and those that lead to Enlightenment because he was experiencing the complete elimination of all discontentedness. But, this mental state cannot be easily understood or observed by an unEnlightened being. There are no outward characteristics that identifies one who has attained Enlightenment or identifies a Buddha. A Buddha does not perform countless miracles to convince people he is a Buddha but instead, guides people in learning, reflecting, and practicing these Teachings so that the Practitioner can experience the mind awakening to Enlightenment. In this way, Students understand what they are learning and practicing is the truth as the mind gradually eliminates 100% of all discontentedness through their progression towards Enlightenment. The Student can see the truth for themselves that the condition of their mind and their life is improving.

A Buddha is not concerned with convincing people that he is a Buddha but instead, applies energy, effort, and dedication towards sharing The Teachings that lead to Enlightenment making himself available to all those who choose to learn, reflect, and practice The Teachings to experience the results. The way Students would know he is a Buddha is that he attained Enlightenment on his own and The Teachings he shares led them towards Enlightenment. A Buddha is not interested in fame or fortune but instead, is willing to help others attain Enlightenment through their independently discovered Teachings. A Buddha’s ability to help others is not contingent upon everyone knowing he is a Buddha. A Buddha can function much better by others not knowing he is a Buddha because then he can observe the condition of his Student’s mind without being tainted by any admiration. A Buddha will be able to more easily observe the condition of the Student’s mind providing guidance towards the attainment of Enlightenment through objective observation.

A Buddha is extremely rare and a Practitioner’s confidence in a Buddha and his Teachings will only build as they deeply learn and practice The Teachings to experience improved results in the condition of the mind and their life.

The Buddha taught Practitioners to not only have confidence in him and his Teachings but also in The Community of Practitioners learning and practicing his Teachings because they are able to support and encourage others along The Path to Enlightenment. While a Buddha is the leader of The Community, it is the entire Community of Practitioners who are all supporting and encouraging each other which will help each of them to progress towards Enlightenment.

A Buddha can share The Teachings but it is each individual in The Community who has determination, dedication, and diligence to learn, reflect, and practice The Teachings that each individual will experience results. A vibrant Community of Practitioners will actively learn, reflect, and practice The Teachings while providing support and encouragement for others who seek understanding. Through a Community of Practitioners actively investigating The Teachings and discussing them amongst themselves, they will be better equipped to progress towards Enlightenment and help others attain Enlightenment after a Buddha’s death.

An Enlightened being will not only be learning, reflecting, and practicing The Teachings but ultimately be able to discuss them with ease as they are questioned by others about The Teachings or if other members of The Community are interested in discussion about The Teachings to progress in their understanding and development of their practice.

It is The Community of The Buddha, The Perfectly Enlightened One, who “is practicing the wholesome way, practicing the straight way, practicing the true way, practicing the proper way”. It was not the other communities led by other Teachers. Those communities that existed during the lifetime of The Buddha mostly evaporated and no longer exist. It is The Teachings of The Buddha that have stood the test of time existing for over 2,500 years until today.

A large community of people who are dedicated to learning and practicing these Teachings will be able to sustain The Teachings in the world through providing each other examples and be role models to one another for how to progress along The Path to Enlightenment and practice The Teachings in daily life.

The Buddha explains “the four pairs of persons, the eight types of individuals” in other parts of his Teachings that will be shared in this book series as you progress in your learning. Essentially these are Practitioners who have attained one of the four Stages of Enlightenment or practicing to progress from one Stage of Enlightenment to another. The Buddha explains that it is these individuals who are “worthy of gifts, worthy of hospitality, worthy of offerings, worthy of respectful salutation”.

Practitioners who have progressed into one of The Four Stages of Enlightenment have a well developed life practice and are highly dedicated to the attainment of Enlightenment. One would not attain any of The Four Stages of Enlightenment by accident but instead, through consistent dedication towards improving their life practice. They are also the Teachers who will be able to provide guidance to all other beings to progress towards Enlightenment. Therefore, The Buddha encourages Students to make offerings to these Practitioners to support and sustain The Community helping these Teachings to continue to flourish in the world for all beings to liberate the mind attaining Enlightenment.

Practitioners who choose to make offerings to these individuals will be creating merit. Merit is a unique type of wholesome Kamma created through generous offerings to The Community of Practitioners who are in one of The Four Stages of Enlightenment. The Buddha explains that making offerings to these individuals provides an “unsurpassed field of merit for the world”.

Practitioners who have attained one of The Four Stages of Enlightenment is beneficial for their own practice but also highly beneficial for the world in that Students can make offerings to these individuals providing support for The Teachings to continue but also bringing Students into contact with Practitioners who deeply understand The Teachings and can help the Student progress towards the attainment of Enlightenment.