Persons Who Are Worthy of Gifts (Tenth Discourse)

So too, 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?

Virtue (practicing moral conduct), speed, gentleness, patience, and mildness.

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 5.203)

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”.

The Buddha provides this Teaching in comparing a high quality thoroughbred horse to a Practitioner who is worthy of offerings. Just as a high quality horse should have virtue, speed, gentleness, patience, and mildness, so too, a Practitioner worthy of offerings should have these same qualities.

1.) Virtue (practicing moral conduct): is to practice wholesome moral conduct from The Eight Fold Path.

Detailed explanation of The Eight Fold Path is available in this same book series found in Chapter 5 of the book “Developing a Life Practice: The Path That Leads to Enlightenment” (Volume 1).

2.) Speed: is practicing the Enlightenment factor of energy having eradicated complacency.

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.) Gentleness: is the quality of being polite, kind, friendly, and respectful to all beings.

4.) Patience: is to have eliminated the fetter/taint/pollution of mind described as “restlessness” in The Ten Fetters.

Restlessness (Elimination of confused, distracted, worried, anxious, restless state of mind the opposite of “singleness of mind”.)

Patience is a quality of mind where one is without complaint, loss of temper, irritated, or annoyed being unworried about specific execution of an objective or goal. One is able to practice equanimity.

Equanimity (Pāli: upekkhā) is mental calmness, composure, and evenness of temper, especially in a difficult situation; treating everyone impartially.

Equanimity is the remedy for an overactive mind that has restlessness and worry cultivating patience. Equanimity will also assist a Practitioner to eliminate measuring and comparing beings treating all beings equally.

As you experience life, it is important to practice equanimity in all situations. Mental calmness, composure, and evenness of temper while treating everyone impartially without judgment, are mental states that will help you trust all beings.

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

5.) Mildness: is the quality of having a lack of intensity and aggression practicing the Enlightenment factor of tranquility.

Tranquility: (Relaxed, steadiness, stability, peacefulness, and stillness of mind.)

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.