Recipient and the Fruit of Giving (First Discourse)

‘Then, knowing that The Perfectly Enlightened One had consented, Saccaka the Nigantha’s son addressed the Licchavis: Hear me, Licchavis. The Ascetic Gotama together with The Community of good Monks has been invited by me for tomorrow’s meal. You may bring to me whatever you think would be suitable for him.

Then, when the night had ended, the Licchavis brought five hundred ceremonial dishes of milk rice as gifts of food. Then Saccaka the Nigantha’s son had good food of various kinds prepared in his own park and had the time announced to The Perfectly Enlightened One: It is time, Master Gotama, the meal is ready.

Then, it being morning, The Perfectly Enlightened One dressed, and taking his bowl and outer robe, he went with The Community of Monks to the park of Saccaka the Nigantha’s son and sat down on the seat made ready.

Then, with his own hands, Saccaka the Nigantha’s son served and satisfied The Community of Monks headed by The Buddha with the various kinds of good food. When The Perfectly Enlightened One had eaten and had put his bowl aside, Saccaka the Nigantha’s son took a low seat, sat down at one side, and said to The Perfectly Enlightened One: ‘Master Gotama, may the merit and the great meritorious fruits of this act of giving be for the peacefulness of the givers.’

Aggivessana, whatever comes about from giving to a recipient such as yourself - one who is not free from craving, not free from anger, not free from ignorance (unknowing of true reality) - that will be for the givers. And whatever comes about from giving to a recipient such as myself - one who is free from craving, free from anger, free from ignorance (unknowing of true reality) - that will be for you.

(Reference: MN 35)

In this Teaching from Gotama Buddha, he shares how by making offerings through a practice of generosity provides benefit to the giver (i.e. donor).

Aggivessana, whatever comes about from giving to a recipient such as yourself - one who is not free from craving, not free from anger, not free from ignorance (unknowing of true reality) - that will be for the givers: By practicing generosity, this helps a Practitioner to eliminate craving/desire/attachment.

And whatever comes about from giving to a recipient such as myself - one who is free from craving, free from anger, free from ignorance (unknowing of true reality) - that will be for you: By providing offerings to an Enlightened being, a Practitioner has the opportunity to learn The Teachings to acquire wisdom which will lead to the elimination of discontentedness, the Enlightened mind.

It would be highly beneficial to make offerings to Practitioners who are Enlightened. This will provide an individual the best opportunity to learn these Teachings to improve the condition of their mind and life.

Providing offerings to a Buddha, who is an Enlightened being, would be an even more profound benefit to the donor as they would be able to learn directly from a Buddha. Practitioners who live during the lifetime of a Buddha will have the ideal opportunity to learn, reflect, and practice these Teachings directly with a Buddha. A Buddha would have clear, concise, and precise Teachings to guide Practitioners to Enlightenment and making offerings to a Buddha would provide one the opportunity to learn directly with a Buddha resulting in profound benefits to one’s goal to develop their life practice to attain Enlightenment.