Persons Who Are Worthy of Gifts (Thirteenth Discourse)

So too, 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?

He patiently endures forms, patiently endures sounds, patiently endures odors, patiently endures flavors, and patiently endures physical objects.

(1) And how is it that a Monk patiently endures forms?

Here, when a Monk sees a form with the eye, he does not become captivated by a tempting form and can concentrate his mind.

It is in this way that a Monk patiently endures forms.

(2) And how is it that a Monk patiently endures sounds?

Here, when a Monk hears a sound with the ear, he does not become captivated by a tempting sound and can concentrate his mind.

It is in this way that a Monk patiently endures sounds.

(3) And how is it that a Monk patiently endures odors?

Here, when a Monk smells an odor with the nose, he does not become captivated by a tempting odor and can concentrate his mind.

It is in this way that a Monk patiently endures odors.

(4) And how is it that a Monk patiently endures flavors?

Here, when a Monk experiences a flavor with the tongue, he does not become captivated by a tempting flavor and can concentrate his mind.

It is in this way that a Monk patiently endures flavors.

(5) And how is it that a Monk patiently endures physical objects?

Here, when a Monk feels a physical object with the body, he does not become captivated by a tempting physical object and can concentrate his mind.

It is in this way that a Monk patiently endures physical objects.

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 5.139)

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 explains that a Practitioner who does not have craving/desire/attachment through the sense bases of the eyes, ears, nose, tongue, and physical body for forms, sounds, odors, flavors, or physical objects is “worthy of gifts, worthy of hospitality, worthy of offerings, worthy of respectful salutation, an unsurpassed field of merit for the world”.

The Practitioner has eliminated The Five Cords of Sensual Pleasure.

Detailed explanation of The Five Cords of Sensual Pleasure is available in this same book series found in Chapter 3 of the book “The Six Sense Bases” (Volume 9).