Persons Who Are Worthy of Gifts (Fourth Discourse)

Monks, possessing five 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 five?

Here, a Monk is accomplished in virtuous behavior (moral conduct), accomplished in concentration, accomplished in wisdom, accomplished in liberation, and accomplished in the wisdom and vision of liberation.

Possessing these five 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 5.107)

In this Teaching from Gotama Buddha, he shares five 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.) Accomplished in virtuous behavior (moral conduct): The Buddha explains accomplishment in virtuous behavior (moral conduct) as practice of Right Action from The Eight Fold Path which are the first, second, and third precepts of The Five Precepts.

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

2.) Accomplished in 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.

3.) Accomplished in 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.

4.) Accomplished in liberation: is to have eliminated all of The Ten Fetters and no longer experience discontentedness for an extended period of time - one, two, three years in duration.

Detailed explanation of The Ten Fetters is available in this same book series found in Chapter 3 of the book “Developing a Life Practice: The Path That Leads to Enlightenment” (Volume 1).

5.) Accomplished in the wisdom and vision of liberation: would be an Enlightened being who can clearly see The Path to Enlightenment and has the wisdom to help others attain Enlightenment. A Practitioner who has acquired “wisdom and vision of liberation” is one who can see clearly. They are able to see true reality rather than having a distorted view through misperceptions or judgment of others.