Practicing the Way Proper to the Household Practitioner

Householder, a Noble Disciple who possesses four qualities is practicing the way proper to the Household Practitioner, a way that brings the attainment of fame and leads to heaven.

What four?

Here, Householder, a Noble Disciple serves The Community of Monks with robes; he serves The Community of Monks with almsfood; he serves The Community of Monks with lodgings; he serves The Community of Monks with medicines and provisions for the sick.

Householder, a Noble Disciple who possesses these four qualities is practicing the way proper to the Household Practitioner, a way that brings the attainment of fame and leads to heaven.

When the wise practice the way proper for the Household

Practitioner, they serve the virtuous Monks of upright conduct

with robes, almsfood, lodgings, and medicines;

for them both by day and night merit always increases; having

done excellent deeds, they pass on to the heavenly realm.

(Reference: AN 4.60)

In this Teaching from Gotama Buddha, he shares guidance to encourage Household Practitioners to practice these Teachings closely through making offerings to Ordained Practitioners to create merit.

He suggests offerings of robes, food, lodging, and medicine.

The Buddha explains offerings such as this leads to the attainment of fame and a heavenly rebirth. Remember, this is not due to anything mystical or magical but instead, it is due to the reduction of craving/desire/attachment by practicing generosity.

The goal of these Teachings is to attain Enlightenment, not to aspire for fame or a heavenly rebirth. The Buddha understood that but in this Teaching he is sharing the result of offerings as part of The Natural Laws of Existence.